The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-04-14
THF PERUVIAN INVESTIGATION.


THF PERUVIAN INVESTIGATION.
Jacob r, Shipherd reappeared before the
House Peruvian Investigating Committee Mt
Washington, on the 9th inst, and the taking OF
testimony was resumed. Chairman Williams
read letter from the late Minister Hurlbut,
stating that lac would sail April 6, and that the
United States had a bad reputation In Lima.
Shepherd read postscript to his letter OF May
20, in which he announced that his clients had
reconsidered their intention of Offering Gen.
Grant the Presidency OF the company He then
expressed the opinion that Minister Hurlbut
had INSTRUCTED and frustrated his purposes,
and was seconded by his chief, the late Secre-
tary Of State.
The examination of J. r shipherd was con-
tinued before the Congressional committee, on
the 9Th, when he testified concerning interview
with Minister Hur,but, May 80, as follows !;
AZ think can give Hnribut's exact language
In speaking Of our claim he slapped his hand
upon bis knee, with some emphasis and said !:
sMr. Shipherd, / did not come all the way down
here from Washington to assure you how in
finitely our Government would prefer to
settle all this matter through the OPP
portunity your company offers dc a3so
thought Minister Hurlbut did not help the
company owing to the fact that he was paid oy
time. Shipherd stated that Blaine laughingly
SAID the Peruvian company had an American
title and the French company possessed plenty
of cash, and asked why they did not join inter-
ests.
The Peru-Chili inquiry was continued on the
7th. Shipherd testified that the prospectnses
OF the Peruvian Company were chiefly sent to
Senators. Being further pressed about sending
copies of the prospectus to members OF Con-
rgess, Shipherd, at first declining to give the
names, finally stated that the only member Of
the House OF Representatives whom he
recoected as sending copy was to Hewitt, OF
New York. He mentioned his name, az that
gentleman had already stated ths fact in the
House, and his distinct recollection was that
from Hewitt he had only verbal response.
He had recognized Hewitt as being among the
capitalists whom he desired to approach, and, as
q capitalist he had sent him the documents with
q note, stating that, il he wished TO look into
the matter, he (the witness) would be glad to
confer with him. Hewitt sent him q very
courteous verbal response by the young man
who took the papers TO him, and to the best Of
his recollection that was the totally Of all the
negotiations that he had with any member Of
the House OF Representatives.
Shipherd, in his examination by the House.
Investigating committee on the Sth inst. de-
tailed an interview ne had with Secretary Blaine
in Washington on the evening OF Oct. 13, 1881
The witness adverted to Hurlbut's singular
conduct in withholding documents he had been
requested To deliver. Blaine retorted sharply:
"What business had you TO make an Grand
boy of an American Minister? He would have
done right if he had thrown all your papers
into the fire."
The witness then told Blaine what was re-
ported Of Hurlbut's intimacy with Suarez that
they had gone out together on the steamer !;
Al n L 4
Hurlbut's disposal one of the finest residences
in Lima, with a wlne-cellar exceptionally well
stocked, and that Hurlbut was occupying 1t free
of expense to himself, aud all had been furn-
ished by the Credit Industriel. Blaine laughed
incredulously, and said "Oh they don't catch
Steve in that way. II he lives in fine
house he pays rent for it" The witness
then said further "well, Mr.. Secretary,
their intimacy Is matter Of public
comment in Lima They are always together.
Suarez is virtually an inmate OF the American
legation AT this Blaine exclaimed, with
great emphasis I" II all his be true he must
have sold out to the Credit Industriel. L will 90
to the bottom of this" Then, after a moment,
turning to Witness he said "What do you
want me to do, Shipherdr" The witness
handed him draft OF dispatch and said {:
"Send that to Hurlbut." Blaine read
it, and replied "No, not that !;
1t would raise a howl in Congress-" He
Y
his char, dispatch in substance as follows {:
"The report reaches the State Department that
your conduct IS such as to lead to suspicion of
improper relations with the Credit Industriel.
You must stop it, The witness continued {:
~ heard afterward through Senator Blair,
that the dispatch was sent but the dispatch,
which it appears from the correspondence fur
nished by tGe State Department was sent, was
very different from the dispatch which the Sec
rotary wro;e IN my presence and read to me-"
In his testimony before the committee. on
the 10th inst, Shif hcrd said he had a talk with
Gen. Grant concerning the affairs OF the Peru
Wan Company, and that he (Grant) declined
to consider any proposition TO become pecunia-
rily interested IN the company, although he
looked upon It in a favorable light Wit
ness said that ex-senator Conkling agreed TO
accept retainer for professional services if
the occasion should arise. Shipherd declined
10 tell with whom he had been "holding
confidential correspondence upon pension
affairs intimating that the committee was ex-
ceeding the range of their investigation and
obtruding upon purely private matters. The
witness was then asked If he had anything
further TO offer In Justification OF his charge
that Minister Hurlbut had been influenced
against the Peruvian Company by the Credit
lndustriel.
Shipherd replied at some length to the effect
that he had already been charged with pur-
suing an attack upon the reputation of dead
man, and he did not care to 90 further or say
anything that was not directly in the line of hs
own justification. He had read from newspa-
pers and had heard from others reports con-
Meeting Hurlbut with the Credit Industriel.
and these reports he (Shipherd) had repeated
TO Secretary Blaine at their interview Oct IA