Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-24
HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE
SHERMAN LETTER.
MIR JENks CLOSELY QUESTIONED
BY BUTLER.
WHAT SIZE KNOWS ABOUT THAT
FAMOUS LETTER.
SIZE EXONERATEs SHERMAN AND
ANDERSON.

lore H. having seen II published that the reason
for Matthews non appearance was fear of being
insuted by him.
Capt. jerks then resumed the stand and was |
cross-examlned by Mcmahon, more particularly |
upon the existence of the alleged Sherman letter,
the conversation with PItkin on the 9th of Janua
ry, and what occurred to impress the date of the |
conversation so distinctly on bis memory.
Witness did not remember there was Anything |
special occurred. He merely remembered the day |
by accident he was positive he never heard of |
by Sherman.
After some very sharp questioning by McMa- |
hon, witness said he thought it the 9th of |
January that the conversation took place, but |
would not say positively, but was confident it was
about that time.
Considerable time consumed in questions |
and answers with reference TO the visit of Mrs. |
jerks to Washington. She came here at the in |
stance of Kellogg; did not know that she was
here in the interest of Packard Anderson, il was
understood, had certain documents which Kellogg
desired to get and Mrs. jerks was here for that
purpose, having been the recipient of letters to
come
Could not give contents of the letter; thought
his wife was in Washington two or three weeks
could not say positively.
After further unmportant testimony witness |
was examined by Butler in relation to the letters
written by Anderson to witness, in which he was
requested to obtain the letter, the document ETC..
meaning the so-called Sherman lette +, and assur-
ing him if he could do SO his fortane could be
made.
Witness dsclamed knowing anything about
what letters and documents Anderson referred to
Buter-Now DO you say that the document
which by securing you could make your fortune,
that you did not have some curiosity to what
Il c document was
A-The first knew Of it was from the CONVEX
satiOn with Pitkin.
Butler said it was a well known fact that wo-
men were curious, and inquired If his wife never
asked what the document that was going to make
their fortune contained.
Witness replied she may have asked, but did
not remember it.
Butler-I Ii she did ask you what did you reply
A-Tkat | knew nothing about it.
Q-Then she didn't know any more about it
than you did
A-Not to my knowledge.
Butler continued TO closely question jerks re
garding his knowledge of the sherman let ler aud
his wIte's connection herewith, the substance OF
the answers being that he knew nothing of the
sherman letter, either personally or through his
wife.
Mrs. jerks next placed on the stand, and
sworn.
She testified that Anderson had written her
from Philadelphia in relation to the document
which he termed the Sherman letter. She knew
nothing of the document which Anderson called
the Sherman letter until last January.
He (Anderson) did not know that witness knew
any thing about the letter. She did not think any
thing about the letter before January last. Hal
seen the document.
Odd you ever have that document?
Al don't think l ever had the original docu
ment, TO which there is SO much importance at
tached
Continuing, she testified that she might have
had the document in her hands about two months
and half. Was at the time she had it in her
hands. on the street. No one gave 1t TO her No
badly showed it to her. She asked no permission
to take 1t.
Butler then questioned her closely as to whom
% in sslO of
It.
She finally said she picked it up from the table,
and there might have been persons in the room.
She did not look around. She then stated that at
ter she picked it up she went into the street with
IT, and kept IN her possession but about two and
one b alf months.
ON what room the table from which you
picked the document?
Alt was in parlor "P" of the St. Charles IIo-
tel.
She said she presented the document to Dan
cher, at the entrance OF the st. Charles Hotel
1t was about noon. Weber had left witness after
the conversation at the corner Of st. Charles and
Comm streets.
Witness at this point said she desired to make a
statement before answering further questions and
Butler said she mi 5ht proceed.
The statement was in b-tance that she wished
in the presence of this august committee and for
the benefit of the country at large, to eXonerate
Secretary Sherman and Anderson from any con-
nectlOn whatever with this document, known as
the Weber guarantee, and she did not think 1t was
necessary for her to make any further explanation
with reference thereto.
Butler explained that it was necessary to give
the committee the Information desired
Without further hesitancy witness proceeded to
testify, stating that after giving the letter TO We
Der he remarked that Anderson WIS not satisfied
with his treatment, but wished to have a written
| guarantee.
In reply to questions as to the contents of the
letter handed by her 10 Weber, witness repeated,
word for word, the cont nts OF the Sherman letter
| as heretofore published
Butler then submitted letter written to Mrs.
W cher bearing the signature of Agnes Jeuks,
which she recognized tue letter written to Mrs
Weber by herself, requesting the former to look
well for the document as il would be of much
benefit to her husband and Mr. Anderson, aud in
the event Of her producing the document she
(Ars. Jenks) would see that she was well paid for
| her trouble
Witness stated she never knew any other letter
| addressed to Anderson and Weber that contained
| a guarantee She had never seen the document
since she gave il 10 Dan Weber Tier husband
told her Pitkin mentioned the subject of the Sher
| man letter to him the sixth of January last. She
came to Washington on her own account and no
tined Kellogg OF her intention of coming before
she left New Orleans She came here on bust
| ness. her own business and concerning the ma
ton at large.
Witness admitted having written Anderson in
curing if he desired the IS letter.
After further interrogation regarding this letter
witness asked Butler what he wanted with Sher-
man.
Butler-I will tell you. If that letter can be
found, we settle definitely whether or not
Sherman wrote it.
Butler asked her-Do you know, or have you
| ever known where that letter was, or whether it
was not in existence after you gave it to Mr.. We
beri
Al do not.
Q-Do you know of any other letter purporting
| to be signed by John Sherman, excepting the one
you handed to Weber
A-Oh. no. There was no other.
Q-Have you since the twentieth of November
ever written letter of the same purport OF the
sherman letter, and signed John Shcrman's name
to it
After considerable evasion, and questions, such
| as-Why should l do so ? What was the occ Aston
for my doing so, ETC., witness said she never did
| any such thing.
Adjourned till Monday.
During the answers of witness with reference to
persons present in the psrlor "P,' of ST. Charles
Hotel at the time she picked up the letter bear
| ing the signature of John Sherman she stated
that some of the visiting state smen were present
including Garfield and Hale, but she was quite
positive that Mr. Sherman WAS not present at the
| time.
She also said I distinctly and entirely exoper.
ate Mr.. Sec'y Sherman from any COMPLETELY, di.
4 m tndtR a. . ,. Ill