New-York tribune., 1878-04-15
MGARRAHAYS BATTLE IN COMMITTEE.
FRESH AvALASCHEs OF DOCUMENTARY TESTIMONY
-sPARRING BETWEEN THE LAWYERS.
IGENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.'


-sPARRING BETWEEN THE LAWYERS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.i
WASHINGTON, April lathe Senate Com
mlttce Public Lands resumed the Investigation yes
terday which has grown OF the memorial OF william
McGarrahau praying the enactment OF law to correct
the record Of his alleged patent for the NewIdria quick
silver mines in California.
great deal OF documentary and oth testi-
mOny was submitted TO the committee, the
session being long one. Among other witnesses,
James W Armstrong the present chief OF the Private
Land Claims division Of the interior Department, was
recalled BY the counsel Tor the NewIdria Company Mr.
Armstrong testified that he found on the last two paren-
meut pages OF the document which the Eew-Idra Com
pany clims original patent, prepared, but not
signed for McGGrrahan, number Of puncues, appar-
emily made for the purpose Of spacing the lines, the
spaces between the lines the last two pages-whch
McGarrahau claims have been frauducntly substituted
for pages bearing his sgnaurewere considerably wider
than those OF the preceding pages and the general
texture Of the parchment OF these two pages much
heavier and sitter than that Of most OF the preceding
pages, but not more than page or page l, which
contains printed matter.
Nj. Hopper. Librarian OF the Atoru1Gcnerars
Olicc, was recalled, and produced book containing
copy the Attorney Generals letter Of March l2 re-
0ues,n the suspension of the issuance OF patent TO
McCqrrahau II appears that thi' letter in the record
follows letter on another subject that bears date
March 13.
After the recess, a long controversy took place be-
tween the opposing counsel ~ to The udmissibity OF
printed volume containing what purporcd TO be true
copies OF q large number Of alhIIyIts laid before the
House Judiciary Committee ny the Hcw-dria Company
when the case was under investigation IN 1870
judge d. 8 wilson stated under oath that 10 the best
OF his knowledge aad belief these were substantially
trIe copies and that the originals, although diligently
searched Tor by him and the former Clerk oLthe Judi
ciary Committee, cannot now be found
MI Shaw INSISTED that the wtnes, could not establish
the CORRECTNESS OF these printed documents by ms un-
insisted recollection and, as OF fact he CNfr.
shawl knew that Of the matter printed IN This vol
umc differed materially from tho original documents,
and particularly what pulpoItcd 10 be the evidence
gwen by Judge Jeremiah S. Black before the Judiciary
Jude y. : Wilson replied that the portions OF the
printed boos referred to by d. shaw arc not now offered
Mr. shaw rco.ned that thc ,naccurscy Of the book in
this respect tended 10 discred the rest of It's contents,
large mas Of other documentary evidence was laid
fore the committee bv counsel on each slde an OF H.
together with the printed book ahoyc referred TO, being
llbr 10 The commccs future decision as TO its adj
simon stevens of Scw-Yorl CITY. was then called
wlturss for VI Gurlhau. lie testified that FOR many
year- h l,lG intimate relation, with Tnaddeus stevens
and was vita him In Washington during part Of every
session of Congress; u the early part OF March, 1858, at
Tie instance uf Colonel John W. Forney and ihc late
John Hickman he procured fur General Daniel sckies
interview wIth Ihnddens stevens ahd was prt-tht
during the interview Hr'tA icA,'5 Ittu aioi u -tut'
mcut concerning McGaulhlu's claim 10 The Panyche
tTIN "a
steven, 20 speak 10 President Lincoln aD"ut ana lIO
mote the Issuance OF patent TO Mcuarrdhani Mr.
