The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-06
BY TELEGRAPH
How Speaker Kerr Meets Harney's
Testimony.

WASHINGTON, June G.
The Kerr committee on expenditures in
the war department continued the investi-
cation into the charges against Speaker
Kerr. Mary A. Murray testified that she
had resided on Capitol Hill since 1865, and
kept boarders there. In December, 1865,
Lawrence Harvey hired room at her
house. In 1866 he also had room there
with his wife, and both took their meals
there. Mr.. Danford raised the point as to
how far the committee would go into this
part of The matter, taking the ground that
the witness could not be contradcted on
an immaterial or collateral question. Ell
liot, counsel for Kerr, replied, taking the
ground that 1t was competent to show by
the autecedents of the witness that he was
not competent witness. Blackburn said
that If Harvey had deliberately sworn
falsely as to his married life, the commit
tee was entitled to know whether such was
the fact. Danford repeated his objection,
and asked whether this committee was not
bound by the same rules that the courts
would enforce, and whether the witness
would not be entitled to protection.
Blackburn said the committee was not
bound by the strict technical rules that
govern the courts. A question was asked
as to the date of the marriage.
and if it could be shown that he had per-
jured himself it would impeach his credi-
bjlity as a witness. Elliot referred to the
testimony taken June ., in which Harvey
said he was married in July, 1867, to Annie
Prior, and that he bad no wife when he
was assistant doorkoeper. Elliot quoted
Judge Story to show if the witness did not
testify correctly IN relation TO the fact shout
which he could not be mistaken, he is not
entitled to credence. ClYmer also took the
ground that it was competent to pursue the
question so as to show the character of the
man, for, if Harvey was not married at the
time he boarded with Mrs. Murray, he
lived in adulterous intercourse with a
woman there. Mr.. Clymer asked the ques-
ton of Mrs. Murray: "Did you have any
doubt whether the woman who lived with
Harvey at your house was his wifc?"
Answer would not have boarded them
had thought they were not married, and
if had found out they had deceived me
would have got rid of them. / keep a re-
spectacle boarding house, and would no.
have boared a man and woman who were
not married for 800 day.
A. p. Green was recalled and contradict
ed Harney's testimony in several particu-
lars, and said that he did not believe that
Harvey ever paid Speaker Kerr cent of
the money he (Green) paid 10 Harvey. J.
S. Moore testified to HIS interview with
Harvey in New York, in regard to the
anonymous letter sent to Kerr, when Har-
ney said Geo. Bliss was crowding him and
that Bliss and John l. Davenport wanted
to make political capital out of the charge
against Kerr and that they were both
damned rascals and scoundrels. 1t appear
ed from Moores testimony that Kerr,
through the advice of friends, engaged
Sidney Webster to find out the writer OF
the anonymous letter, SO as to have the
writer prosecuted, it being thought that
the bringing of the matter before criminal
court would have tho effect of Furnishing a
conspiracy. A written statement from
Speaker Kerr was read by Elliott in pres
ence of the speaker. He repeats that he
never consciously knew Harvey; never
talked with him on business matters, and
that Harvey never certainly offered or gave
him any money. The statement was ut
terly and wickedly false, and the speaker
explains at length the circumstances at
tending the appointment of Green.