Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-22
the sHIpNeRO INVESTIGATION.
He Explains His Non-Appear-
ance Monday.
Copies of Letters to Mr.. Blaine
Produced.

in attendance this morning. at the rooms of
committee on foreign affairs. The examina-
ton was resumed.
The chairman announced that the order
agreed upon by the committee in conducting
the examination was that the chairman would
first question the witness. and afterwards each
member of the committee in order would ask
such questions as they might desire. In
case of objection TO any evidence the COM
mittee would consult in secret, but no such
evidence would be taken except in open
session.
Shipherd desired to make some explana-
ton in regard to his non-appearance and
asserted his good faith in the matter. He
then sent to the chairman the certificate OF
his physician, and desired to be put under
oath TO the facts.
The chairman assured him that they had
now no suspicion of any trifing or any dis
courtesy on his part.
Shipherd was then requested BY the chair
man to produce copies of the missing letters
of May 81, % and 81 and June 4.
After looking through several envelopes,
Shipherd announced there must be some
fatality about it. he conld not find the letter
of the 2lst of MAY.
The others mentioned were found, and
after some delay it was decided to take up
copy at some future time.
Shipherd stated that the letter of May 2lst
was addressed to the President. and as he had
been informed by letter from his secretary,
j. Stanley Brown, was referred to the State
department.
The letter of MAY o5th was then read 1t
was as follows:
May 25th, 1881.
Sir-On the 2lst inst. transmitted to the
President duplicates of present enclosures
which presume have been, or will be, re-
ferred to the department of State. enclose
these for Minister Hurlbut. to be handed to
him in your discretion and at the proper time.
The copies to the President were accom-
panied with letter of explanation. | shall
be glad to be summoned to Washington in
due course, before Gen. Hurlbut's and Gen
kilpatrick's instructions are prepared.
Very respectfully,
j. K. SHIPHERD
TO Hon. James G. Blaine, Secretary of
State.
Shipherd was then asked in regard to en-
closures alluded to in the letter, aud said he
had not made copies of the enclosures, as the
originals were in the State Department he
believed. The majority if not all of them,
were in print. The principal enclosure
spoken of was the prospectus of the Peru
Wan Co. Other enclosures were then iden-
titled by Shipherd, as they appeared in the
printed volume of correspondence
The letter of May 3lst was then read 1t
was also addressed to the President, and al
luded to enclosures which were also found in
the printed correspondence, and were identi-
fled by Shipherd.
The letter of June 4th was addressed to
the President, and simply called attention to
the enclosure. which was the fourteenth
letter to Minister Hurlbut, already pub
lished
Shipherd was asked Did YOU have an
interview with Minister Hurlbut before he
left for Peru?
Answer-I did.
Shepherds letter to Hurlbut, in which he
asked an interview. was then read and Ship
herd stated that che morning of Nav 18th he
received telegram from Hurlbut the tenor
of which was, will be at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel Sunday and Monday, State when AN
interview with you can be had. Signed S.
A. Hurlbut. arranging for an interview Mon
day morning, MAY 30th. was read
Shipherd then stated that he met Hurlbut
about as arranged. and after some interchange
of courtesies, Hurlbut began the converse
ton with the abrupt remark:
But, Mr.. Shipherd, your figures are enor-
nous.
replied, said Shipherd, I'm not RESPONSE
BILE for the figures facts.
Hurlbut then said to me that he had been
sent to me to tell me that the President re-
garded my case as strong in law or equity AZ
it possibly could be. but that it was unfor-
tunate that Peru should be in such deplora-
BILE condition. He added that the prime con-
dition in which the President would consent
to act. would be that the claim should be pu,
In such shape that it would not impose anv
hardship on Peru, but should be remedial
and should enable Peru to pay her indemnity
and get out of her trouble with Chill. If
that could be done the government would
heartily endorse the scheme He further
said that this claim must not be pressed upon
Peru in any Shylock spirit
replied that we expected the United States
to assist only if the affair could command the
approval of every fair minded man.
| asked him if the secretary of state had
given him the papers had alluded to. and
he replied No, sir, | know nothing of
your scheme. am only telling you what
have been instructed to do.
In speaking, he never used the term sec
rotary of state, but always used the some
what vague term the government, the exec
utive, the United States He desired as
full an account in writing of our plans as
could give him. and he would read them with
great pleasure. He said Peru ought to have
help at the earliest moment, AMI hope Won
will press your plans as rapidly as you posi-
bly, can.
Shipherd then made general statement to
the effect that he (Shipherd) never imagined
that, it would be necessary to buy anv man.
and never intended to do so. He did however.
feel that it was necessary to prevent Hurlbut
from taking any position which might be
violently opposed to their company
Shipherd was asked: Do you think Hurl.
but could be purchased?
Answer-Most emphatically do
Chairman And you proceeded to purchase
him:
Answer-No, sir. Simply to prevent him
from setting himself viciously and determin
eddy against us. recognized the fact that
II would be necessary to assure him it would
in the future result advantageouslv to himself
or friends if he did not oppose u.s.
Chairman-Then. if he acted in good faith
II was your purpose to carry out YOUR part of
such an arrangement.
Answer-To that extent. yes.
Shipherd was then questioned in regard to
his interview with Secretary Blaine. and re-
piled that the interview took place at Blaine's
residence IN this city, on the evening of july
10Th 1t lasted until late hour, and was