Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-13
An Alleged Marginal Note OF MI.
BlafnesS. Etc.

Before proceeding with the examination to- day
the committee on foreign affairs INDUCED In a
brief discussion relative to the advsability Of
vising the official reports OF the proceedings. The
question was, however, postponed for the present
After rehears1ng the true intent of the present
investigation Mr.. Belmont said to the witness
(Shfpherd): "Please repeat briefly what you said
20 the Secretary of State in your interview OF July
Sth as to the instructions you desired him to give
to Minister Hurlbut."
Mr. Shipherd replied: sI wanted the attention OF
Chill and Peru called to the fact of the assertion of
the Cochet claim and that no settlement should
De made without having reference to the claim OF
these parties Peruvian company" He feared
some delay and came to Washington to reassure
himself. His Impression was that Senator Blair
and himself had reason to be satisfied with his in
terview with Secretary Blaine.
WON'T MAKE MUCH IMPRESSION ON STEVE.
Witness was asked to what extent the matter OF
the offer OF $3.50 0o0 which he made to Hurlbut was
discussed In the presence of the Secretary and re-
piled: "At the interview of october 18th some
reference was made to my letter OF June I'd, and
made to Hurlbut by the Credit 1ndustriel, and
senator Blair remarked, why Hurlbut had rather
have $40 GOO in hand than your offer Of s2500O0 In
second time that this matter of the offer to Hurlbut
had been mentioned In the presence Of the Secre-
cash might have been offered by the Credit Indus
trel and this led to repetition OF the text OF my
letter: In fact, the Secretary himself called for
the text and read 1t to him. He listened atten-
lively and, quoting The phrase, so far as it may
be proper he tthe Secretary said: That is sort
or spigot;' then, laughing, he added: 'W ell,
that won't make much impression on Steve.'"
sHIPHERD's IMPRESSION ABOUT Mr.. BLAINE.
The witness admitted that Secretary Blaine
never committed himself in words; yet when he
(ShfpherdD came away and thought over seriously
the drift of his several interviews, he was always
profoundly impressed with the belief that the Sec
retary was IN accord with their wishes.
GEN. GRANT.
Witness was asked in regard to the autograph
approval by Gen. Grant of the draft OF dispatch
which he tShipherd) had prepared and expected to
ask the Secretary to send to Mr.. Hurlbut, and re-
papers in New York, and he could not produce 1t
without going to New York in person. At the sug
geStlon OF Representative BlOunt the matter was
laid over for the present
Witness.-If the committee will make list OF
the various documents will produce them at the
proper time.
Mr.. Blount asked the witness If he had copy of
Gen Grants letter OF Introduction to the President
which brought about an interview with the latter.
Witness questioned the propriety of producing
IL, but would, however, do SO as soon as he could
obtain it.
FRIENDS OF GEN. GRANT AND OF THE EXECUTIVE
Mr. Belmont then propounded several questions,
with view to discovering who were the parties
interested in the Peruvian company, that he Ship-
herd had alluded to as ''friends of Gen. Grant and
OF the Executive" Witness evaded a 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 adminis-
tration and there were Others who were friends OF
Gen. Grant and President Arthur" Witness de-
cl1ned to state who these persons were.
POSITIVE REFUSAL OF SHIPHERD TO PRODUCE LIST
OF STOCKHOLDERS.
Witness was then asked: "Will you produce a
list OF the stockholders Of the Peruvian company?'
Answer.-No, sir; under no circumstances
Question.-Was Senator Blair aware that you
were associated with these gentlemen when he
introduced you to the Secretary?
Answer.-Senator Blair's knowledge of the per-
sonne was at that time merely nominal.
Witness was asked il Secretary Blaine was
aware who those parties We're and replied: "My
impression Is that Mr. Blaine never asked a ques-
ply discussed the claim upon its merits"
Witness was then asked the same question in re-
latlon TO senator Blair and replied: "Senator Blair
OF those Interested In the Peruvian company He
knew OF some of the parties Interested"
WITNESS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR NEWSPAPER PUBL
CATIONS.
Witness was asked in regard to publication In
the New York Herald, purporting to be an inter-
view with him iShipherd), in which he stated that
there were grave reasons why the Secretary of
St,te would not refer his (Shipherds) letter to the
Attorney General for criminal action, and In reply
disavoWed responsibility for anything that might
be published In the newspapers.
tbs GREATEST SURPRISE OF SHEPHERDS LIFE
He was then asked what the reasons were to
which he had alluded, and after some demurrer
and desultory discussion OH the part of the COM
course OF which he said: My BELIEF all through the
summer, however, was that the Secretary fully in
tended to cooperate with me, and believe that
he did SO intend until about the 18th of November
My telief Is founded upon an absolute, consistent
consolidated history. No suggestion to the con,
trary ever came to me. As to his absolute good
faith In the matter, no suggestion to the contrary
came TO me from any source all through the sum-
mer- On the 9th or 9TH OF December, when his
bolt from clear sky. 1t was the most absolute
surprise OF my whole life. 1 couldn't account for
It. and for days was perfectly bewildering. II
between Minister Hurlbut and Secretary Blaine
which had been passing in the meantime, might
possibly have understood it; but at that time it
had not been published.
Mr.. BLAINE AcTUATED BY NO PERSONAL INTEREST.
The chairman inter- upted the witness with an
inquiry whether (Shtpherd) thought the Secretary
expected to derive any personal benefit from the
claim
witness with emphasis)-I never for a moment
thought that Mr.. Blaine looked upon the claim in
any other light than as the Secretary of state. or
that he ever expected to make any use OF it, other
sGo IN STEVE"
Mr.. Shipherd detailed at some length the re-
marks of the Secretary to the effect that a
good diplomat did not depend SO much upon the
marginal note; that dispatches when published
would read one way, when In reality they might
mean 70 the QlplOmaC JUST the reverse. Witness
continued saw the point some time afterwards
when relating the conversation to friend, and he
said :-"Did the Secretary say that7" replied
that he did, and he then exclaimed :-ssWell. then
we have got him, for saw and held In my hands
dispatch to Mr.. Hurlbut, upon the margin of
which was pencilled "Go in Steve"
Witness continued: My explanation of the Sec
retaryS change OF attitude is that about the third
OF December he became convinced that he could
not longer remain in the Cabinet and fearing that
what had passed between him and Senator Blair
and myself would become public, he made up his
mind to finish me beforehand, to put upon record
in the State department a letter which would in
dicate that he always knew Shipherd was a fraud,
and that the Peruvian company was bubble and
swindle, and therefore say,"-added the wit
ness, with much feeling-'I regard that letter OF
Dec. Sd Just as deliberate an attempt to assasi-
nate mans character and destroy great inter-
est as ever was known In history"
Mr.. BelmOnt-Who was the friend OF yours
who saw the marginal note: sGo In Steve"
Answer.-It was Mr. VIM. Henry Hurlbut, editor
OF the New York World.
The committee adjourned until 1880 q. m. to
morrow.
TEE CASE AaAnasT DR. WALTER DIsxIssED.-
This afternoon Mr.. 8. C. Mills, US. commissioner
decided the case Of the United States agt. DR..
Mary Walker, who was arrested last week for
opening letter not directed to her, and dismissed
accused. It viii be remembered that Judge Bundy
at the last session raised the point that the letter