Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-11
THE NcGARRAHAN CLAIM.
The Fight for the New Idria Quick. q.
SILVER Nine-The McGarrahan Let.

The Fight for the New Idria Quick.
silver Mine-The McGarrahan Let.
ters.
The Senate public lands committee Oh Sat-
ufday heard evidence in regard to the McGar-
rahan claim for property in California, known
as the New Idria quicksilver mine. Judge
Jeremiah Wilson, Hon. E. c. Ingersoll and ex-
Senator Carpenter appeared for Mr.. MEG ARA
han, and Judge Jeremiah Black, David S.Wil-
son OF Iowa, and MIR. Curtis, eX-chlef clerk OF
me land office, for the New ldria company.
MIR. jeremiah Wilson offered in evidence pa
perS purpOrting to be copy OF the order of
The California land commissioners rejecting
me claim OF McGarrahan then further order
OF the district court of the United States for
the district of California reviewing, on appeal,
the order of the land commissioner, and af-
nrmlng the validity of his claim to the land in
controversy; also, a letter from ex Secretary
OF the Interior Caleb B. Smith, and a subse-
quent letter from Secretary John p Usher,
directing patent to issue to McGarrahan,
the records of the general land office. Judge
Black then asked leave to examine Mr. Ne
Garrahan relative to the steps taken by him
TO secure these decisions. A discussion there
upon occurred between the counsel, Judge
Black claiming that corrupt means had been
used by Mr. McGarrahan to secure patent,
Francis F.. Blair, Senators kellogg and
sawyer, John Hickman, of Pennsylvania.
Charles Eldridge,. of Wisconsin. Daniel E.
to Austria. John W. Forney, and others
ing his decisions. Ex-senator Carpenter
claimed that, even if bribery had been used
and .NIr. McGarrahan had influenced dead
Senators, it would not invalidate his clients
title to the land in question. AS long as he
had not corrupted this Congress, the commit
upon the validity of Mr.. McGarrahan's grant.
MIR. David Wilson said the defense intended
to show that, every decision in favor of Mr..
McGarrahan had been obtained by the use of
money. After some further discussion rela-
tive to the admission of evidence of this char
acter. Mr.. McGarrahan was asked if he had
ever given stock based on his claim to John
Hickman, eX-member of Congress from Penn
SylVania: He replied that he never had. He
heard subsequently that Hickman had stock,
but did not know how he got it, In reply to
further questions, witness said, Daniel f.
SickleS performed some services for me : | did
not agree to give him any compensation, but
subsequently l gave him an interest in my
claim: he would have acted for me if | had
never given him dime: never gave James
Wilson, eX.member of Congress from Iowa,
either stock or money; there was some talk
between Mi Sickles and myself about taking
Mr.. f. NJ. Stanton into our business; Mr.. Sick
les said he did not think it was necessary to
have MI Stanton aid; Mr. Stanton was not
Attorney General at that time; made no at
tempt to buy up the Attorney Generals Office ::
1t was in the possession of my opponents.
Judge Black.-It was the possession OF the
United States.
Mr.. David Wilson offered in evidence several
letters from McGarrahan to Mr.. Frank, secre-
tary of the PanOche Grande Company which
he claimed would show that McGarrahan and
SlckleS attempted to operate upon Stanton
while Attorney General for the purpose of
securing his influence. One of them said that
he and his friends were willing to take Stan
ton CtidI into the same boat With wi them The other
mentS with Mr.. McDOuga, ex-senator from
California, and others, as to prospects of legiS-
latiOn before Congress in his behalf, stating
that the whole fight would now have to be
made in California. that for having Senator
McDougalS services 1000 shares would have
to be given him. 1t would also be Necessary to
Generals office here. Another letter states
that when an injunction had been served upon
the New Idria Company to prevent them from
running the mine, arrangements had been
taken in time to prove OF service to McGaIra-
hans opponents.
III February 1865, Nc Garrahan writes:
Frank Blair has been working for me for the
last few weeks, as also D. Voorhees, of Ind-
ana. and other friends of his My friend
Frank Blair stands good chance to get ithe
nomination OF the Presidency from the demo-
cratic national convention
In November 1870, he writes: . Tell Shaw to
try and get some democrat to go to Marble of
the World and say to him that 1 am earnestly
Eldridge, Marshal, Frank and Judge Blair,
The Shaw mentioned here is c. p Shaw. a
Two New York congressman at that time.
Stewart and Lincoln, are alleged to have been
Stockholders, and of Stewart, Shaw wrote
from Washington as follows There is no
need of SteWart'S opposing if proper steps are
taken, and / can take them here. Stewart is
expected here on Sunday morning, and can be
seen. He is fully possessed of the case by
: Shepherd, and understands the mighty Stake
at issue. l am sure it will be granted but
Stewart is almost omnipOtent with Senator
Morgan, and can, if heartily enlisted with
You, secure him in the Senate"
made out, it is alleged, the following list of
stockholders:
"Private-Outsde holders of stock: Stokes,
NC, Tennessee; Devices, NC, North Caro-
: lima; Kellogg, NC, Louisiana; Wilson, MIC,
Iowa; Blair, NC, Missouri: Stewart, NC
New York FOrney, NC, PENNSYLVANIA: Saw
yer, NC, South Carolina; Eldridge. NC.
Wisconsin Lincoln, NC, New York McDou.
gal, NC, Colorado; Ross, MIC, Kansas:
Clarke, NC. Kansas; Harris, M. c., Louisiana.
Issued in MEG IS name.
Gill; Paige, and Dent: Paschal, attOrney.at-
law: Brown, sergeantat arms, Senate: Clarke.
eX-clerk Senate
1t is alleged further that the following is a
list OF persons who appear on the books of the
company as having held stock VIM. McGar-
raglan, Fred Franck, Thomas Webster Schef-
feler 4 Co. UOr ROSenplanter.) f. Scheffeler
John Hickman, represented on list by letters
'Hic.'O A. Schinewind Ryan, Frank r. Blair
represented on list by letters "Be.) Senator
McDeugall, Mrs. Marilla McDougall, A. H.
Wright, G. F. Mayer, Richard J. Burke, Au-
gust I. Higgins, L. Girard, Louis Jay, James
NJ. Latimer, Henry l.. Stevenson, Edward
ROssmann, B. O'COnnOr, and Lorenzo Sher-
wood