The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-28
AN IMPARTIAL PARTY DIVISION.
Failure to Examine and Verify the
Returned Messages.
THE SCENT GETTING WARM.

PACPo'Se&
pcnas for their production before investigating
committee in Washington. the purpose of placing
the kilograms in his possession being to avoid
if possible their delivery for public inspection
1t was thought that subpoena would not be issued
to him owing to his position. He was finally. no
ever, directed by the Executive Committee to deliver
the messages to Captain Whitney. the Washington
manager Of the Western Union Telegraph Company
After doing this his custody of the dispatches ended
The instructions with regard to picking out the
dispatches were to take all that of political
character the collection when first made being for
the sole purpose of getting them out of the way of
subpoena.
TESTIMONY OF FLOYD GRANT
Mr.. Floyd Grant, who supervised the selection of
the kilograms. was the next witness He explaine
how he proceeded in the selection: he came to
Washington and in order to comply with certain
subpenacs issued upon Captain Whitney he opened
the trunk which contained the dispatches collected
by him in New York and selected therefrom those
called for by the subpoena Of the Morrison Commit
tee; the balance replaced in the trunk.
BY the Chairman-What was the number remain
ing? Did you keep any schedule Of them?
witness-The number exclusive of those required
by the Morrison Committee 29.275.
BY Mr.. McMahon--Mr. Floyd testified that the
kilograms were about evenly divided as regards
party. number were sent by z. Chandler from the
Fifth avenue Hotel There were signed Have
meyer some Hooper and others Noyes. He thought
Mr. Chambers messages went to Florida; Others went
to New Orleans and Oregon. He thought of the
20 900 kilograms some three hundred Of them in
cipher.
TESTIMONY OF MANAGER WHITNEY.
Captain Leonard Whitney, Manager Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, Washington was then
sworn In compliance with request by Mr.. Potter,
witness produced schedule showing three
hundred kilograms delivered to the Morrison Com
lnittee. He thought Mr. Morrison returned the
dispatches, but did not recoect the time. Other
schedules produced showing that various tele-
grams which he called upon to submit
delivered to the Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections. These delivered in two different
packages The kilograms, when returned to Captain
Whitney, were in the trunk heretofore mentioned.
He inquired of the party who brought them if they
were all in the trunk meaning the two diff
ferent supplies furnished previous to the time the
trunk was sent and he was informed that they
The trunk then ordered to New York. and that
was the last he knew Of it, 1t was sent to Mr. Hun
ter, the supply agent.
General butler nterrogated the witness with view
to ascertaining whether all the kilograms were re-
turned to him. Witness. however, never heard OF
i,y Mr. Hunton-Wtness said when the trunk was
returned to him the schedules previously prepared
were not verified by the contents Of the trunk, it
being Immediately shipped TO New York as per order
OF President Orion.
By Mr.. McMahon-Mr. Whitney stated that Mr..
Van Horne gave verbal order in his (Whtney's)
Office to collect all political kilograms from the files
and forward them 10 New YORK; no conversation as
to the of this unusual procedure occurred be-
tween witness and Mr.. Van Horne, however.
Mr.. Hiscock laughingly) after some interroga-
tories concerning the kilograms delivered to the Nor
rison committee had been made, said mo one on
this side enertains the idea that the trunk was red
by the Morrison committee Mr.. Chairman"
Mr.. Morrison-It has been stated that the trunk
was not in the possession Of the Morrison commit
tee. When it comes to the point you will find the
laugh will lie nearer home.
Mr.. Reed sarcasticaiiy)-An right; go ahead; we
await the result in fear and trembling.
Professor Edward S. Holden, Of the Naval observa-
tory was then to translate without divulging
in any way the 'cipher telegrams' which were
handed the committee by General Butler.
DESTRUCTION THE TEIFGRAMs.
Mr. James o. Green said he was chief clerk of the
Western Union Telegraph Company on railway rela-
tons and free services also acted as sort OF conf
dental clerk his father the present President in
letter Just read his father referred to the fact of
having handed the key Of . trunk containing
should be destroyed; this was in My last year: he
took the dispatches down in the basement Of the
Western Union premises and cast them into the fur
The Chairmau-was there o strong fire? A. Yes.
and took poker and saw that they were properly
consumed.
o. There was no chance of any Of them escaping
by the chimney? A. No. sir; every one was burned;
could not say IL all the kilograms were returned
in the trunk: twenty-five per cent might have been
taken out without its being noticed he could
not tell il packages had been opened; they could
not have been opened while the trunk was in New
York the key was in the possession OF his father.
and the trunk was in Chicago, where it was care
fully watched by a competent man. and 1t was
reasonably certain therefore. that the trunk could
not have beed tempered with.
q. You not destroying them to keep them out
of the way Of the committee? A. Not at all; think
I suggested to my father that they should be de-
s.royed because several gentlemen inquired about
them: General Bristow was one who inquired where
inquiries with regard to them: thought they
kicking about the committee room until mentioned
IL to my father, and il then suggested their
b,, ne destroyed. before destroying them we kept
them required six months
Mr.. McMahon--To what political party did Presi-
dent orion belong? A. understood he belonged to
the republican: believe he took an active part in
the election Of Mr.. Hayes
CLOSE QUESTIONING.
O. Have YOU any knowledge of what passed in
those tclegrarps? A. Not at all: made suggestions
my father. merely in the interest of the company.
q. There have been good many rumors that
number of these kilograms are kept back and not
sent to Washington. A. do not know anything
o. Yon know something Of the Geographic CORE
spondencc that has been referred to between Tyner
and John Y. Foster? A. Yes; there were Ave or six
dispatches that know OF.
q. Where Foster at the time? A. In Indianap-
O. These messages were taken out and sent either
TO Captain whitney or Mr.. Orton, who in Wash
inrton at the time. By whose orders were they
taken from tho rest of the telegramsr A. BY order
of the President.
O. who took them out of the files A. could not
say: think got them from Mr.. Cleary: believe
refer to election but to political matters, and to cleo
lions remotely.
O. From what point was that order given? A. The
last given by order from washington; there
were but two such orders.
O. Il that letter in existence? A. No. sir; de-
stroycd it at the request Of Mr. orion; think
burned 1t within day two OF the time sent tho
messages here.
O. Have you any recollection Of the contents Of
those dcspatchcs2 A. My impression is that they
referred to the sale of political Offices cannot say
what political Offices understood IL was in conncc-
ton with the election that was going on.
rNrHnFNCHs.
O. What was the price mentioned? A. There was
no price mentioned; may say that this Ii all in
ference Of minc and nothing more; there was abso-
lutely nothing In the kilograms to that effect the
full OF the subject OF politics at that time.
and my impression was that IL was he sale OF offices
In the government or some department in behalf of
the republican Senate committee.
q. by whom were they despatched? A. Some were
signed James N. Tyner.
q. By the Chairman Who was making the propo-
stion and who was considering IL? A. cannot tell
from the despatch; do not know where got the
impression that there such sale nc all, but Mr..
Tyner being in Office at the time assumed that he