The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-31
THE DIPLOMATIC SCANDAL.

Jacob II. Shipherd, accompanied by his wife,
appeared before the House Committee on For
eign Affairs, at Washington, on the 2lst OF
March. He handed in certificate from his
physician that his recent illness had been quite
serious. Shipherd examined at length by
the committee. He stated that he in
dorsed TO President Garfield and Bee
retarv Blaine, in May, copies OF the
prospectus OF the Peruvian Company. In New
York. on May 80, he had prolonged interview
with Minister Hurbut, who said the President
regarded the case strons, In law and equity {.
as it could possibly be, and action would be
taken il it would enable Peru to pay her in-
demnity and get out Of her trouble with Chill.
Hurlbut was assured by Shipherd that it would
result advantageously to him II no
made no opposition. Shipherd had two
extended conversations with Blaine at the end
of July last, and asked that both Chill and
Peru be officially notified of the right to the
guano fields asserted by Americans, which the
Secretary said should be done at once. In
letter to Hurbut Shipherd states that $500
of pool stock in the Peruvian Company had
been reserved for the Minister and his friends,
the terms of payment to be arranged at their
convenience
In his testimony before the House Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, OH the 22d, ShiPherd
said that the only officers OF the United States
with whom he had any correspondence or whom
he sought to interest in the company were Minis
tiers Hurlbut, fitzpatrick and Adams, the Secre
tary of State, President Garfield, Senator
from New Hampshire (Blair), and William II.
Robertson, Collector OF the Port of New York.
According to his story Blair was given q re-
tanner, which he afterward returned, and Rob
ertson was paid fee for services rendered the
company in the capacity of attorney. Shipherd
admitted that his only dealings with Gen. Kill
patrick consisted In writing two letters to him,
which were never answered.
Shipherd, when called before the House COM
mittee on March %, stated, before any aues-
ton had been put. that he desired to add a
word, IL it would be in order, to the testimony
given the previous day. He then stated that
he would waive the technical objection he had
raised, and would state that the Senator to
whom he had alluded was Henry w. Blair. of
New Hampshire. He further stated that with
one exception, there was no other Senator or
member OF Congress who had in any way been
interested as counsel or had been approached
with view to securing his services This
gentleman, Shipherd said was asked to act az
counsel, and declined on the ground that he
might be called on as a member Of Congress to
pass upon the claims of the Peruvian Company
With this exception and that OF Senator Blair,
there was no other instance Of any Sffort to Sc
cnre the services OF a member OF either house
of Congress- Witness produced copy
OF his letter TO the President. 1t was
quite long, and rehearsed in detail the
Claims and plans of the Peruvian
Company. The letter referred to enclosures
naming the prospectus of the company, the
draft OF agreement with Peru, the chain OF the
title OF the Peruvian Company, and stated 1t
was deemed best to lay the whole matter before
the President. 1t spoke of the magnitude of
the interests involved, and estimated the value
OF guano at 81, 900, 900, 900, and indicated that
ex-President Grant would be President OF the
company, and that its Board of Directors
would include gentlemen equally well known
and capable.
Shipherd failed to show up in the House
committee room at Washington on March Gath.
He sent as a substitute physicians certificate
TO the effect that he was suffering from neu-
ralgia and threatened with eryslpelas, with a
likelihood of mis- remaining i'll for several days.
The committee sent him notification that
thereafter it would be necessary to have his
physicians certificate sworn to.