Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-22
sHIPHERD CONTINUES.
He Knows Much But Will Tell
But Little.
Running the Case to Suit Himself.

"a WASHINGTON, March 22.-The ex
animation of Shiperd was resumed
this morning. Shipherd produced a
copy Of his letter to the President,
dated April 18th, 1881, alluded to in
his testimony yesterday. In this let
ter Shipherd states that the interests of
his clients in Peru are SO great as to
entitle them to consideration in the
discussion of any plans affecting
the future of the prostrate
republic. And he further
states that the purpose Of this
note is that the decision for
the appointment of Ministers
to Chill and Peru shall be
reserved until the facts relative to the
claims of the Peruvian Company shall
have been laid before the President.
Shipherd states that he had not yet
found letter Of May 2lst, but had
written to his son to make copy
and send to him, and he
expected to lay it before
the committee in few days. Kasson
J asked if the witness knew of any in
stance in which Hurlbut's official
action had been purchased. Shipherd
replied that in the statements he made
yesterday he spoke from his knowl-
edge of events that occurred many
years ago, and which came under his
notice at the time, and from which
he had formed his opinion of
Hurlbut. In connection with this
opinion, ard in further reply to the
inquiry he called attention to the de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the
case Of Clark against the United
States, in which it was shown that
General Hurlbut while in the service
of the United States at New Orleans
accepted bribe.
Kasson then asked if in all his wit
ness) correspondence with General
Hurlbut, the latter intimated that he
desired to have an interest in the Pc
ruyian claim.
Answer-No, sir; he never had.
Witness stated in further reply that
no officer of the United States, in the
diplomatic service or otherwise, ever
expressed any desire or listened 10 any
proposals for an interest in the claim
of thePeruvian company.
The witness was then asked by
Mr. Kasson: Who now holds the
Landreau claim"
To this question witness replied TT
is now held by Americans. but | could
not, without violating private con-
| idences, disclose the names Of the
parties" The legal name (Shipherd
| 4 Co. }, witness stated. is the Peruvian
Company, incorporated under the laws
Of Georgia in 1870, and every share of
stock is held in this country.
| Witness declined to state how much
had been paid for the stock, or from
what parties the claim was purchased,
or whether the original parties were
paid for their claim in stock Of the
new company, or whether the company
has ever taken possession ofany prop
erty in Peru, or whether they have a
resident agent in Peru Witness
stated that the company has notified
| Peru of their claim, but never re-
ceived any reply in acknowledgment
Of their claim. The Peruvian com
pany never had any official correspon-
dence with the Peruvian government.
Whatever advices the company has
received has been received from pri-
vate sources. Representative Kasson
explained the object Of his inquiries to
be the discovery whether the allega-
ton on which the investigation is
based that the Peruvian Company was
a purely speculative enterprise, depen-
dent for its success entirely upon in
tervention of this government is true
one. or whether the claim of the com
pany is solid one, and its business
such as American citizens have a per-
feet right to engage in.