The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-15
THE coNrCMAcIoUs FITNESS.
The Chief of the Real Estate Pool sent TO the
Ceuitnon Jail Tor Contempt.

WAsHTNaroN March H.-Mr Glover, OF
Missouri, Chairman Of the select Committee on
the Real Estate Pool and the Jay Cooke Indebt-
edness, made report In the House to-day on
the contumaciousness OF the witness, Hallett
Kilbourne, who refused 20 produce the books Of
his firm or to answer certain questions as to who
composed the real estate pool. The proceedings
OF the committee were read, from which 1t ap-
peared that the real estate pool consisted arst
Of Ave persons, who had contributed 5000 each,
and who were suns equently assessed g., 0OO each,
and Of Jay Cooke & Co., who had contributed
$500, but did not pay any assessment. His arm
WAS the agency through which the operation
was TO be conducted, and had subsequ emily
pur based one Of the original 5000 shares. pay
ing for 1t the exact amount, with interest, whic b
II had cost the owner.
The witness, Kilbourne declined 10 give the
name of the person whose Interest had been
thus purchased. lie also declined giving any
testimony relating to the indiviluals composing
the pool He said that N II could he shown IN
any wav that the Government was interested in
II, or that his testimony would promote tue in
terest Of the Government In any way, he wound
tell everything about IL. In reply to this. III z
Chairman informed him that the committee did
not propose to examine into his .p.iyate q IRIS,
but only into those that affected the public in
tetest In further response through his counsel
(Mr. Msekl the witness said that the subject had
was purely private transaction, aud that there
was 10 officer OF the Government Of tho United
states, OF OF the GONefnment OF tho District
directly or indirectly connected with II.
Tho conclusion of the committee Ia that II IL
necessary for the enci+ Mt prosecution OF the in
quiry that hallett kilbourne shslI he required 10
respond to the subpoena dtfccs tccuni, ana To
answer the questions which he mad refused to
answer. Mr.. Glover therefore moved the ado p-
ton OF an order that the Speaker issue his war
rant to the sergeant at Arms, commanding nm
! to Ike into custody Halett h bourne and bring
| him to tue bar OF the House to show cause W n .
| he should not be punished for contempt. Tho
| order was made ana the warrant Issued.
Shortly afterward tho Sergeant At Arms ap-
peared at the bar with Hallett Kilbourne the re-
cusant witness, in custody. On being asked
whether he was prepared 10 answer the ques-
tons put to him he asked leave TO be heard
orally by bis counsel
During the consideration Of the question Mr..
Glover intimated that he understood from the
witness that he would be satisfied by having
read a written argument.
Mr.. Page Of California insisted on the witness 3
right TO be heard orally by counsel, and that
view was advocated by Mr.. Hoar Of Massachu-
setts and Mr. Conger OF Michigan. and was OPP
posed by MIR. Holman o. Indiana aud Mr.. jerks
OF Pensylvanil. Finally. the proposition TO be
heard orally by counsel vas laid on the table,
and written argument WIS read FROM the
Clerks desk.
A. the conclusion Of the reading the Speaker
called upon the witness to rise, and. addre ssi ng
HIM, he asked whether he was now prepared 10
answer the questions put to him by the com
mittee. reading them tn him In detail.
Mr.. Kilbourne responded that he respectfully
declined for the reasons heretofore given.
The Speaker then asked him whether he was
prepared to produce his books and papers IN
obedience to the subpnna duoes teetHn.
Mr.. kilbourne replied that he was not.
Mr. Glover then offered resolutions commit
ting the witness TO the custody OF the Sergeant
alarms, and requiring that Official TO keep the
witness 10 custody In the common Jail Of the
District OF Columbia until he should purge him
The resolutions were agreed TO, and the wit
iess was removed by the Ser2eant-at-Arms.