Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-05
THE PERU INVESTIGATION.
SENATOR BLAIR FURTHER EXAMINED.
SOME QUESTIONS WITNESS DECLINED TO
ANSWER.

The examination OF Senator Blair was resumed
at 10 O'Clock this morning before the foreign affairs
committee, Representative Blount conducting the
| examination.
QueStiOn.-What was the amount OF stock ten.
dered you by Shipherd7
Witness.-Do you think that essential?
Mr. BlOunt-I do.
WITNESS DECLINES TO SAY WHAT AMOUNT OF STOCK
WAS TENDERED HIM.
Witness-"I must decline to answer that Ihave
stated all that think essential of connection with
the company, and do not to go further I'm that
| direction. / never received any money or any
| other than the stock"
Witness, in reply to further questions, did not
| remember whether or not anything was said at
his first interview with Shipherd about fee. The
second interview was about the 22d OF July. There
was proposition at that time that witness should
| serve the company as feed attorney. Witness
| did not agree then to take fee; wanted further
time to examine into the matter. Some time in
August witness agreed to act as counsel. 1t was
understood that witness should serve for hire, but
agreement was made at that time.
kep; B!ou1t then read from Secretary Blaine's
evidence and asked, was Mr. Blaine correct in say
Ing that at that first interview Mr. Shipherd told
active counsel.
There was no misunderstanding about it. 1t was
well understood at the time l remember Bout
well and Cragin were mentioned at the time"
THE SENATOR HAS NO APOLOGY TO OFFER. =
Witness replied to further questions: ssMr.
| Blaine understood that appeared there as coun-
sci. He knew that was desrous OF aiding Mr..
| Shipherd. / asked the Secretary II, from his
knowledge OF the affair, there could be any impro-
could see none This was before this interview
with Shipherd: No one intimated to me that
Wt S amy in
never concealed my connection: should do the
! same thing over with the same light l have no
apology to offer here or elsewhere"
WITNESS AGAIN DECLINES TO ANSWER
Representative Blount again asked as to the
amount Of stock offered him by Shipherd, and wit
ness again declined to state the amount
The Chairman.-"f you DESIRE Mr.. Blount, we
20 into executive session. you deem it
mr. think the question essential but
Mr. Blount continued: .'You notified Mr.. Ship
herd. after having the stock about three weeks,
| that you would give it up?"
Ayes; but told him that still sympathized
with the objects OF the company"
MT Blount-"Wel, never mind, we will come to
| OF November 26th, Mr. Blount inquired ''Dld you
| intend by that letter to convey the impression
that you never regarded that scrip OF any value?"
" never regarded 1t as OF any value unless the
agreement with Peru had been carried out; that is
to say, if the company had been organized, and
| the money raised, 1t would have been wealthy
Q.-"Did you not. In your opinion, influence cap
| 1talsts to believe in and take stock In the COM
pany?"
Al did not influence any capitalists"
Q-"Didn't you believe that the eminent capt.
with the Secretary were interested in that
movement"
Al know that there were men of wealth who
were interested in this movement If the conditions
for its success were possible. There was no COM
pany and no scrip. however. at that time"
Q.-"D1d you ever use this language" Quoting
from Shepherds testimony the paragraph In which
occurs the words "you should act as though ships
OF on eF the to the Pa
speak in manner to mark an era in diplomacy,
etc.'1
questions are asked from different mental view
from that under which the letter was written"
WITNESS DESIRES TO EXPLAIN.
Witness desired to explain just the view he took
at the time He believed that at that time Chill had
changed its mind, and proposed to insist upon q
dismemberment OF Peruvian territory. He (Blair)
looked upon it an insult to this government and
he believed that some steps would be taken by our
government, and that possibly ships of war would
Representative Blount did not think the long ex-
PLANTATION was necessary. What he wanted to
client OF the policy of the United States IL he did
not think that policy gave any value to the
claims?
AQUEsTIoN BY CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS
Chairman Williams-"If the gentleman will al
low me to ask one question? Did you regard the
securing the friendly offices of this government
as the first important step to be taken in the Ship
herd enuerpriSe?"
Al regarded the persuading Chilli to
take an indemnity instead OF insisting upon the
dismemberment OF her territory as an Important
step to take. wanted the United States to take
position friendly to Peru. l considered it addi-
uonal aid If the friendly offices of the United
account of these claims"
Q-"Did you understand the government
as demanding from Chill that she should not insist
upon the dismemberment of Peru?"
witness declined M ed to discuss the meaning Of the
than that indicated in the dispatches
GEN. GRANTS OPINION.
Representative Blount quoting from Shipherd's
testimony asked: 'HOw did you learn Gen.
Grants opinion upon this matter?"
Witness had thus far refrained as far as possible
m1ttee would not insist upon that line. He had
heard OF Gem. Grants views from others and he
had seen them over his own signature, but he did
not care to be the 1nStrumentality OF bringing
upon others the criticism OF the press. He had
just seen the comments upon himself, and could,
Grant, he knew nothing of his opinions in this re-
lation that he (Blair did not consider highly hon
Representative Blount-aIf the name OF Gen.
Grant has been used to bolster up these claims,
want the question answered, or want you to de-
Senator Blair.-ssIf the committee think best, 1
shall not decline; but DO not think it pertinent"
Representative BlOunC-"u the name OF Gen.
Grant and the influence OF this government has
been brought to bear to induce the payment by
Chill OF twelve hundred million OF dollars think
it pertinent that the names Of all parties interest
ed should be known"
Witness then stated that he had personal COM
munfcatOn from Shfpherd and documentary evil
dence relative to Gen. Grants views
SENATOR BLAIR'S PRIVILEGES AS COUNSEL.
Representative Rice desired to know just how
far witness put himself on his privilege as counsel
in declining to answer questions
Witness.-ssI have not suggested anything fur
ther than information coming to me through the
act OF my client"
Mr.. Blount thought the committee had right to
view OF their own, and did not believe that
scheme such as Shipherd's, which might have In
vOlved this country In q war with South America.
should be covered up by any such protection as the
privileges OF counsel
Witness said his knowledge OF Gen. Grants views
was derived from Shfpherd's statements to him
exclusively, with the one exception OF Gen. Grants
endorsement upon draft OF instructions to be
sent to Minister Hurlbut
ssDid you understand that Gen. Grant favored
formal demand by our government upon Peru for
these claims?"
Al do not undertake to give the IAN
guage, but think it was form OF dispatch indica-
ting the instructions to our minister to use their
good o11ce&"
aGooD OFFICES