The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-14
THE PLOT THICKENS
WITH THE VILLAIN IN PURSUIT.
shIphstd RsytvH the DrOOptag Interest Ia ths
Peruvian Investigation; Why Did N" Blaine
Say, 800 Il StSVs,' and what yasIt
that stephen was 10 80 fori

Shipherd refused TO answer in regard tC
the Peruvian company.
| Witness said that he aud Senator Blail
may not have had reasons to be satisfied
1 with Blaine's instruction TO Hnrlbnt, bui
their impression wAs that they had.
Witness was asked to what extent the
matter Of the offer Of S250,0OO, which had
been made to Huribut, was discussed in
the presence Of the Secretary, and replied F.:
"At the interview Of October -, some ref.
erenCe was made to my letter Of June 2,
and mention was made OF the proposition
that had been made to Hurlbut by the
Credit Industrial, and Senator Blair
remarked, why HuFlbut had rather
have 100000 80. in his hands
than your oiIer Of s25O,00O in stock, that
he would have to pay for Some one made
the suggestion that $4,000 in cash might
have been offered by the Credit Industrial,
anu this read as repetition Of the text
Ol my letter. In fact, the Secretary himself
called for the text, and read It to him.
lie listened attentivoIy, and quoting the
phrase so lar as 1t may be proper" he
lthe Secretary said: THAT is sort Of u
hgment" Thenlaughing, added: "Well, that
wont make much impression on Steve" !"
Witness admitted that the Secretary always
spoke with great dignity as became his
high office; that he never committed him.
self in words, yet when he (Shipherd) came
away and thought over seriously the drift
Of his several interviews, he was always
profoundly impressed with the belief that
the Secretary was in accord with their
wishes.
Witness was asked in regtrd to an auto
graph approval by General Grant OF the
draft Of a dispatch which he (Shipherd)
prepared and expected 10 Hsk the Secre.
tary 10 send to Hurlbut, and replied that
he would produce it, il required by the
committee. 1t was, however, among his
papers in New York, and he could not
produce it without going to New York in
person. The matter was laid over for the
present.
Mr.. Belmont-"You speak in one Of
your letters OF an interview with the Pres.
ident which was brought about through
letter Of Introduction which Gen. Grant
gave you. Have you copy Of that letter
OF intrOduCtion|
Answer-"I have" Tho witness ques-
toned the propriety Of producing it, but
would, however. do so Ms soon us he could
obtain it.
Mr.. Belmont then propounded several
questions with view 10 discovering who
were the parties in the Peruvian company
that he [Shipherdl had alluded toas friends
OF Gen. Grant and the Executive" The
witness evaded II direct answer, but finally
said, MY opinion is that at that time
there were gentlemen interested with us
who were personal friends Of the Garfield
Administration, and there were others who
were friends Of Gen. Grant and President
Arthur. The witness declined to state
who persons were, The witness was then
asked: "Will you produce list Of the
stockholders Of the Peruvian company?'
Auswer-"No, sir, under no circum-
stances" Witness declared Blaine was
not aware who these parties were, and that
he simply discussed the claim upon its
merits. Senator Blair never had a com
plcte list OF the stockholders. Witness
made long statement, which was mainly
Il recital of his Shepherd impression from
what was said or not said at his several in
terviews with the Secretary OF State, the
result Of which was TO assure him (Ship-
hera} that the Secretary was in sympathy
with the Peruvian Company. Abiding to
the conversation, in which reference was
made, to dispatches, witness ex-
pressed himself that they might
have been worded differently. Shipherd
detailed at some length the remarks Of the
Secretary to. the effect that good diplomat
did not depend so much upon the body OF
Il dispatch sometimes us he did to the
marginal note; that dispatches, when pub.
lished, would read one way, when in real.
ity they might be meant to the diplomat
jast the reverse. The witness continued: !:
~ saw the point some lime aiterward
when relating tho conversation to a friend,
aud he said: Did the Secretary say that?
replied that he did, and he then ex.
claimed: We'll, then, we have got him,
for | saw and held in my ttauds the dis.
patch 10 Hurlbut, upon the margin
Of which was pencilled, Go in,
Steve.'" The witness continued: "Nfy
explanation OF the SeCretary's change o.
attitude is, that about the 3rd OF Decem-
Der, he became convinced that he could
not longer remain in the Cabinet, and fear
ing that what mad passed between him and
Senator Blair and myself, would become
public, he made up his mind to furnish
me beforehand, to put upon record in the
State Department, letter which would i'll
diCate. that he always knew Mr. ShipheId
was n fraud, and that the Peruvian Com.
pany was bubble and swindle, and
therefore l say," added the witness with
much feeling, II regard that the letter Of
December s, just us deliberatean attempt to
assAssinNtC mans character, and destroy
Il great interest Us ever was known in his
tory.
Belmont-"Who was the friend Of yours
who saw the marginal note, Go in
Steye?'"
Answer-'It was William Henry Hurl.
but, editor Of the New York World"
In answer to the question, witness said:
Nothing ever came to me that suggested
even that the Secretary expected 10 use
this claim personally, or In any conCeiya-
BILE way to promote his personal or pecu.
mary interests"
Adjourned.
Shepherds testimony this morning TO
the effect that tho State Department dis
patch, which at the time it was written,
was regarded Ns II Censure to Minister Hurl-
but, had written on the margin the words:
go it, Stephen" has created more OF a
sensation than anything yet divulged by
Shipherd. The investigation had be.
gun to flag very much, but this has re-
Viyed the interest in it. Shepherds pur-
pose was to make il appear that Secretary
blaine wrote those words on the margin Of
his dispatch.
Harlbut, editor OF the New York World,
it Is said, is to be called before the COM
mittee, and Blaine also OF course there
will be difference Of opinion as TO Ship.
herds testimony. Some even OF the com.
mittee do not give 1t much eredenee, while
others maintain that there is much truth
in it, and that his Developments will DO
sustained.
HUNTING AN ISSUE
For the Next CampHign-A Divided
i nn.s,na,.naw ~, n. .wfT