stevens h,Ins w. trl"'.',u wines 20 9,c & 'tGI'y t Sy
Seward for Iin on the subject "h,'h u9 uu lhe Sec
rotary maintained that the subject had already been DIS
cu,-cd uy the members of the Cabinet ana Ice promised
converse with The President concerning H. tlmalhS
that ne Cir Scward), iayurably disposed To the
,ar preatJrYt Lincoln hearing that Thaddeus stevens
was ill., called TO him, aud in the presence Of the wit
ON National topics before the Pr sdent said good bye
they each simultaneously alluded to tue subject
4fe
sad DC had been pulled and bauled bOti ways about
signing patent for the land ciaim ana wouh ne To
know Air seyCHs's views on the su'Jccti he added
OcudTly that he would really Ike to get II out of the
way as people were calling to see MN on tls coultO-
v.r-y Ia such an extent as impede publlc buSn'
RrpTes,ntativc Stevens replied stating briefly what hc
had heard Of the merits oi ne application Tor patent
and concluding follows; II you are convinced u IL
right-and parentheCaly) Sichlcs says II is-sgn the
conversation occurred Thursday the President
having informed Representative stevens mat he would
like 10 see him soon az IN Ton other mattcrs, and
Mr. stevens moi beng well enough call person, the
witness, at his request went 70 the Executive Mansion
noure n tbe Presldput wished to send any word
soon ms he entered the esideuts r0Om the President
who sitting at a table pushed a parchment doc9,
designation OF the patent: Well the ID thlng ls
signcd;" at this point young gentleman, whom whom
the witness afterward knew as Mr. stoddard,
the Presidents private secretary, came In and
erfd e5af m on having ynG to- so TO- the General Land
Office six weeks subsequently the witness met se'te
tarv seward, who remarked 10 him tmnk Mr. Bates
has got ahead Of me" rhis remark apparently referred
to the Attorney Generals letter. which resulted IN the
Interior DepHrtment Withholding the delivery or any
patent 10 McGarruhanl CONTINUING his narrative the
witness stated strength OF cOmmeudatOry
letter OF Introduction from Horace Greeiey, ne gave
Mr. stoddarl employment In the Iehuantcpec Com,
pany I'm 1869; IN july, 1870, he became acquainted
with AIcCarrahau In Washington, and, learning, 10 MS
surprse that the PanOche Grande rancho was still III
utroyersy told him that lie (Wness) had seen tne
signed patent: McGafrahan soon afterWard INFORMED
him that the record I'm the Interior Department had Deen
found and proposed employ him as cOunse Witness
adviscd cdnnromise With the New-Idria Company,
cheaper for both PARTIES tgate the claim for
years and several months subsequently, the witness,
up0u receiving "A conveyance from McGarTahan OF an liz
tereat OF ak Obe-hundrcdths Of the claim. under
tOOk 10 negotiate for the formation OF a new
company ON a compromise basis; his negotiations
were conducted with VIM. L. Barron, president OF tue
New Idra Mining Company, who was then IN New
York City and with VIM. NJ. EYarts, attorney for Lees
AZ Waller the New-YOTk correspondents OF the New
Idra Company: d. O. Mills OF the Bank or California,
who was Interested in the kew-dra Company was also
in NeWYOrk during portion OF ths ne aIu applOreu
the negotiations; the scheme finally agreed upOn De-
subject To
tOn by McGarrahan and by the NeW-IdIia CGnPanys
TO organize company under the La"n Vi
New. York 10 be called the California QhcksliNer
Company with a capital stock OF S5,OOOOOO ana an
issue of II 600 600 Of first mortgage per cent ehyeal
gold bonds 10 be distributed follows: For the New
Idra Companys title, 100000 OF bonds also Tor NC
Garrahans title 50 100000 OF stock Tor working eapl-
tai $500 600 of stock for Simon stevens, for erecting
tins any other arrangement accepteDle 10 MeuarI
ham, stock to the amount OF elOOOOOO lhs compromise
scheme was agreed by Mr. Barron III the latter part
OF October 1870 but he died during his Journey Dack 10
san Francisco and witness had no Iurther cOhhecliOh
Al 6:i5 D. m. adjourned until Monday evening.