The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23
SIIERMAN'S FAMOUS LETTER.
MRS TOM JENKS'S RIDTCULOUS Ex'
PLINiIION or ITS ORIGIN.

khermnn's case thhh ~ Whs sfee
fore-'rhe Bcssie Turner of the Presi-
s.n,,.I ButIer's sharp Questions. |
WAsurSoroS. June 22-Ths was n field |
aov tn the electoral fraud inquiry. Tho far
famed Mrs jerks testified. Her husband, |
Tboe n. Jcnks was the pet witness OF John |
Sherman He was the first witness John Sher- |
mans attorneys demanded should be sub |
prnned. His wife was summoned at the ro-
ouest ~ Republican member Of the committee. |
presumably. therefore with the approval, II not |
Mtho solicitation. Of John Shermans attorneys. |
The friends of John sherman have been clam
orng for several days ut the failure OF the |
majority of the committee to call Mrs. jerks. |
Tho Administration correspondents have !
rro.almed that the Democrats on the Commit
iee wcrr afraid TO call Mrs Jenks. She was put
on tho stand to-day. John sherman. his attor-
ncys. the Republican members OF the commit
toe and all their friends wish tonight, from
the very bottom Of their hearts. that Mrs. jerks
Wa M the bottom OF the sea. A moro dramatic |
srep, was never witnessed in committee
room. Tom jerks had been under a vigorous
rr,ss-cxamination for an hour and "A half Gen.
Butler had handled him with all his consum-
mpts skill rs a cross-cXamincr and had made
apparent all hi- eluiyocations. tergivcrsations
ant contradictions. The three Republicans
who appear rs the particular champions Of the
Fraudulent Administration were annoyed and
Angcrel at Buffers remorscloss pursuit Of the
truth. They obiccted, complained, and pro-
tcsied Finally. Tom jerks was released and
Mrs jerks wus called
She came into the committee room from an
adjacent waiting room. She il about medium
height. rather stout. but with form that is still
ehapcy. Her hair is light auburn. her face
nearly round the chin firm. hut not square and
heavy Hrr eyes are cold. steey gray. aud tho
nose is long and straight, but not very promi-
nent The expression Of the face is cold. cal
cua,ing. and passionlcss. There Is mental
auickncss. n readiness at repartee. and utter
abandon II department that at first gives the
beholder and listener a mingled impression OF
admiration at the woman's cleverness and dis
gust 80 her shane elcssness. She was evidently
Ittc Hurried when she nrst came into tho
room. She had been in expectancy Of having
% undergo the ordeal Of an examination for sew
eral days. She had been sitting IN half; lighted
inside committee room Tor a day and hall
vhile her husband WAS on the witness stand.
To-day. when she came 70 the Capitol she
did not know how soon she would be called.
This told, OF course. on her mental and physical
condition. When she was summoned by
Deputy Sergeant ntat-Arms she had to come
through crowd OF reporters and spectators,
he committee at the end Of the long table, turn
rear Of the committee and face the throng she
hal lust pressed through. Her nervousness was
still more perceptbe when the Acting Chair
man. Mr.. Morrison, asked her to stand up and
her right t, arm MI at the elbow looked down a. the
oath was repeated, and bowed her response. As
ste resumed her seat she faced Gen. Butler.
who was to conduct the examination.
her if u name Fer fer T response @ % was sc"rcey
porter, across the table. said he could not
hear the answer Then there was some talk
responses Instructions as to whom she should
address her replies. and special Injunction to
speak so the reporter could hear. There was
suggestion that she might cit on the opposite
side of the table by the side OF the reporter. but
with a liiile show OF brayado see :, said can
h3ceut in which this was uttered. II was not
altogether French. but rather ming ing OF
dominating The witness had 10y this time
recoyered somewhat her equanimity. Gen, But
Tor had been watching her closely. studying
his subject. He evidently made up, his mind
that he had a queer compound TO deal with. and
pquick as thought determined on his line Of
stack lie knew she had "A story fixed up. and
b. Jumped in mttilds res, ana came To- the paint
without another preliminary, question. his
nrst question was for her full name the next
Was about the John sherman letter, The smart
woman was taken by surprise. In her ezotism
pie had expected TO tell her story in her own way.
