The Portland daily press., 1882-04-17
THE PERUVIAN COMPANY.

THE PERUVIAN COMPANY.
Shipherd Vents More of HIS Spite
Against Hurlbut.
MR.. BLAINE WISHES TO APPEAR BE-
FORE THE COMMITTEE.
Wa sHINGToN, April 15-The committee
were somewhat tardy in arriving this morning
| and the investigation was not resumed until ii
| O'Clock. The Chairman laid before the COM
| mittee the following communication from ex-
Secretary Blaine, which was read by the
Clerk:
WASHINGTON, April IA, 1882.
Hon. Charles g. WtALdme, Chairman Conanai t.
tee on Foreign Affairs, House Of Representa-
tives:
I desire to be heard in reference to the Peru
| Chilian matters now under investigation.
| Awaiting your pleasure, am, very respectful
! ly, JAMES G. BLAINE.
The Chairman was directed to acknowledge
/ the receipt of the letter, leaving it an open
| question for the present when Mr.. Blai7e
should be heard
Mr. Belmont stated that in view of the re-
| fusal of the witness to answer several ques-
tions which he (BeimonD had deemed materi-
| al, he did not care 10 occupy any further time
in the cross-examination. The chairman stat
ed that it was desirable to conclude the exam
ination of Mr.. Shipherd to-day, and he there
fore would call upon any members who desir-
ed to put any questions to express their wishes
in the matter. After some discussion Mr..
Kasson asked to have the resolutions read un-
der which the Investigation had been begun.
Representative Lord then took up the cross
examination of Mr.. Shipherd.
Witness stated in reply to question: Il
dealt with Mr.. Hurlbnt as would have dealt
with q recognized criminal"
Question-Now, was that by advice OF coun-
sell?
Answer--The dealings had with him were
by advice of counsel.
Witness was pretty closely pressed upon this
point and finally went into long explain alton
to the effect that in his dealings W ith Hurlbut
he acted wholly on tue defensive, as he would
against man who would strike him, and in
dealing with him he realized that he was bad
man, and that be must SO treat with him as to
prevent him from iDjuring him. did not in
tend to mislead Gen. Hurlbut; meant just.
what / said in my offer to him.
Representative Lord, interrupting ng-'I don't
care for long explanation of the philosophy
of your action; you can in few words sta te
just what you meant. Your promise mean
nothing unless your language was construed
the same by both of you" Witness put out
the letter to test his moral appreciation, in
tending 10 let him construe as he saw fit, be-
leVlIS budb ITO WOutu aCb upDu III dUU at Tue
proper time would expect such au interest as
he believed due to him..
Mr.. Lord-Then, until you both agreed as to
the moral Interpretation of the letter, you ex-
pected to consider that you we're responsible
for nothing but virtuous and honorable pro-
posal, and he (HurlbuD would have nothing
to expect and you would have nothing to pay?
Witness-That was my view in part. Wit
ness admitted that Governor Boutwell, was
consulted in regard to the letter after it had
Ia
seems plain enough to careful reader, but if
/ had been consulted, tShipherd, doubt if 1
should have advised sending it.'
Witness was asked whether the object of his
long interview with Mr.. Blaine was to infiu-
epce the instructions to Mr.. Hurlbut. and re-
piled: "At that time my chief and controlling
interest was whether could get the Secreta-
rvs attention 10 this matter. / don't think
had any definite idea, nut in a general way /
hoped, if could get access to the Secretary,
might influence the character of the instruc-
tions." Witness declined to state anything in
regard to the fee paid to Senator Blair. wheth-
er it was cash or otherwise. Witness under
stood the Senator TO decline the fee solely be-
cause be might be called upon if quasi -judic-
la capacity to pass upon the case as Senator.
Mr.. Lord--We will recur to that letter of
Jun 2, which you have alluded to with some
complacency on account of its peculiar adapta-
bility to the parpose for which it was intended
Witness-I beg pardon, don't think the
tAduiluoI uds tuy TiSut 10 speak 10 me as q
witness III that manner.
Mr. Lord-Very we'll then, will withdraw
the remark and recur to the letter all the same.
What did Senator Blair mean BY speaking of
the folly OF IL? Was 1t because you offered to
sell him (Hurlbut) stock instead of giving it to
him?
Witness with some deliberation)-I thought
the Senator's remark playful one.
Mr.. Lord-It was also playful on the part of
the Secretary, was 1T, when he said THAT
won't fetch bim?''
Answer-I understood the Secretary to take
the same view as the Senator.
Mr.. Lord-And you have already admitted
that you we're dealing as with a recognized viii
lain, and your counsel and the Secretary had
commented upon the inadequacy of the re-
ward you proposed to offer Did all three of
you consider that you were dealing with viii
lain?
Witness-"You are dealing in the specula-
tive SO much that can hardly follow the drift
OF your questions. l understood the Secretary
to refer to me and those I represented, when
he said: That won't fetch him.. took it as
purely jocose remark. 1t did not stand out
in my mind in the prominent manner in which
the examiner now seems disposed to bring it
out" In reply, witness said: ''My impress
sion that Hurlbut was villain was deepened
as we went on.
Mr. Lord-Then what did you mean in a
subsequent letter to Mr.. Hurlbut by saying you
would stand by him as a brother and praising
him as patriot, &c?
Witness with some irritation) oh, my let-s
ters show for themselves; they don't need any
paraphrasing,
Mr. Lord-Then whatever advantages you
expected to receive from Mr.. Hurlbut through
that letter you failed to obtain, did you not?
Witness Yes, sir he ultimately took the
course feared he would.
Mr.. Lord-Did you on the whole, fail to OBJ
tain from Mr. Hurlbut and the Secretary of
State any advantages for the company?
WitneSS--"Oh. no. sir. think / rpeeiv va1 all
the aid from Mr.. Hurlbut that could expect,
be being such man as he was" In answer
to further inquiry, witness said: 81 think my
letter of June accomplished so much that it
held Mr.. Hurlbut in a neutral position, and to
that extent it answered its purpose.
Representative Wilson asked, ''When did
you first become connected with this company
or claim?
Answer-In the latter part of March, 1881, i
was first employed by individuals in tho capa-
city OF practcing attorney to examine into
it and see If anything could be made out of it.
l advised additional counsel, and in October,
1881, the Peruvian Company was organized
Witness stated in reply to further questions:
No Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States and no member of Congress ever owned
any interest in this claim to my knowledge.
Witness declined to state whether any Sena-
tor ever held or owned stock in thu company.
Some amusement ensued when Mr.. Wilson
enaeavored to discover what consideration was
given Galatcio Cochet for his claim. Witness
hesitated, laughed and then said, with seri-
GUS air, II understood that the consideration
paid for the claim was-(pausing) eminently
satisfactory to all parties concerned
The Chairman requested witness to give the
committee the names of the two gentlemen
now in New York, to whom Mr.. Shipherd has
alluded as parties who were personally cogni-
zant OF Mr.. Hnrlbnt's intimacy with Suarez.
Witness declined to make public the names
of these gentlemen, but would give them to
the committee IN confidence that they might
determine whether or not they would summon
them here as witnesses.
The Chairman assented, and announced the
postponement of the investigation until Tues
day next, when 1t is expected the examination
of Mr.. Shipherd will be concluded.
A