The Portland daily press., 1878-06-04
The Inquisition.
Interesting Forfeiture of the Pnrfici
pants in the Examination.
YARMOUTH.

The first day of the fraud investigation, Gays
a Washington correspondent, was as dramatic
in its developments as any future day is likely
to be. The case had evidently been carefully
prepared by McMahon, who led the witness
Anderson from point to point of his narrative,
reinforcing his statements already made or
laying the foundations for new ones by the pro-
duction of original papers, or what purported
to be copies of papers having unmistakable
significance If true, and causing quite sensa
ton when they were read. The session of the
committee extended from ten o'clock until
halfpast four, with an intermission of half an
hour. All this time Anderson was under ex-
animation, aud his cross-examination was only
begun when the session ended. The meetings
of the committee are held in q basement room,
small for the purpose, on the west side of the
main building, the same room where the credit
mobilier investigation was held and where
OAkes Ames read off from his memorandum
book the terrible items that convicted high
officials of falsehood, and doomed them to re-
tirement from the public service. The room
has one large window directly opposite the
door. A slight pine railing, erected early Fri
day morning, divides the two-thrds of space
occupied by the committee from the one-third
nearest the door, allotted to reporters and the
public. At the head of the long committee
table, with back to the open window sat Chair
man Potter, and next on his left was General
Butler, cigar in mouth, and his bald head
protected from the draught by wearing his broad
brimmed felt hat. Next to Butler sat Eppa
Hunton, large, light-complexioned, serious
faced Virginia lawyer; next him was Mcmahon
man OF ability, resolution and mental alert
ness Mcmahon seemed to have had the pre-
paration of the Louisiana case, and conducted
the examination of Anderson. At his left sat
the stenographer, and at the lower corner of the
table Hiscock of New York, one OF the Re-
publican members, a large-framed man, with .
face that gives an impression OF power, and is
not deceptive. AT the lower end OF the table
sat Blackburn when he was not moving about,
for he is restless mortal. This Kentuckian
might sit for a portrait of the typical fire.
eater; tall, lank, with straight, brown hair, q
haggard face of which the principal feature is
ponderous jaw, partially disguised by an inn
mense moustache trailing across 1t. AT Pot
ter's right sat Morrison, small, swarthy man,
with keen eyes, who hears everything, but
seldom speaks, and then always curtly; next
to Morrison, and nearly opposite Mcmahon,
sat the witness Anderson, short, slight man,
with smooth, fresh skiu, reddish brown hair,
of woolly habit of growth, and a NOUS
tache of unmitigated red. Apparently he is
not yet thirty years old, but his experience has
given him a wary and knowing look You set
him down at once as man who is smart le>
the Yankee sense. Below Anderson was
Springer, narrow-minded partisan; Then
Cox of Ohio. stately, honest-faced and quietly
earnest Below him. with M%a bacsourn =. On ,h me
| other side, sat Reed OF Maine, at once the
| vounoest and the largest man on the committee
with high bald dome over his eyes, and o
conntena6ce which has not been trained to dis
puise bis feelings. Behind Reed sat Samuel
| ShelIabarger, Secretary Sherman's counsel,
Srav and Intellectual, and during most of the
| 5ay J. M. Wilson, Mr.. Shellabarger's partner,a
| tall man with sharp face and bushy hair. At q
| desk in the corner of the room at the chair
mans right are two or three committee clerks.
| Members of Congress who came in to observe
| the proceedings were admitted within the bar.
| A score of correspondents and as many more
persons attracted by curiosity filled the space
| bv the door