Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-25
EX-SECRETARY BLAINE
Appears Before the Committee and
Makes n Sweeping Denial of ship
herds Statements
Concerning Hfm-He thinks the Presi-
dent OF the Peruvian Company
80 Crank"

WASHINGTON, April 24.-Secretary Blaine
appeared before TIE Foreign Relations Com
mittee to-day in connection with the Ship
herd case. He stated he knew Shipherd
had read his testimony and 'endeavored to
understand it," Blaine said he never saw
or heard of Shepherds letters in the state
department until Shipherd was introduced
to him By Senator Blair. Such trashy mat
ters as Shipherd's letters would never be
called to the attention of the secretsry, as
they were scarcely fit for the waste basket.
The witness said he knew nothing whatever
as to how the letter came TO be missing from
the files. His first interview with Shipherd,
so far from lasting late into the night, only
lasted fifteen minutes, and the witness did
not see Shipherd again for nearly three
months.
Mr.. Blaine then produced what he stated
was the entire correspondence between him
self and Hurlbut during the latter's admin
istration at Lima. Shipherd came to me
and stated that he was the representative of
a very important claim, called the Cochet
claim. l had never before heard of it, and
asked him how he spelled the name He
told me that Senator Blair was one of his
counsel, and also added the names of Ex-
Senator Conkling. the Hon. Scott Lord, Ex-
Senator Cragin and others. / thought it
very strong array of counsel. He named
about dozen prominent 6nanciers and bank
ers, including Seligman, Morton, Bliss & Co.,
and others. / mention these facts because
l have been criticized for not kicking Ship
herd out of the department the first morn
ing he came. But when a man comes intro
duced by ex senators and the ex-secretary of
the treasury counsel, and an array of
hackers such he mentioned, it would
hardly be the custom of the department to
keep him out on sight. This explains why
l did not do what virtually did do later.
Mr.. Blaine then related the points of his
conversation with ShipherJ, in which be
(Shipherd) read what he claimed to be the
that Cochet could claim over one
third of the guano. Mr.. Blaine
said, with much emphasis, 81 would:be will
ing TO take the most solemn oath that Presi-
dent Garfield died without ever having heard
the name of Cochet mentioned"
Prescott, at Blaine's dictation, wrote a dis
patch to Hurlbut, telling him that he will no
doubt be placed in possession OF facts con-
corning the Cochet claim, but he must take
no step toward committing the government
thereto until he received further definite in
structions. Hurlbut replied that the lega-
ton had nothing but vague statements re-
garding the claim, and could take no judi
cial action.
On November 18th Mr.. Blaine instructed
Mr.. Hurlbut not to extend the good offices
of this government TO purchasers of claims.
Shepherds letter, referring to the defective
title of claims, which has already been pub
Iished, was read. To this Mr.. Blaine replied
that he took pleasure in commencing Mr..
Hurlbut's action in sending hither the
correspondence in the case, and added: per
haps / should mitigate somewhat the sever
ity of my language in view of the possibility
of the fact that Shipherd is not wholly in
his right mind.n This ended the CORE
spondence between the state department and
Minister Hurlbut on the Cochet claim.
Mr.. Belmont inquired if there was not a
subsequent dispatch. Mr.. Blaine explained
that the Peruvian Company survived the
Cochet claim, and Shipherd informed him
that Elk Senators Conkling and Eaton would
soon start for Peru in its interest, and after
that he wrote dispatch such as would al
ways be given where Americans of high
rank were interested. In the case OF the
Cochet claim it were found TO be Peruvian
claim in behalf of which the department
could not, under the circumstance, use Its
offices, but the Peruvian Company being an
American company was entitled to the kind
Offices of our minister in any investigation
that might be made in Peru in their behalf.
In regard to Shipherd's story about $780,
900 bride being offered Huribut the follow
ing letter was read:
WASHINGTON, April III, l6S2.
Hon. James G. Blaine:
DEAR SIR never heard Shipherd state
to you that he had offered Hurlbut 900
stock; never heard made such an offer I'M
til 1 read it in the published reports of his
evidence before the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee. HENRY w. BLAIR.
Mr. Blaine read similar letters from Ex-
Secretary Boutwell,, Scott Lord, Ex-senator
Crsgiu and VIM. II. Robertson, and raised a
general laugh by adding, there is a very
large lie out there, and l don't think it will
require very searching investigation to To-
cate it."
Blaine then read his (Blaine's) correspond
ence with Secretary Eyarts, in which the
latter denied that Shipherd had any author
in quoting him in any way; that he had
never gwen any opinion, or had been asked
to give any, whatever, in regard to the
Clchet claim; that he was absent in Europe
and did not know until his return-and then
only through public prints, that Ship.
herd had been using his name. 81 have not, y
said Blaine; "the slightest hesitation in say
ing that this man Shipherd should be sent
to the grand jury. 1t is fiat, unqu allied
perjury on his part, and ought to be properly
punished"
Blaine read letter from Elmore, in which
the following passage occurs: sin regard to
my alleged statement that had seen a mar
ginal note, Go in Steve l need not assure
you that it is absolutely false"
Chairman Williams reminded the witness
that he had not yet supplemented this state.
ment of EImore's with any denial OF his own
to which Blaine quickly responded, ooh, oh
il is an absolutely detestable out-of-whole
cloth lie, and / don't think the man is oil
sound mind"
Blaine then desired to say something In
relation to the interview between Shipherd
and Hurlbut, inssmuch as Shepherds version
involved the good name of the dead presi-
dent and dead minister. He then read
Shepherds version, and with the remark
"with both of these gentlemen dead it m ay
be matter Of some difficulty to disprove
these statements, except inferentially; but
believe them to be the grossest falsehoods,
and will endeavor to show it to be the case
He then pointed out the absurdity of Ship
herds, version that he met Hurlbut by the
latter's appointment, and that they sat upon
the sofa in the public corridor and held such
interview as Shipherd described, and utterly
discredited any other explanation than that
Shipherd seeing by the papers that Hurlbnt
was at the Fifth Avenue hotel waylaid, him
and secured merely casual chat in the pub
lie hall. Blaine characterized in the
most forcible language the assumption
of Shipherj In assuming to speak for
President Garfield as simply infamous, and
WITH eloquent vehemence declared that be
was prepared TO take most solemn oath, so
firm were his convictions, that President
Garfield went to his death without ever hav-
ing seen or heard of Shipherd or his claim.
Al this point Blaine called attention to some
Of tine questions asked Shipherd by Belmont
concerning the Landreau claim, which, he
said, put words in his (Blaine's) mouth which
he did not use.
Belmont refused to discuss the question al
this time, and the committee adjourned till
Wednesday, when the examination of Blaine
will be resumed.
Fatal Accident.
CHICAGO, April 24.-An elevated travelling
derrick in Denier & RoSer:son's stove-ysrd