Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-04-13
WASHINGTON.
q My Dear Pitkin" Appointed u
8. Marshal.
Lively Discussion in the House
g Over the Frankling Privilege.

L. Dcutou, u OdulOfuId, W po pu-
perintendent of the mint OF the
United States at San Francisco.
The Senate confirmed the nomi-
nation of s. P. Rounds, of Illinois,
Public Printer and large number
of minor postmasters and army pro>
motions.
In the Shipherd investigation to>
day, Mr.. Blount continued the cross
examination, quoting from the print
ed correspondence, and endeavoring
to extract categorical answers, but
Shipherd always replied evasively, or
bluntly refused to answer. The
palatal drift of the mornings exam
ination was to bring out and define
exactly how far the witness had gone
in the direct attempt to influence the
official action of an official of the
United States.
Witness was asked if Senator
Blair, as counsel, was conferred with
in relation to the letter to Hurlbut,
in which he (Shipherd) rendered him
$25O,000 of stock, and replied that
Senator Blair did not see the letter.
Witness, however, told him about it
some time after it was sent. Itwas
discussed by all the counsel None
of them ever found fault with it on
it's face, but the remark was fre-
quently made: "Shipherd, that let
ter will bear double construction,
and it may get you into trouble"
Belmont succeeded .Blount as cross
examiner and very soon developed
the probability that the committee
had extracted from the witness
about all the information he propos~
ed to give them.
Mr.. Belmont: "The associa-
tion or individuals whom you
represented or still represent
seemed to give direction, or ex
pacted to exert an influence upon the
policy of this government at the
time when the President was disa-
bled. Were you advised by Bouts
we'll that the Secretary of State was
authorized to act in this matter with
out requiring any advice or authority
from the Pesident. ;"
Witness declined to enter
into the discussion. Wit
ness declined to state the
names of his clients, and said that he
did so by the advice of his counsel.
Mr.. Belmont: "Did you not have
correspondence with Senator Blair
touching the Peruvian Company"
Answer: 81 did"
Question s'Will you produce it ?"
Answer: II have been advised
that the purport of this examination
does not compel the disclosure Of
purely personal matters, and I cons
slider my correspondence with Sena-
tor Blair purely of that character.
To the question, will you state
whether the clients suffered an in
jury from the Peruvian government
which entitled them to seek redress
from the Peruvian government, or
had they pure hased a claim which
they deemed equitable and for sthe
enforcement of which they sought
to obtain the good Offices of this
government, witness declined to an
swer categorically, and was finally
permitted to make his usual estate
ment." Belmont, however, pressed
his question, when witness looked
at his questioner in silence, with an
angry flush upon his face.
Mr.. Belmont: "Then you decline
to answer?"
Witness (angrily): Il have as
many rights here as the examiner
and 1 have come here prepared tc
defend them"
Mr.. Belmont said there was ne
desire to deprive the witness of any
right he might possess, but the com
mittee had also some rights ant
duties to perform.
Shipherd then asked to be excused
| for the day.
The hearing of the Star Rout
cases was resumed in the Crimina
Court this morning, the question
under consideration being the specia
plea in abatement, made yesterda.
by the defense, in which it is elaine,
that the grand jury was undoubt
edly Influenced by the statements Q
the post Office inspectors, who wer
Illegally allowed to present evidenc
and pamphlets to the jury.
Colonel Tollen, of counsel for de
tense, said he intended to prove tina
the jury had been undoubtedly il
fuenced.
, Judge Wylie: "You cannot prov
, that you have no right to go int
| the room OF the grand jury an
investigate their proceedings.
/ After some further discussing th
. point, the court decided that if tl
s defense could impeach the compe
( tency OF any member of the jur,
< the point was well taken, but if the
undertook to go into the jury roo
< and investigate proceedings whic
. the law expressly declared to be sc
: cret, their plea was not well take
: After Mr.. Tollen had made b
argument Judge Wylie disallowe
tbe nlea. Mr.. Tollen then gave NJ
tice of his intention to carry Il
9 cases before the court in banc. M
. Miner, one of the defendants, ente
/, ed plea Of not guilty. Other d
fendants were then called upon
i plead, and failing to do so the cou
0 entered a plea of not guilty, al
Thursday, May 4th, was settled
theday for the trial.
le Tolten announced that q bill
it exceptions, to carry the case befc
tho hf~hnr la