Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-06
THE sHIPnERD INVESTIGATION.
One Of ex-llinister Hurlbut's Let
tiers Read.
Shipherd on the Stand.

WASHINGTON, April 5.
Shipherd having notified Chairman Will
liams that he would be able to appear before
the foreign affairs committee, "wednesday,
the committee assembled. The witness failed
TO appear however. and after waiting half an
hour the chairman dispatched the deputy
sergeant alarms for him. The deputy re-
turned at a quarter past IL and reported that
Shipherd would soon be in attendance. that
his DELAY was owing to q misunderstanding
as to whether he was expected to appear in
the morning or in the afternoon. Whlie
waiting for Shipherd, Chairman Williams
read the following letter, which he stated he
had received through the state department:
LIMA. March Is, 80.
Hon c. G. Williams, Chairman Foreign AT.
fairs:
Dear Sir-I leave here the 9Th of April,
and ought to arrive at New York by the 25th
| will come at once to Washington. Read
my late dispatches. The United States are
in a bad way out here in the line of reputa-
ton. Yours, S. A. HURLBUT.
At haIf-past eleven Shipherd appeared and
took his seat at the witness table. Before
any questions had been put to him, he sta ed
to the Chairman that he had brought with
him postscript to a letter of May goth, hich
his son had failed or omitted to send With the
to supplement that letter.
He then read the following letter which, al
though it bore separate date was, Mr.. Ship
herd stated, but postscript to the letter be-
fore mentioned:
May 81, 1881.
Sir.-Since my letter of yesterday was
closed, the remarkable letter of Gen. Grant
to Senator Jones has appeared in print here,
and has already determined my clients to re-
consider their intention to offer Gen. Grant
the presidency of this company, and am in
structed to reopen this parcel and add this
intimation of the course of my clients. My
clients read Gen. Grants letter, through bus
mess eyes only but none the less it disturbs
them. am further instructed to say that
my clients will be glad to consider any nom.
ination to the presidency of the Peruvian
company which the president may be so good
as to suggest. Among the many capable
men, other conditions being equal, we shall
of course prefer some one enjoying the Pres.
idents entire confidence.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) J. r. SHIPBERp.
To the President.
After the letter had been read, Shipherd
desired to make an explanation which he
deemed to be due to himself and to the CON-
mittee. He then stated that the Republican
of this city had printed what purported to be
a statement of his (Shipherd's.) to a Repub-
lican reporter, to the effect that he proposed
to create a sensation in the committee room,
and asserted that he had never made any
statements for publication outside Of the
committee room. On being questioned he AL
mitted having had a conversation, in the
course of which he made statements some
what similar to those described in the news.
orfinlo huf ho IN ,ph he
talked was a private gentleman, having, SC
far as he knew, no connection with any news
paper, and one who should have known bet
ter than to repeat the conversation. He
(Shipherd) had never authorized any thing
of the kind for publication.
do not mean to assert that Hurlbut was moi
pure and honorable, but do protest before
that God he has gone to meet, that my mo-
tive was simply and purely to protect myself
and have 10 choice in the matter now tC
add that all my subsequent dealings justified
my belief that he never was purchased, and
| all his subsequent acts were calculated to 90
struct and Illustrate our purposes, and in this
| he was fully seconded by his chief, the late
secretary of state, with notifications that
shall at the proper time offer.
Shipherd then went into an explanation OF
| the reasons that led him to make the charge
| of corruption against Minister Hurlbut, tina,
| he had been in the pay of the Credit Indus
triels, and he stated that he did not know any
| such official charges were on record at the
war department, but had often heard it as
serted and had never seen it contradcted.
He then offered as part of his statement
copy of the paper in which the charges al
luded to were printed.
Rice objected to anything of the kind ant
suggested to the witness the propriety of OBJ
a d;sttuct;np 10 -,
mate evidence as to the facts and mere hear
sayl
Chairman Williams here interposed an ex
| PLANTATION to the effect that when he put til,
question to the witness which had been re
ferred to it was not his only object to get tn,
expression of an opinion by the way o
prejudging Minister Hurlbut, but simply t.
| draw from the witness his (Shipherd's) ide,
of the character of the transaction in which
he (Shipherd) was engaged, to obtain hi.
| judgement as to what kind of a transaction
it was. but by no means to elicit something
| to PREJUDICE the case or the good name oil
Minister Hurlbut.
Representative Rice remarked-Mr. Ship
herd, you have read very long statement
| covering good deal of ground. As lawyer
| you should know what range the COMMITTEES
| Is entitled to take upon the cross examination
| of witness. l would like to enquire if you
expect to withhold any facts touched upon oil
suggested in your statement :?
Witness-I don't conceive of any facts in
connection with this case could wish &c
withhold from the committee.
Rice-As you will be examined by the
committee fully upon the subject matter OF
| your statement, l want to suggest that YOU
prepare yourself to answer the questions tina,
| will be submitted.
Witness-If Mr.. Rice will put me to the
| test think he will be satisfied
Committee then adjourned.
E1RE 0EH0Dn