bhe evidently thought that she would fall first
ntoiriendly hands; She did not expect the cross
examination 10 be begun instantrr In the par
lance ot the prize ring. she was shocked out oi
time ly the directness otthc attack. Butlor asked
A. 10 her knowledge Of the sherman letter. and
having begun the attack on this line pressed
forward along il without hesitation OF An in
stAnts variation. The witness first eyaded. then
began 10 fence. She attempted to rally her pow
srs OF repartee hut was held fast 10 the main is
sue s9e made the Spectators laugh: Two men,
Ike giddy girls but Buter's persstence diseon,
eer,ed the smart woman. When she found that
thecpuld not evade, could not get away from the
polite persistence OF her intcrlOcutOr, she began
y reallzs that she WAS getting into deep water.
s1e 4, more than once said IN reply to a question
showing that SIZE did not expect 10 be put 10 her
numEo IN this way until after she had given
say s @ na s iSa her f@5ns 9 n Eat her oSe iSe
slnir looked defiant. and said snappishly; i
h9ye statement that desire 20 make
,But"r replied " ltn Lreat suayity, Worry well
haiame. pray make any statementyou may de;
PIE To make and then answer my question"
leaning forward with potulapt toss she threw
PER ian on the table. dropped bundle Of letters
u n, fer nay. graspod the arms, OF the chair and
WIN her. peculiar accent sald
a. lwsli to say to this august committee, and
NE country at large then a long pause. as If
lOr pretty little speech with which she had in
Ended to make her debut before the committee;
y Ne pause heightened into minutes. Well
ssiams anything more you wish . to say before
aps M gi,bs my In"h33n yoS iih av shapp,nG
1enl more 10 say" Then pray proceed" pO-
Iely and quietly urged Gen, Butler, Taking
NY lrr speech hs il there had been no pause no
hLrrupton. she continued her speech.
,,ai,,g ,Ihf9ggh9ut this liite episode this iarelcal
HltIhtt at the dramatic. Gen. ButlOr sat stead
Changed without even a smile Illuminating IT,
Judge Shelatarger tried to appear uncon-
ss"rned hut he could not 1t was evident from
ue working OF the lines Of his face that he
tenl2ed that his wtnrss WAS knock ing his de-
,sshce INTO cooked hat Poor Gov, Cox looked
Ets' one way, then another Reed, apparent
y. Ws struggling 10 get il through HIS
penl what all this meant. and Hiscock
pqH turned away to conceal his chaRrn
aghhhon watched the witness As a cat watches
hmyuse. His brow contracted with intense
Hlnking' his cy's. however. merry twink;
tiiH, MorrisQn was trying 10 look sedato and
,uqcla while Huntou md Springer wore CON
sH.sel with laughter, Tho reporters looked on
WIN opon-mouthed wonder until the speech
a7 wa7 coneuled, and then committee. audience,
snI reporters broke into a loud guliaw;
SftlhSrr Eot ny. walked toward the lower end
mo Wblo and said: " The first act over, let
w. E curtain drop" but Butler with quiet equa-
nn'''{, bhl rather r"lukIngiS said, PARTON
Hi Ivi 10 not Interrupt the witness" And then
vSuH woman, with bow and smile: VIII
~ llrh7e answer my question, Madame"
a. Ir woman was evidently honplussed again.
sv,nal n nal lhlled To- mako nm impression; that was
ssl'At iQ her, II was some time before she re-
b,rl'l herself. Butler all the time pressing
is,s ieyls ns question:, and patiently and with even
NmE,t SUN ring her 10 ramhle on 10 retort, n.
Nnr smiling at her clever rrpartecs but al
TuSs lh",ing upGu nh answer TO his question,
,nh1 n erhr c0so Of the with ntss twisting and