Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-10
The Story of the Peruvian
Company Being Told.
C0LL0QUY BETWEEN THEWIT-
NESS AND COMMITTEE.
The Interview with Ex-Secretary
of State Blaine.


pondence or interviews with Walker Blaine
subsequent to the writing of the letter yes
| terday.
Witness answered that he had one other
interview with Walker Blaine, at the State
Department some time in November last, and
that Trescott was present part of the time.
The witness here desired to know if the
exhibits which were offered in evidence a few
days since (referring to newspaper charges
against Hurlbut some years ago. were to be
admitted. in evidence part of the circum-
stances which had Influenced him (Shipherd)
| in forming his opinion of Hurlbut.
| general discussion ensued, and the opin-
| ion of the committee was unanimously ex-
pressed in opposition to the admission of
campaign matter in the nature of a general
attack upon the character of Hurlbut.
The witness was asked to proceed, and
] interposed a request to be heard on the ques-
ton, which was awarded him with much
emphasis. The witness proceeded to state
| his views.
| The object of this investigation as he I'M
derstood it, was to make an inquiry, first as
to the missing letter; second as to whether
any ministers of the United States have been
| improperly interested in the Peruvian COM
pany. In regard to his own position, the
witness found himself here in the dual capac-
ity as witness and as defendant. As he un-
derstood it, the letter of the Secretary of
State charged him (Shipherd) with having
attempted to bride minister of the United
States. This had arrested the attention of
Congress, and led to this investigation. He
| (witnessl had been very sharply interviewed
as to the motives in writing the letter, and he
deemed it due to him (Shipherd) to be al
lowed to offer in evidence, in his own de.
fence, everything that led him to form an
opinion that Hurlbut was purchasable man.
Rice suggested that it had occurred to him,
that the mode Of pursuing the enquiry might
| give the appearance of a partisan investiga-
| ton, as thus far, republican members had
occupied about all the time. Not that any
complaint hBd been made by any member of
the committee, but it occurred to him that it
would be fairer to allow some of the demo-
cratic members to take upon themselves the
| conduct of the investigation.
The committee desired Rice to continue
Blount remarked that the inve stigation
was being conducted to his satisfaction.
The chairman stated that he would call
upon the democratic members to take up the
case as soon as Rice had concluded the branch
of the case upon which he had started
Rice resumed, with the inquiry Have you
any other correspondence with Secretary of
State Blaine. which has been printed?
Ans.-I have none. with the exception of
letter of December 10th, 1881, addressed to
Governor Boutwell,, and intended to be shown
the secretary of stpte, whoever it might he,
whether Blaine or Frelinghuysen.
The letter was then put in evidence, and
Tended the writer (Shipherd) from the secre-
tary's charges against him, of attempting to
bride Minister Hurlbut.
The witness statements were read to Sem
ator Blair by Blaine, June I'd, and subsequent
ly Blair remarked to him: Shipherd, if you
had written the dispatches yourself they
could not have covered the ground more per-
fectly, particularly the cable dispatch
Shortly after that the witness saw Blair,
and asked if the dispatches had been sent,
and was assured that they had been; and
again, few days afterwards, Blair said to
witness: have seen the secretary and he
says the dispatches were sent without an al.
| teration of any kind on the same day they
| were read to me. Dune I'd, when the wit
ness received Huribut's letter stating that no
such dispatches had been received. He was
much disturbed, and at once sought Senator
Blair to find out what it meant The senator
was greatly puzzled, and said: Mr. Ship
herd, this affects my veracity and that of the
secretary. l will make this my business to
| investigate.
The witness continued: Finally Blair adj
vised to come to Washington and bring nv
letters and correspondence and lay the mat
ter before the secretary, and in that way we
should get at the bottom of it.
| The witness therefore went to Washington
and held his first interview with the secretary
the evening of October 18th.
| The witness then detailed what occurred at
this interview, prefacing with the remark
that possibly he might in some way overrun
what was said or done at one interview into
another. The secretary appeared a little i'm
portant, and as he (Shipherd), thought.
seemed to anticipate the object of his visit
The witness showed him Hurlbut's letter.
He took it, read it, threw it down. and said
What's the matter with that letter? The
witness replied, Mr.. Secretary, it disturbs ms
by what it does not say rather than by what
| it does say.
1t discusses Peru and her affairs, but says
nothing OF American interests.
The witness continued-I then adverted to
Mr.. Hurlbut's singular conduct in withhold
ing the documents he had been requested to
deliver to Mr.. Arizola.
Mr.. Blaine retorted sharply; What bust
ness had you to make an errand of an Ameri-
| can minister. He would have done right if he
had thrown all of 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 steam
er, that on arriving at Lima, Suarez had
placed at Hurlbut's disposal one of the finest
residence in Lima, with a wine cellar ex-
ceptionally we'll stored, and that Hurlbut was
occupying it free of expense to himself, and
all had been furnished by the Credit Indus
trial
Blaine laughed increduously, and said :
sob! they don't catch Steve in that way if
he lives in fine house. He paws rent for
it."
The witness then said further: Well. Mr.,
Secretary, their intimacy is master of pub.
lie comment in Lima. They are always to-
gether.
At this, Blaine explained with great en-
phasis, ''if all this be true, he must have sold
out to the credit industry. will look into
the bottom of this. Then, after a moment.
turning to the witness. he said: What do
you want me to do? The witness handed
him draft of . dispatch. and said: Send
that to Hurlbut
Mr.. Blaine read it. and replied: No. not
that; it would raise howl in Congress.
He (Blaine) then wrote, resting on the
arms of his chair, q dispatch in substance, as
follows: "The report reaches the State de-
partment, that your conduct is such as to
lead to suspicion of improper relations
-