The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-03-23
Shepherds Investigation

| w AsHlNGTON, MdrCH %l'-MI' ShePpSi'
appeared before the committee on foreign
affairs to-day, and presented copy of three
missing letters and after looking through
several envelopes said there must be some
talsity about 1t, as he could not find The
letter of May 2lst. He stated II
was addressed to the president, and
as he had been informed
by letter from his secretary
J. Stanley Bremen. 1t was referred to the
department of state. The letter of May
25 1881, was then read 1t was to Hon. J
G. Blaine and showed that on the 2lst he
(Shepperd) had transmitted to the president
duplicates of the enclosures which he pre-
suIned would be referred to the department
of state. These enclosed were to be
handed to IIurlbut in his (Blaine)
discretion and at the proper time
he would be glad to be summoned to
Washington before Hurlbut and kilpat--
rick S instructions were prepared. Shepperd
was questioned rs to the enclosure men
toned and said he had not made the copies
as the originals were in the Department
of State. The principal enclosure was q
prospectus of the Peruvian company.
Letters of May 31st and June 4th were
also produced both were addressed to the
president and were merely formal. The
interest lying in his disclosures, which
were found in the correspondence already
printed. Shepperd was cross-eXamined as
to interviews with Hurlbut before he went
to prison. At one of these, held in New
York. Hurlbut told Shepperd that he had
been sent to tell the latter that the presi-
dent regarded his case as
strong in law and equity as
it could possibly be, but that 1t was un-
fortunate that Peru should be in such a
deplorable condition. He added that the
prime condition on which the president
would consent to act would be that the
claim would be put in such shape that it
would not impose any hardship upon 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 govern
ment would heartily endorse the
scheme. He further said this
claim must not be pressed upon Peru in
any shylock spirit. l (shepperd) replied
that we expected the United States to
assist, only, as the affair could command
tie 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 l am only telling you what |
have been instructed to do" In speaking
Hurlbut used the term secretary of state
but always used in a somewhat vague
ecutive," or the United States ]"
He desired as full an account in
writing of our plans as | cerld give him,
and he would read them with great pleas
ure. He said: Peru ought to have help
at the earliest moment, and | hope you will
propose your plans as earnestly as posi-
ble." Shepperd then made general state
ment to the effect that he never imagined il
would be necessary to buy any man, and
intanInH q do N IIa did hnwaUar
feel that it was necessary to prevent Hurl-
but from taking any position which might
be violently opposed to their company.
Shepperd was asked "Did you think
Hurlbut could be purchased" and replied
Most emphatically."
Chairman-'And you proceeded TO pur-
chase him?'
mo, sir; simply to prevent him from set
ting himself viciously and determinedly
against us, l recognized the fact that it would
be necessary to assure him that it woGld
in future result advantageously TO himself
and friends if he did not oppose us.
Shepperd was then questioned in regard
to his interview with Secretary Blaine, and
replied: THE interview took place at Mr..
Blaine's residence, in this city, on the even-
ing of June 25th. 1t lasted until a late
hour and was resumed next morning"
When asked who was present at that IN
terview Shepperd said a United States sena-
tor. whose name he did not feel at liberty to
mention because he had been informed
that in an investigation of lis kind it was
necessary to be very careful about mem
tioning the names of members of the house
for senators. He said further that this in
tcryicW was brought about BY the kind
offices of the aforementioned senator.
The chairman suggested that Shepperd
give the features of the interview with Mr..
Blaine and for the president to waive the
question of what senator was present.