National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-19
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND.
Mr.. MYron N. Parker TesIifes Before the
Swain Court Of Inquiry.
Gen. Swain Understood That Morrow
Had Passed Fraudulent Vouchers.
Parker Understood That the $1,000 Due Bill Was TO
Into Arbitration.
The Defence Closed-NVrittcn Arguments
20 DO Submitted by Counsel

md the court adjourned until "Wednesday
next, whom IL will meet to listen to tho
reading of arguments which counsel havo
been directed to submit in writing.
When tho court met Saturday morning
Judge Advocate Scott asked counsel If they
were agreed as to whether or not the $4,000
duo bill In the caso was q negotiable paper.
Counsel could not reach an agreement, Mr..
Calkins contending that the paper was nego-
table, and Mr.. Chandler arguing that II was
not. The court will consider the question Of
hearing some expert upon this point.
Mr.. Myron NJ. Parker, tho mutual friend
in tho controversy between Bateman and
Swain, was called TO the witness stand by the
,ourt and questioned by Judge Advocate
Scott. lie said that he was in tho employ of
Bateman & Co. ut the time Col. Morrow
obtained loan Of 1880 from that firm on
his pay accounts Col. Morrow came TO the
bank accompanied by Maj. McKibbon, and
had with him o note Of introduction from
Gen. Swain. Witnesses recollection was that
Col Morrow wanted loan of $4,000 or $4,000,
and offered some life insurance policies Us
security. He (witness) consulted with Mr..
Batemau and informed Col. Morrow that they
could not mako the loan. Col. Morrow then
said something about borrowing money
on his pay accounts, and witness told
three or four months pay. Col. Nor
row left then, but camo back the
next day and obtained 81 500 on his pay
vouchers. Tho witness tben said that shortly
after the discovery by Batoman that these
vouchers were duplicates he (witness) had
gono, ut Mr.. Bateman's request, to SEQ Gen.
Swain about tho matter. His recollection
WINS that Bateman wanted Swain to use his
influence with Morrow to have tho latter
make some arrangements to pay the vouchers
held by Bateman. He (witnoss) did not
remember what Swain said when he brought
him this message but did remember that he
expressed some surprise that tho vouchers
were duplicates and said he would soc Bate
man. Witness was then examined as to his
recollection of the conversation had in his
office between Gen. Swain aud Mr.. Bate
man on the day Of the publication of
Bateman's lotter to tho secretary of war max
ing charges against Swain. lie (the witness)
had sent for Mr.. Bateman and asked him
about the trouble between him (Bateman)
and Swain. When Bateman had told his
story, witness said that as they (Batoman and
Swaim) were old friends, they ought to DO
able to settle their differences without the
intervention of either military OF civil
court. To this witness said Bateman replied
that all he wished to do was to protect his
bank. Witness suggested that the matter DO
left to arbitration, and Mr. Bateman having
said he was willing, he (the witness) went to
see Gen. Swain and brought the two mon to-
gether, when the agreement Us to the with
uruWAl OF SUN on quo Dill, llb buTrOnuer 70
him (the witness), and the withdrawal of the
charges against Swain was drawn up and
signed. The witness / I'D not heard any refer
ence made in this interview between
Bateman and Swain to Col. Morrow's pay
accounts, or to any other charges made by
Bateman against Swain, referred to in the
last paragraph of Bateman's letter to the
secretary Of war. On tho day following this
interview the due bill in dispute was SUR
rended to witness, and remained in his pos
session until turned over by him TO the judge
advocate of this court. Witness told Swain
on the same day that he got possession Of the
duo bill that it had been surrendered to him.
The witness was then questioned by tho
court as to his recollection of tho CONVERSE
ton which took place in his office, between
Gen. Swain and Mr.. Bateman, in which 1t Is
alleged that Gen. Swain threatened to
"squeezo" Morrow at tho war department If
the bankers did not help him LSwaim) out.
He said his recollection Of this conversa-
ton was indistinct. Something was said,
he thought, in q general way by Gen. Swain,
about his (Swaim's) claim against Morrow
and about certain grocers and butchers bills
Az near as the witness could rocollcct, the
conversation was about the payment of all
the bills against Morrow on equal terms
Witness was not present during the whole
conyerBation, and could not remember
whether anything was said about "squeoz-
ing" Col Morrow at the war department.
Something however, was said, ho thought,
about the possibility of court martial in
Col. Morrow's case.
On oross-examination by Mr. Chandler tho
witness said that at tho time he (witness)
went to SEQ Gen. Swain about Col. Morrows
pay accounts, at Mr.. Bateman's request, Gen.
Swain understood distinctly from him (the
witness) that Col. Morrow had.passed fraudu-
lent pay vouchers into tho bank; that was
tho subject of his mission to Con. Swain.
L. I,at In inp hat W. n
Gen. Swain and Mr.. Bateman in his (wit-
nesss) office, in which there was talkBof q
court martial of Col. Morrow by Gen. Swain,
he (Swaim) said that If court martial oc-
Cured there would be a total loss of oil
the accounts against Morrow. Witness
could not remember whether this state
ment had or had not been made by
Gen. Swain after he (Swaim) had de-
manded that his bill should be paid with
the rest He remembered that when the
interview closed Mr.. Bateman was very much
excited. He (witness) thought tho excite
ment arose from some talk about Col. Nor
rows pay accounts. He thought Swain had
talked of his having q claim against Morrow.
He(wltness) thought it was about the salts
faction OF this claim that the conversation in
question was had.
The witness was asked to state whether the
pay accounts deposited by Col. Morrow with
Bateman & Co. were fraudulent. Mr. CAlkius
tion. Witness was afterward allowed to state
that he and Mr.. Bateman understood that
they wore fraudulent, and that it was bo-
cause Of this understanding that Bateman
had sent him to see Gen. Swain.
He then stated, in answer TO questions by
Mr.. Chandler, that he took MIR. Humphreys
IN his (witness's) carriage to the war depart
ment TO sec Gen. Swain, TO get the latters
authority for the transfer of the due bill to
him (witness). 1t was between II and IL
o'clock in the day. Humphreys bad the due
bill with him, and on being authorized by
Gen, Swain to do SO, turned 1t over TO wit
ness, who loft tho war department. with II
shortly after II o'clock.
To MIR. Calkins witness said that he undor-
stood that this due bill, with other matters,
was to go into arbitration,
To Mr.. Chandler he said that he did not
think that Mr., Batemau had ever said that
that was the understanding
Witness, with the courts permission, thon
made statement, in which no said he know
nothing of tho merits OF this case, and had
acted in it simply as the friend Of both
parties.
r. W. Talmndgo, an attorney who repre-
sented D'Autru in the prosecution Of claims
before the French and American claims
commission, was called by tho defense, aud
testified to his Endorsements on the claim
which was purchased by Batoman s. Co. fol
Con. Swain, The court cut short the
examination of this witness with reference
TO the claim in question as not pertinent u
the matter at issue,
Tho defense closed with this witness ant