Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-25
BLAlNE'S BLAST.
His Unbiased Opinion Of Sellers
Shiphsrd.
He Ought to be Indicted for Perjuy-A
willful and Unmitigated Liar-let-
ters from Senator Blair aud Ex-
Secretary evarts.
A SWEEPING AND EMPHATIC DENIAL,
Special Dispatch to the Register.

Special Dispatch to the Reo5aer.
WASHINGTON, April 2i-Ex-Secretary
Blaine appeared before the Committee on
| Foreign Affairs, this morning, and conSe-
| quently tickets for admission were in large
| demand and the room was crowded. Blaine
is nothing if not dramatic, and fully sIs-
tanned his reputation. His statements
were exceedingly positive, backed up by
the most emphatic language, and the inter
est was kept up throughout the entire
session. | say session, because Blaine took
control of the matter and delivered his ties.
timony or rather his arraignment OF Ship
herd IN his own way. regardless OF Whist
was desired by the committee. He traced
his acquaintance with shipherd from hrs
first introduction. apologized for not having
at once kicked him out of his office,
and denounces him as'crazy, as liar and
perjurer, and produced letters from Sena
Blair, ex-Secretary Evarts and Mr.. Elmoer
fatty denying Shepherds statements. 1t
was, however, when referring to the charge
that Presiden. Garfield was privy to Ship
herds designs. that he was most dIamatic
Then his denunLiation of the flat and alb
solute perjury of Shipherd whose trade
was forgery and whose pastime was lying
was most bitterly scathing. and he solemn
ly declared that he did not believe that
Garfield had ever heard of either Shipherd
or the Cochet claims Altogether, the
scene was one rarely witnessed. The ex-
animation will be recommended on We'd
nesday. G.
WASHINGTON, April 2i-Ex-Secretary
Blaine appeared before the foreign rela-
tions committee to-day in connection with
the Shipherd case. He stated he knew
Shiphcrd had read his testimony and en-
deavored to understand il. Blaine said te
never saw or heard Of Saipherd's letters in
the State Department until Shipherd was
introduced To him by senator Blair. Such
trashy matters as Shepherds letters would
never be called TO the attention OF the Sec
retary, as they were scarcely fit for the
waste basket Witness said he knew moth
ing whatever As to how the letter came TO
be missing from the files.
The First Interview
with Shpherd, so far from lasting into the
night, only lasted fifteen minutes, and wit
ness did not see Shipherd again for three
months. Blaine then produced what he
stated was the entire correspondence be-
tween himself and liurlbut's administra-
tion at Lima.
Shipherd came to me and stated he was
a representative of very important claim
called tht COtchct claim. | had never be.
fore heard of it, and asked him how he
spelled the name lie told me Senator
Blair was one of his counsel, and also added
the names Of ex-senator COnkling, Hon.
Scott Lord. ex-senator Craigin and Others.
! thought it very strong array of counsel.
He named about dozen prominent tinan-
Ciers and bankers, including Seligman,
Morton. Bliss & Co. and others. mention
these facts because ! have been criticised
for not
Kicking Shipherd Out
of the department the first morning he
called; but when man comes introduced
by United States Senator, with three eN-
Senators and an ex.Secretary OF the Treas
ury as counsel, and an array OF bankers
such as he mentioned, il would hardly be |
the custom of the department to kick him |
out OH sight. This explains why did not |
what virtually did do later.
Blaine then related points his conver-a-
ton with Shipherd in which he lShiphcrdl
read what he claimed to be the opinion of
ex-Secretary Evarts, to the effect that
Cochet could claim one-third Of the quano.
Blaine said with much emphasis, II would |
be willing to take most solemn oath that |
President Garfield died without either |
having heard of this vile scheme, or hay-
ing heard the name OF Cochet mentioned
Prescott at Blaine's dictation, wrote |
dispatch to Hurlbut telling him lie would |
no doubt be placed in possession of facts
concerning the Cochet claim, but he
Must Take NO steps
towards committing the government thereto |
till he received further definite instructions.
Hurlbut replied the legation had nothing |
but vague statements regarding the claim
and could take no political action.
On November 18th Blaine instructed
Hurlbut not to extend the good office OF
this government 10 the purchasers OF the |
claim, and Shepherds letter referring TO the |
defective title of claim, which has already |
been published. was read. To this Blaine !
replied that he took pleasure in commend |
ing Hurlbuts action iu sending hither the
correspondence in the case, and added, |
Perhaps should mitigate, somewhat, the
severity of my language in view OF thu pos.
sibility of fact, that Shipherd is not wholly
in his right mind" This ended the corre- |
spondence between the State department
and Minister Hurlbut OH the COcbet
claim.
Belmont inquired. Was there not sub
Sequent dispatch
blaine explained that the Peruvian Com
psny survived the Cochet claim, and
Shepherd informed him that E1-Senstnrs
ConkIing and Eaton
would soon start for Peru in its interests.
and after that he wrote dispatch such as
would always be given where Americans OF
high rank were interested. In the case OF
the CoChet claim. il was found 70 be a Peru
Wan claim, in behalf OF which the depart
ment could not, under any circumstances,
use its offices, but the Peruvian Co, being
being an American company, was entitled
10 the kind offices Of our Minister in any
investigation that might he made IN feru
in their behalf.
In regard 10 Shepherds story about the
500. 900 brIbe offered IIurlbut, the follow
ing letter was read:
WASHINGTON, April 10.
| Hon. jams e. BLaine Dear Sir:
Ineyer heard Shipherd state 10 you that
| he had offered Huribut $25OJoo stock. !
never heard that he made such offer until
| I read il in the published reports OF bis
evidence before the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee.
HEsag W. BLArR."
Blaine read similar letters Of denial from
| ex-Secretary Boutwell,. Scott Lord. ex-Sen:
| ator Craigin and VIM. III. Robertson. and
raised a general laugh by adding; There
| isa
| Very Large Lie
| ont there. and don't think IL will require
| very searching investigation to locate 1t.
| Blaine then read bis (Biaine'sl CORE
I spondence with eK. Secretary Eyarts, IN
| which the latter denied that Shipherd hak
any authority for quoting him In any way;
,hs; he had never given aay opinion, or
| been asked TO give any whatever, IN re-
rard TO the Cochet claim; that he was abb
sent in Europe, and did not know until bis