New-York tribune., 1886-05-19
PAN.ELECTRiC TESTIMONY.
NO MORE WITNESSES TO BE EXAMINED.
VAIN APPEAL To CITIZEN VAN DENTHUYsEN-THAI
MEMPHIS SUIT.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIL. TRIBUNE.
WAsuIxGToN May 1S.-Citizcn Van Benthuysen
abated his demands somewhat over night and when
he appeared before the Pan Electric Committee to-day
he desired OILY the privilege of appearing by counse
for the purpose of crossexaminng two or three wit
nesses in his own behalf. If the request should be
granted he proposed to submit
Flrst-Competent documentary and oral evidence
that OF the Witnesses who have already testified
in support of the charges regarded III their CO m
munitIes as wholly unworthy of belief. AS such no
names Messrs. Sypher. li and Pulitzer, the hrst two
having testified that they originated the calumnles
which gave rise To the inquiries and the last having
assumed the responsibility for publishing them 10 the
world. .
Sccond-To show by the testimony that the Bell
COmI any has resorcd to Hnd used undue means, ana
scandaliZed public officials in efforts 10 influence the
Patent Office and through that Office II courts OF the
United States lie ncloses list of witnesses whom
he desires 10 have examined including Gilbert Praher.
John A. Dillon. John Cockrell. of The New-i ork
World ana some of the editorial stan ot Inc St
Louis Post Dispach" The communication winds up
with denial of the charge that the contest against the
Bell Company is the work Of the Democratic or any
other political element aud declaration that tho de-
PENDANTS against the Bell Company nearly all Ke-
pubcans
General Svrhcr who was present also submitted n
letter in which lie applied variors uncompmen ary
epthets TO Citizen Van Benthuysen and then the COM
mittee after brief discussion and bv unanimous vote
denied both applications and decided not to examine
any witnesses to recall for cr0ss-examinatIon
any witness who has testified.
Before Mr.. Van Benthuysens application read
Bradley T. Johnson of the Washington Telephone
COMPANY made important additions to his former
testimony The committee also received the dep
ositins of Attorney Beckwith, of the National I'm
proved Company and of job printer. both OF New
Orleans respecting the date Of the preparation OF Il o
bill in equity which fled at Memphis. early in Sep
tembcr 1osj in the suit ordered by SolictorGeneral
Goode on September g. These deposilions are
tremey important Tor they strong links in the chain
of evidence 1t should be that the petition
was filed with DIstrioi-Attorney MoCorry on August
81 aad that the suit thereon not ordered by Goodt
until September g. Yet according the recollection
OF P-ckwith who prepared the bill which was filed on
September under the authority granted September g.
the manuscript OF this bill given to the printer II
Now-Orleans August - or 2S-tlat IT, on the same
day the day after the filing of the petition at Mem
rs. The printer dcposes that he received the job on
September /. still two days before Goodies order was
written and one day before he received McCOrrv's
application. In other words, the applicants were so
well assured of IA orabe action that they had their
bill printed before The action was aken
lhc question next came up a. to what action should
be taken in tie OF the refusal OF Manager Marean
TO produce kilograms called for in subpoena. Mr..
kanHey regarded the telegam- ~ OF great Importance
and expressed the hOOe that Senator Harris and Dir.
Young would give their consent 10 the product on OF
th messages Mr. Young replied that lie would give
his consent. coupled with the condition that he be
allowed prosecute the inquiry further than could be
done under the resolution already adopted
Mr.. Hall moved that the W tness be excused and the
committee proceeded 10 argue Il matter
Mr.. Hanback, mpatently remarked: " What is the
of sitting here wiser than ows-sitting on this
body-this gentleman of gong through the form Of
having him reported TO the House for commitment,
when you know blamed WE'LL do that you can't
commit him at all"
Mr. Oates rected the facts of the KibOurn case, and
said that he would not violate the law aud give the
witness right to the Government for false COM
mitment. Finally the chairman was authorized to pre-
pare snbpoenas for any Dispatch sufficiently described
by any member of the committee. After some discus
sion of the refusal o the witness Hill to reply to
question, the committee witt out action the subject
adjourned TIL tomorrow.