The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-06
AN INDIGNANT BOARDING HOUSE KEEPER
The Effort 10 Trace the Authorship Of the
Anonymous Letter.
COURSE OF BLISS AND DARLING.
An Explanation From the Speaker Of the
Appointment of Greene.
WASHINGTON, June s, 1870


Tho Committee Expenditures in the War Depart
mcnt to-day continued The investigation into the
charges against Speaker Kerr.
Mary !. Murray testified that she resided on Capitol
Hill since 1855 and KEEP, boardcrs there In Dccem-
Der, 1855. Lawrence Harvey hired at her house;
In 1860 he also had there with his wife, and
both took their meals there.
Mr.. Danford raised the point as to how lar the
mittce would 20 into this part OF the matter, taking
the ground that the witness could be conlradctcd
immateria or a collateral question.
Mr. Elliott counsel for Mr. Kerr replied taking the
ground that 1t competent show by tho
antcccdcn.s OF the witness that he
competent witness. Mr.. Blackburn said that
If Harvey had deliberately swora falsely to his
married life the committee entitled to Nov
whether such was the fact Mr. Daniord rcpeatcR his
objection, md asked whether this committee was pot
bound by the Same rules that court would enoSce
and whether witness would not DO entitled to pro-
tectcn. Mr.. Blackburn said tho committee not
bound by the technical rules that govern courts
the question to the date OF Harncys marriage,
and If could be shown that he had perjurcd himself
It would mpeach his crodiblity witness. Mr..
Elliott referred to the testimony taken the ID INST.
in which Harvey SAID he married July, 1867, to
Annie Prior, and that he had wife when he
here as an assistant doorkccper Mr.. Elliott
quoted Judge Story show that II witness
testify correctly In relation to fact about which he
could not be mistaken, no Is not entitled TO crcdencc.
Mr.. Clymcr also took ground that 1t was competent TO
pursue question 10 show the character OF the
man; for II Harvey not married at the time he
boarded with Mrs. Murray he lived III aiulterous in
tercourse with a woman there Mr. Cymcr asked the
question of Mrs. Murray:-s.Did you have any doubt
whether the woman who lived with Harvey at your
house his.wifes 81 would have boarded them
had wore moi mar al
found out that they had deceived me- would have got
rid Of them. keep respectable boarding house, and
would not have boarded and who were
not IN arricd for 500 day"
TESTIMONY OF GREENE
General Augustus +. Greene recalled, said he
heard any conversation between Harvey and Kerr out
side Of the introduction Of him by Harvey Mr.. Kerr.
He was satisfied that Harvey far on 10 hear
their conversation Mr. Kerr did not say that no must
obtain additional recommendations from democrats.
He on that occasion said he would like to have recon
mendatons OF prominent men addressed 10 him per-
sonaly. He (witness) never accompanied Harvey to
Mr.. Kerr's He never authorized Harvey to buy
a commission for him original proposition The
proposition IRON Harvey. because
no dd-pet think no coxd have pr0pos itcu TO
Harvey TO corrupt q member OF Congress-. lie never
mentioned the money transactsn with Harvey 10 any
body. Harnc said 10 him that the payment ri money
would be u speedy why OF procuring tho appointment
or second lieutenant and OF course, wanting to ne
appointed he accordingly made his arrangement wiah
Harvey He told Harvey he had $3.50, which he would
give for tho place Harvey TO him for the
difference between $500 and $3.50. The witness ap-
piled TO Hon. Morgan Jones for the appointment but
that gentleman did nothing for him.
