Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-25
FURTHER CROss-EX EXAMINATION or
MRS. jerks.
THE ORIGINAL SHERMAN LETTER
PRODUCED.
Tr 1INiNN OF A NEWSPAPER
CORRESPONDENCE.

met at IL. Potter resumed the char.
Mrs. Agnes jerks was recalled On her
trance she made very dignfed bow to the COM
mtee.
Springer commenced the cross-examnation BY
referring TO the statement of witness on Saturday,
wherein she stated except herself knew
aught of the original document known as the
sherman letter.
OFF no one excepting yourself knew of the
original, you must have written 1t
Al didn't say
Q-Were you the author Of the contents of that
elteri
Al dictated the contents.
Q-Tnen the person to whom you dictated the
contents of the letter acted as sort of an amen
uenss
Ayes, an amenuenss extraordinary.
Q-Who was the person to whom you dictated
the letteri
Al refuse to tell YOU
Q-Do you know the names of any of the per-
sons who were 10 the paror at the time the letter
was wrtten'
Al may know the names Of them.
Q-What names do you remember
Al will not tell you
Springer then questioned witness to the sor,
of paper the letter was written
She testified that it was written, as she
cou Id on page Of ordinary sheet letter paper,
and used a medium sized envelope with print
ing on it.
ON whose handwriting was the so-called
Sherman letter
Avon asked me that before, and | will not
answer you.
o. ask you again, was that letter in your
handwriting
Al again reuse to answer whether it was in
my handwriting or not. GU must draw your
own differences.
Witness then stated, in reply to further queries
that she alone knew knew anything of the original
letter, adding perhaps some one has died since"
Springer-"W eber has died since
Wituess-"Yes; 1t is a great pity"
The letter w addressed on the face "Danie
Weber and James f. Anderson"
Springer then requested witness, handing her
sheet of paper, to write copy from memory, AS
| near as possible, of the contents Of the orig na
document.
After exchange Of questions, she declined to
write copy, saying if they desired to see her
handwriting they had number Of letters written
by her, to which they might refer.
Mrs. jerks was then Intercepted in regard to
the letter as handed to her by Weber, and to
what the procedure was after entering the hotel,
to which she testified that she inquired OF the
usher if Sherman was in, and the usher said he
believed the gentleman WAS up stairs, and offered
to present her card, but she did not desire him to
do so. She unconsciously read the letter she had
in her posse sion at that time. After reading it
considered it an insult to Mr.. Sherman and his
friends, and on these grounds thought it proper
not to deliver the document
Q-But, madam, you thought it proper to open
the letter written and addressed to Mr.. Sher
man.
Al did not say opened the letter, and l will
not permit you to state it.
Witness said she frequently visited Kellogg at
bis office, during the time the visiting statesmen
were there and she had seen Gems. Garfield and
Sheridan, Messrs' Sherman, Soughton and others
in the office. She did not recall distinctly who
else she saw, without refreshing her memory
f rom memorandum.
Springer-iiave you memoranda OF your stay
in Washington
A-Oh no. An ordinary car could not bring
them, they are so voumnous.
Springer-lf you had notified US we might
have arranged for freight train to convey
A-(Sneeringly) You are very kind.
Witness in reply to question sad she was on
intimate terms with Anderson and Weber.
Springer desired to know what her object was
in deceving her friends, in order to favor Sher
man, whom she did not know.
At first she replied that she did it to preserve the
honor of the party Afterwards that her idea
was to prevent the two gentlemen from going TO
the democratic party, desiring them to stand firm
by the republican party, until the returns ill.,
aud she the self appointed agent of that
party.
Springer again attempted to get witness to
state in whose handwriting the sherman letter
was, but she declined most emphatically to do so
Butler then inquired if she had any more OF
Anderson's letters.
She replied. 81 may have some more" adding,
"by the way, General, how did you get that letter
Butler thereupon leaned carelessly back in his
chair and seemingly enjoyed the question as much
as the spectators.
Some little conversation ensued between Mrs.
jerks and Butler, during which witness told But
Ter he very tiowery, and offered to tell him
more about the Anderson letters, ifhe would give
her the information she required about how he
obi aimed the Weber letter, otherwise she should
be compelled to refuse, the same as he did
Springer asked her about how long it was from
thn ttna Sha of Wahe q m shp W
the document
She replied "a of an hour. She remained in
the reception parlor five minutes, during which
time she unconsciouslv bit the end from the note
| addressed to Sherman. entrusted to her tor de-
livery.
Mcmahon referred 10 correspondence which
passed between witness and Kellogg and particu
larry desired to know what letter she referred to
in her letter dated Jan. 1t, u, in which she said
"1es, refer to the letter you wrote, as You will
perceive by one of Andersons letters, which he
values very highly, and also that he is not in
possession of the d cument, and you may be SURF
he shall never get 1t OF the other paper he deen
of value" McMsh endeayoIed to prove that
the letter referred 10 the Sherman letter, but
he was unable to do so, witness evading direct
questions and making inquiries OF Mcmahon.
During replies oil witness she stated that had
$40 600 been offered for the Sherman letter, and
it was in her possession, she would not have de-
graded her honor much as to have accepted the
offer.
Potter-Did you ever see anything of Sher-
| mans writing
| A-No, sir.
McMshon seftrred to a letter bearing name OF
Thos jerks, asking witness if 1t was the signature
| of her husband.
She again evaded direct question and said her
| husband could identify his own signature and
| being present she referred the gentleman to him
| for information. In reply to a question she said
| her maiden name was Murdock.
Butler told Mrs. jerks he desired to CRAFTY
her curiosity in regard to his obtaining the letter
| from Weber. lie said Kellogg handed HIM a
bundle of papers, and in it he found letter ad-
dressed to Weber.
Mr.. Jenks--(Queklyl Why did you not hand
| 1t hack to HIM
Butler-(very slowly Because l had use
| for it.
| Springer then asked various questions relating
to certain claim in which her family were inter.
ested. Nothing of public int rest was ecitd. Al
| | +. NJ Mrs. jerks was excused till tomorrow
morning, and the committee took a recess
| Tae committee re-assembled, and McMshon in.
telrogated the correspondent OF the Cincinnati
| Gazette.
Odd you call upon the President, in relation
to the appointment of Andersonl
| Al did not call upon the President upon tina
appointment, especially as the appointment wa
| announced as being en- Ohio man Thera h.,