The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-26
SIMON CAMER0N'S DEFENCE.
THE LETTERS, IN THE BELIEF or SOME
EXPERTS, ARE FORGERIES.

AhI LEfIEhN, IN THE BELIEf OF SOluE
EAFERTS, ARE FORGERIES.
The Story OF the Detective that Gen. HntIer
Employed TO Win Mrs. divers Confidence
Where the senator Told the Widow TO GO.
WASHINGTON, March 2j.-Tho attendance
ut the Oliver. Cameron caso to-day was much
smaller than on any other day Of the trial.
Tho direct examination OF Mr.. A. @. Riddle
was resumed by Gen. Butler The first time
the witness ever heard OF a letter upon the sub
ject OF marriage was through Mr.. Matchctt.
known as the preacher" and that was in the
spring following the consultation. When this
matter began 10 be talked about and passed into
the hands OF others. Mr.. Cameron sent to the
witness tho letters Of Mrs. Oliver and wished
him to become her counsel. He declined. but
Mr.. Cameron said that the witness had got him
into IT, and now must see him through.
Cross-examined by Mr. Peters: He never wns
requested to SEQ Messrs. Peters h Darneille
about the case. and consulted no ono about 1t
except at the urgent request Of Mrs. Oliver. In
the final negotiation OF the settlement Of this
suit no told Mr.. Cameron that he would hold
himself responsible to sec to his interest as
much as that OF Mrs. divers lie never ro-
ccivcd any fee from him or her for that service.
IIofrcccyed the first installmcnt Of $1,000
the $3.50 on the 9Th OF 9th Of December OF the
same year. He spent n good deal OF time over
the case; was much annoyed by IT, and would
have been glad to have gotten rid OF it.. He
came to Congress from Ohio in 1861. and made
tho acquaintance OF Mr.. Cameron at that time.
He had this matter In hand about two months.
When the money was sent TO tho witness. Mr..
Cameron wanted 1t given to Mrs. Oliver in two
payments and she was Informed OF this
fact. portion OF 1t was retained for
time as a security that she would
not pursue Mr.. Cameron any further.
He did not then expect TO act for Mr.. Cameron
and fully supposed the whole matter forever
settled. He had never given Gen. Butler n full
account OF his knowledge OF Mrs. Oliver. or her
cnso before the trial commenced. After that he
did give Gen. Butler memorandum OF ques-
lions 70 be nut to Mrs. Oliver while she was
upon the stand
Jns. Blenncr Jr.. was then examined by Gen.
Butler. About the 81 OF March 1877 no was
employed as q detective by Gen. Butler TO OBJ
tain COPY OF tho letter that Mr.. Matchett and
Mrs; Oliver were circulating as the. one from
Mr. cameron containing promise Of marriage.
He oolained cory OF y He took board at tho
Avenue House. where Mrs. Oliver was stopping.
some time in February or March. 1871 He
made her acquaintance on March 3 1877 Mrs.
WW'lyer Wd,Sa, came Into the pesroT with man named
sofa with Mrs. oliver and they were
talking. Then she gave him let.
6of rcss, e took it, S Copied 0 i on S9sE saql and
handed the original back, TO hor. Hc len in
After Alter lint In After MstShett "I left Mrs 10 oyer We
showed witness the letter. He read IL and
marked 4. by putting two pinholcs under tho
word or ON the last line. She snid It was from
Senator Cameron 10 her. He did not see the
letter there after that time but made a copy of
i then, and was alone with Mrs. Oliver while
doingso. He subsequently saw the letter again.
Mrs. Oliver spoke 70. Mntchett at the timo Of
some other letter; Wiincss thought she said
that she had another. He was paid &c day 10
The Hon, J. F. Fucker OF sunbury Pa. was
eXamined 10y Gen; Butler, He testified that he
1877. He had known Mr. Cameron a long time
had alengthy correspondence with him, md was
ness was shown tho letter TO Secretary Bristow.
and said II was unquesiiQnably in Mr.. Cam
eron's handwriting. He then went into a sci
which contains the promise that Mr.. Cameron
would take care of Mrs. Oliver. and said that IL
third letter. in which Mr.. Cameron appears To-
promise that she shall be- his wife. WINS submit
tod 20 the witness, and number Of imperfec-
tions picked out TO show that the loiter was not
written by Mr.. Cameron.
After recess Or. ID. ". Bliss was examined by
Con, Butler, llo Is PRACTISING physician and
surgeon In this city. and has had considerable
experience In tho various branches uf ohstct-
rics; lie went 20 see Mrs. Oliver at the request
Of Mr.. Riddle. and10und her in bed.
Dr.. B - declined To- testify unle-s ordered by
tn" Court, and the Court decided that he must
answer
Witness tprocccdlnc He interrogetel hor ns
10 the character Of her illness SHE said that
she was then in the process Of self procured
premature confinement. lie did not mako n
physical examination. but merely questioned
her Rs to her condition. He saw no signs and
should have made an examination but thought
thnt Mrs. Oliver objected 10 IT,. Shp expressed
a great deal OF fear of persons hearing tho con-
YrrsHtlon between herself ana witness. He left
her. and TINT was the last he saw Of her IL was
not easy 10 produce tho condition Mrs Oliver
said she was in without medicine strong enough
20 endnnger life II such medicine were given
4 must operate in "a few hours or oXpend its in
j. NJ. Foster Of Harrisburg Pa. was the next
witness examined by Gen. Butler lle said he
had known Mr. Cameron all his life. He trav-
clled with him. and knew him intimately. He
had seen him write. and had seen letters ot his
writing frequently. and was as well acquainted
with his handwrltlng as any person. He
thought the letters were iorgeries.
samuel +. Barr examined by Gen. Butler
Ho had been Mr. Camerons private secretary
for sixteen years and one month. and had
charge Of MS private papers; lie was clerk Of
Enm@rap 9s TGmes gs % hapmaS Ie h9h Snan wnSh RE-
Cameron write a thousand letters. and know his
handwriting. He thought the letters forEcries.
and came 10 this city he found the committee
rooms besieged by lobby men and bad women
He soon cleared them out. and became known
10 that class as a kind Of bear. Miss Annie Da-
Wis never gave him any medicine TO give 10 Mrs
Oliver to produce an abortion, and the story
was false from beginning 10 end, He had not
seen Miss Davis for three. years. From all that
he had ever seen or heard Of her, She was a vir-
tuous. respectable lady. and OF exemplary char
actor. He was not relative OF either Mr.. or
Mrs Cameron. He had seen Mrs. Oliver
about the door OF Mr.. Cameron's room
IN the Capitol once or twice. but never
n tho room; neither had no, ever seen
Mr.. Cameron speak to her. nor had he ever
seen her in Mr.. Cameron's chamber or sitting
room at the Congressional Hotel. The last time
he saw her before this trial began WIS once
when she came to the Committee room. and was
very desirous Of seeing Mr.. Cameron. He took
her message to thI Red Room, whore Mr.. Cam
seemed anxious to see him. and ho answered.
Tell her to 20 to the devil" He went back and
delivered tho message, and she said that she
would consult "a lawyer.
AT this point the court adjourned for the day
ON THE VAR PATH.