After further testimony, contradcting Harvey in
some particulars the witness said he did not believe
that Harvey ever paid Ar. Kerr cent Of the money he
TESTIMONY >. s. MOORE.
j. s. Moore and testified that Speaker
Kerr informed his that he had received IN anonymous
note 10 tho elect
rumor circulating in Now York Harvey in
o. A. r. Greene 10 second isaenancy in the army
Harvey may be summoned Does not 80 be- Has not
The Speaker related to Mr.. Thompson, OF New York,
and thowitness that In 1855 young man applied TO
HIM for appointment In tho army AMI stated the at
ten liant circumstances AZ the suggestion of the wit
moss the Speaker made copy OF the anonymous note
the matter both agreeing not 70 take notice OF tho
nero rumors. Going 10 New York he saw Harvey,
formed Harvey that hc had Just como from washing
ton and u friend OF Mr.. Kerr Harvey shook u
httle In his hand when y was shown 70 hun. Harvey
did not look nj It moro than ten seconds Harvey said
he did not send 10 Mr. Kerr; had not inspired Is and
knew nothing about il Harvey did not want to talk
about IT, and told the witness 10 to his lawyer In
reply to the question why he should to his lawyer
hnrnev SAID his own lips were scaled. Witness then
reminded Harvey Of the seriousness OF tho charge
against Mr.. Kerr, and said
.f you cannot substansia,c It you and your fellow
Harvey showed great reluctance 10 come to Washing
ton to testify in the matter, and IN further
,ion Harvey referred the witness 70 his lawyer Wit
ness finally went Harncy's lawyer, Judge Often
hotter ana said that Harvey had sent him there The
Judge after reading the copy Of tho ane nymous
note, said he was the lawyer oil William 4. OAR
Ing who trouble about the Third Ave.
nue. Savings Bank, but was not Harney,s lawyer
but Harvey thought he must take or M he
KIND OF prottge OF Bliss. Darling had mpla ned
the Judge that tho newspapers had been pe
him. and SAID he now had something TO smut then, up
JudU gkcd1 al n ndal aOuiu
Speaker Kerr could do him, and reminded hun that
tbat was tho way TO fight the case, but
Mr. DARLING SAID
be going have the charge against spcal Kerr
published III all the newspapers This MI the judge
that conference IN Representative Morrisns room
there were present the Speaker, senator Mcdonald,
They came to The that, the writing and
sending OF an anonymous letter was an
awysr rce and ind e wrer
OF II and bring tho matter before criminal
court, which would have the effect OF pulrishing
splracy The witness was advised by Speaker Kerr to
return to New YORK and engage sidney Webster 10
prosecute the matter in tho most vigoi GUS manner
The next morning he went to New York. raw Mr. Web
gave HIM the anouy nous which Mr.. Kerr
had received and on which Mr. Kerr had put private
mark TO identity u. Mr.. Webster went 10 work and
scnt detectives In order to IND writer Of the
letter and bring the matter 10 an issue. TINS would no
doubt have been done II the present Investigation had
not Intcrfcred with u.
In further testimony Mr. Moore said Harvey while
In New York, remarked 10 him that now that Darling
Johnny Davenport, who bad men and scoundrels,
and Harvey SAID he, too wanted TO 60 away The wit
ness told Harvey that " summoned he would nave 10
testify before the comnitcc The witness asked Har
ney whore Greene was, and received Ms reply
III have not seen Greene lately. He has gone to tho
bad and took TO drink when left on" and Harvey
repeated 10 him that
Hiss AND DAVENPORT
wanted to make political capital out or tho Kerr
scandal and were damned scoundrcls and rascals.
| The speaker came into the committee room, quite
feeble, ana presented tic following statement which
was read by Mr.. Elliott
rHE srEAKER's STATEMENT.
When entered Congress- In 1885. understood that
kind Of progress aud that
number u icnenauss be spp,in cod
did underst aud that this ~ be
done under the prov sons u any pre- existing law or OF y
was being voluntary made by
the department did understand that the appuiiI-
nieut legal right vested Represent os
duty imposed him BY law. lks the appointment Of
cadets the siemies but rather v privilege given
him by the War Department remember seeing III the
public press department order the subject thu
term. Of which do remember II " well that
regarded the appointments due district