The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-31
The Embarrassing Position oi
viz Sucufcr Kerr

WASHINGTON, May 30.-0pinions differ
as 10 the trulh Of the charges againsI
Mr.. Kerr, but the differences Of opinion
seem to he drawn TO some extent along
party lines. These differences arise oul
ofdoubts as 10 the crcdibility Of the wit
ness Harney, but upon the main point
there can be no question that Harney
sworc absolutely to The payment Of the
money to Kerr for the appointment o.
Augustus +. Green. The direct exami.
nation was as plain and positive, and
particular in its details, as il is possible
to make statement, The witness testified
With evident reluctance. He was quite
as unwilling to give his testimony ~ was
the witness Green. In fact, il seemed al
one time as il he would refuse to answer
whereupon Mr.. Kerr released the witnesi
from any supposed obligation, and desir
led him 10 tell the truth, What thai
Itmth is possibly may never be known.
Up to the present time there are tive
witnesses, Green and Harvey, whose tes
timony is corroborated by. very many
significant circumstances against ont. wit
ness, Speaker Kerr, and his good charac.
ter. The question now Is a question o.
yeracity between these witnesses and
Kerr.
Both sides will admit that the follow
ing faGiss have been clearly proved
First, that ia the spring or midsummerol
1868, Michael Z. Kerr, then Represents
tive from Indiana, now Speaker OF the
House, recommended for appointment as
Second Lieutenant in the United STATED
Army, Augustus +. Greene, a man who
had never been in Indiana, and whom
Kerr had never seen until within ten day
before he recommended him for the ap
pointment, and that the appointment wa
| made under these circumstances.
Second-That Green did pay TO the wit
ness, Lawrence Harvey, then Doorkeeper
df The House, $50 in consideration Of this
appointment. There can be no doubt ol
these facts. The first is proved by Green
himself, by Harney, and by the letter OF
Kerr on file in the War department. as
well as by Mr.. crrspresent admissions.
The second Is proved by the two persona
who should have the beat knowledge of
the transaction, Green aid Harney. II
il also stated that the second point will be
further corroborated by the testimony oi
the brother and sister OF Green, who fur
nished him with the money, and by the
records OF the Registered Letter Bureau
Of the PostofIice Department, which, Il il
said, show that Green forwarded In reg.
istered letter the remainder OF the sun
alleged to have been paid for the commits
siOn. .
No attempt has been made to impeacl
tho Credibilily. Of Green. Heswears IL
The most positive manner that he paid
this money to Harney, that he had u con
ference with Kerr, 10 which Harney alsc
swenrS, that lie never knew Kerr until
introduced to him by Harney. The wit
ness, Green, also refers 10 several im
portant details with which the testimony
Of harney entirely agrees. This remark
able harmony between the testimony o.
these two Witnesses, in important, as vel
"a unimportant details has special legaI
lsignifcance from! The! fact that Greene''
testimony was taken in secret, add thai
Of lis character Harney could have had
mol knowledge at the time he testified
Both witnesses agree that At the interview
with Kerr no mention was made Of I
money confederation for the recommeda
tion. This notable coincidence in th'
testimony. OF these witnesses has = fur
thef Significance from The fact that lhG
two witnesses are not now friends.