Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-19
SHIPHERD CORNERED.
WHAT HE WANTED FROM WALK
Err BLAINE.
But Little Gotten from the Witness
Blaine. Senior. 10 Appear Before
she Gem usftsee TO Clear Things Up.

WASHINGTON, Adril 1S-The Shipherd
investigation was taken up to-day by the
House Foreign Relations Committee. Ship
herd was asked whether the gentlemen
mentioned in the list he gave Minister
Hurlbut-heretofore published-were stock
holders in the Peruvian Company, and de-
clined to answer. Witness was asked if he
knew Whitelaw Reid, and answered that
they had known each other for seventeen
years. Witness declined to state whether
Joseph Medill was a stockholder or not.
He also declined to state to whom he re-
ferred when he said: "The nearest friends
Of the new President are identified with the
company"
"Would you decline to give the names of
stockholders of any bank or other corpora
tion in which you were interested, and
which was organized for an honest and
legitimate businessP
81 should, unless to those who had the
right to inquire, and under circumstances
warranting the disclosure"
Witness declined to state from whom he
had received assurances of the very strong
est governmental support" Several other
OAbNN0 1uDpoASho WOAO Phb3 Oub WAbuCoo pOol
lively declined in every instance to answer
any question looking to an inquiry into the
personnel of the Peruvian company or its
financial status.
Mr.. Williams then asked witness "What
was your real object In writing your letter
of August 9th to Walker Blaine ?''
The witness replied at some length, an
swering the committee that he would with
pleasure answer with frankness, and some
what surprising them with his statement
that he looked upon Blaine as no lawyer,
and seeing in Walker Blaine bright, clear
headed attorney he approached him as a
lawyer.
Mr.. Williams, reading from the letter, in-
quired " Upon what grounds did you re-
gard Walker Blaine as an eminent attorney"
Witness admitted that he had never heard
of his conducting any case, but inferred his
ability from the high position he occupied.
You say, Il feel my embarrassment in
attempting to discuss these matters with so
eminent statesmen, and therefore turn 10
you Did you expect that the son could
instruct the father?"
''No sir. l felt my embarrassment as an
attorney in dealing with statesman"
Mr.. Williams-"TheD, If you approached
Walker Blaine because he was an attorney,
how did he have any advantage as an attOr-
ney over your"
Witness wriggled and struggled hard to
escape the corner into which the incisive
series of questions was fast driving him.
He was finally driven from his position, at
first assumed, that he approached
Walker Blaine to employ his services as an
attorney. He simply sought his judicial
services. He thought the son was better
acquainted with the working of the fathers
mind and could better supplement the in
formation that might be impaired by Sena-
tor Blair
Mr.. Williams-"Then you thought the
legal and judicial qualities of Walker
B!aine's mind superior to your Own?"
tIn this instance | was so incredibly mod
est as to think so'
Mr.. Wuliams-"We accept this instance
OF incredible modesty. What peculiar legal
obliquItY in Blaine did you wish to over
come?'
''It was not an obliquity; it was a lack of
legal culture "
After some further questions, which failed
TO elicit other than evasions, Mr.. Blount
asked the witness "Now, did you expect
to utilize Walker Blaine when you regarded
him as holding the same relations as an
associate to the Chief Justice on the bench
and IS son to f2ther?"
81 don't think understand the drift of
your question"
Mr. Blount-'Well, to be plain, did you
not expect by the use of flttery or some
other means to secure the aid Of this young
map?"
Gas understand It, the question is purely
probe to draw out whether | attempted to
improperly use Mr.. Walker Blaine, and
can frankly answer that il such was the
case it. has escaped my conscience"
Mr.. Bount-"Please state what advantage
Walker Blaine had over Senator Blair in
translating your views to the Secretary"
81 can only say, because l believed the
xunuId hcftor understand tbo Irfuor
of his fathers mind"
Witness replied to a question by Mr..
Deuster, that he held q conversation with
VIM. E. Chandler some time In October,
but he declined to give it's purport. Il had
been intended at one time to offer
him retainer, but for rea.
sons which delicacy precluded
his giving. this intention was not car
ried out. Shipherd asked an opportunity
to be heard specifically in regard to his res
sons for declining to answer certain ques-
tions, and was assured that such oppOrtu-
nifty would be afforded him.
Representative Lord desired to put one
question, and said: "Mr. Shipherd, you
have testified that your object In employing
Senator Blair as counsel was that you be-
leved on account of his personal intimacy
with Secretary Blaine you could the more
readily reach the Secretary. Now was It
not for a similar reason that you desired to
secure the services of Walker Blaine ="
Witness (somewhst impstiently) - Il
think 1 can't give you any further reasons,
il have not already made myself under
stood "
Mr.. Lord-"Very well; then the commit
tee will assume that such was the case"
Witness-"I have no control over the |
committees assumptions"
Mr.. Lord-"Then | will ask you, did you
not approach Walker Blaine on account of
his Intimate relations to his father?"
"As l have defined them, yes."
The committee then adjourned with the
understanding that Shepherds attendance
will not again be required until the latter
part of next week. 1t is understood that
Mr.. Blaine will in the interval come before
the committee, when 1t is believed that some
new light will be thrown upon the subject,
which will be utilized by the committee in
any supplemental examination of Shipherd
which they may desire to make.
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