National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-23
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY.
mr.. J. ID. Cummings Tells n Straight
Story at First, but Gets Very Mixed
ON Crosse Determination.

mr.. j. ID. Cummings Tells q Straight
Story at First, but Gets Very Mixed
ON Crosu-Examinstion.
When tho criminal court met yesterday
morning tho trial Of Mr.. James ID. Cum
ming, charged with presenting three
false bills to the navy department, was
resumed. The government put in testi.
mony to show that not one Of tho articles
enumerated in the vouchers and paid for
had been received, and then closed its
case.
Mr.. A. II. jackson, for tho accused,
made brief opening, asserting that Cum
ming had never received n dollar from
the government without returning an
equivalent, and that his present position
was due to the perhdy and corruption Of
government official.
His first testimony was that Of some Of
the best known business men Of the city
and which showed that Mr.. Cumming
enjoyed an excellent reputation for hon
esty and integrity.
Mr.. Cumming was then called to the
stand, and testified that he was born In
Scotland and had been in this country
sixty.four years, having resided horo otf
and on since 1915. For the last ten years
he had been engaged in the general COM
mission business aud importer. Ho had
been furnishing tho governments supplies
since October, 1876, dealing with almost
every bureau. As TO tho bill of Jan. 10,
1852, he received tho order for the goods
from Carrigan and directed his agent.
John Seypoll, In New York TO furnish
them. Subsequently Carrigan notified
him that
THE GOODS HAD BEEN DELIVERED,
and ho went TO tho Office, received his
vouchers. got the money, and turned 1t
all over to tho man who furnished the
goods, less 10 per cent, witness commits
sion. Ho never offered or agreed to offer
any official Of tho government ono cent,
and IL was never intimatod that he had.
Mr.. Seypoll went with him TO tho navy
pay office, waited outside until witness
received tho money, and it was then
turned over to him, less tho 10 per cent.
commission.
For tho articles in the second voucher
he received an order from Carrigan, aud
the goods were furnished through WIN.
IA. Lewis, agent of the Block Rubber Hose
Manufacturing Company OF New York.
The money received was paid over, every
cent, less IL per cent, to tho parties who
furnished the goods. The third order,
which was for bricks, was received from
Carrigan and given to Alfred +. Kemp,
of Virginia.
Witness had preserved all his papers
until they were destroyed by Mr.. John
Foster, now in the insane asylum. Wit
ness had been to n great expense to find
John Ssypoll, but had not been success
full, and ho believed him dead.
ON INSTRUMENTATION
witness said that Foster asked him q.
one time IL papers improved by age, and
witness said he did not know. Foster
replied that he would destroy thom, aud
witness told him to do so. At one time
he kept papers in his trunk, but none oil
them could be found. Witness had
known Carrigan throe or four years to his
detriment. He visited witnoss' house on
ono occasion. borrowed $50, and had never
paid 1t back. The ss.examination wa,
pushed to some length, witness becoming
quite confused at times, and contradict
ing the statements made on his direct OK
animation, both rs to whore the respec
tive agents were located and goods fur
nished. When he first started out hi
located Seypoll in New York, LOWS In
Philadelphia, and Kemp in Virginia
Next no put Seypoll In Norfolk, Kemp In
Philadelphia, and Lewis in New York
) On third effort no could not tell wher,
.. Kemp was now living aud which good,
, he furnished on the order Of the witness
and Lewis, instead Of being agent for /,
, company, was in the commission business
for himself in New York.
Without concluding with witness, ar
! Adjournment was taken until this morn
! ing.