The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-26

!
Purse understood that there was infor-
mality about the bond Capt. Dickerson
and Capt Paulsen, who were to qualify
individually for SIS, 900, had qualified in
the aggregate for that amount Through
/ the informAlity Smith & Burnett lost the
bid. / was informed that the informality
could have been rectified. New bids were
called for and Smith & Burnett put in a
second bid, but didn't get the work. Ny
impression was that no Savannah man
could get it. I intended no reflection Of
dishonesty on Col Gilmore or any one else
but attributed the loss of the bid to north
ern influences
Col Hughes exhibited telegram from
E. A Smith to Col Gilmore, ald the
latter's reply, which seemed to be a surprise
to Capt Purse, aud he disclaimed RESPONSE
bility for the statement in the Times inter-
view that 1.-THE contract finally found its
way into the hands Of Messrs. Green 81 Co.,
where it had been intended TO place it,
probably, at first"
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE
Mr.. Gazaway Hartridge, editor Of the
Times, was next called to the stand. Mr..
Hartridge was asked who had written the
paragraph, 'Mr. Curtis states that Capt.
Greene told him that he has been paid
twice for the same stone" and he was also
asked who is responsible for the informa-
The inspector general referred to the
Times statement as follows:
In the early part OF May there stopped at one
OF the hotels dashing, fine looking young
woman named Mrs. Graham, who had rendered
valuable aid TO Green, Gaynor, Bangs & Co.
She wore elegant costumes, pearls and dia-
mOnds. She did not keep it a sacred secret
that she was an acquaintance Of Capt. Green,
and had lobbled for him.
Mr.. Hartridge-I am responsible for the
writing.
Col Hughes-I don't want TO know who
is responsible for the writing, but l want
the name of the man who wrote the article
and no one else.
Mr.. Hartridge replied that it was written
by an employe of the paper.
Col Hughes-Does the paragraph refer
TO fraud in the engineering Department.
Does it refer to defrauding the government?
l want to know if the woman aided the
contractors in obtaining contracts through
this office.
Mr.. Hartridge-I can't tell anything
about what she did during her stay here. /
know Of no specific act in which the
woman alluded to as Mrs Graham has
swindled the United States government.
Col. Hughes-Or aiding to do 500
MIR. Hartridge-Nor aiding to do so. |
cannot name any contract she made |
never met Mrs. Graham, nor have | any
specific facts that she swindled or aided to
swindle the government here or elsewhere.
Col Hughes-If you have any facts to
show she has aided in wrongdOing at any Of
the following places land here the inspector
general read from list Of all the river and
harbor improvements in the district over
which-Iieut. Carter has charge), wish you
to name it If you know OF any evidence
that will enable me to discover it / want it,
| am after the contractors.
SAID TO BE LOBBYIST.
Mr. Hartridge--My information was that
Mrs. Graham was here; that she claimed to
have made contracts, it was said; she had
the reputation of being a lobbyist, and she
was closely associated with Capt. Greene.
l don't know whether her aid was honest or
not
Col. Hughes-Who is responsible for this
paragraph in the Times interview of June
3: "From another reliable source it was
learned that Capt. Greene had resigned
from the engineer corps but a short time
before this, and gone into the more lucra-
tive business of government contractor.
Senator Conkling was hired by Greene &
Co., and his influence with the secretary of
war and the working of lobbyists employed
by the firm, succeeded in putting the first
fat plum into the hands of the ex-engineer
and his associates
After brief consultation, Mr.. Hartridge
said that he was not prepared to give the
name of the party, who had requested that
his name should not be given, until he could
sec him.
Col George A. Mercer stated that he rep
resented Capt. Greene, and requested the
privilege of asking Mr.. Hartrldge some
questions. Col. Hughes said that this was
an unusual proceeding. He would, how
ever, submit the questions if Col Mercer
would reduce them to writing
The following questions were written out
but Col. Hughes rejected the third ques-
ton: sBtLa
You say only three parties could have been
the authors OF the articles which appeared in
the Times, Please give the names of those three
partiesS
Do you know of your own knowledge of any
corrupt act or practice ON the part of Capt.
Green, or the firm of Green, Gaynor & Co.
either through this Graham or any other per-
son in connection with any of the engineer
work controlled by the engineer department in
Savannah
In the article of May 90 the Times says the
facts referred 60 had been known for two
months, but withheld State why it was so
withheld?
WHO WROTE THE INTERVIEWS.
To the first question Mr.. Hartridge said
that he, himself, Mr.. Weldon, his city
editor, and Mr.. Gamble were the authors
of the articles. To the second question he
replleQ LnaU III was from information, and
not personal observation, that the infer
ences had been drawn.
When Mr.. Hartridge took the stand later
he said that he didn't like to be burdened
with questions about the differences that
might be drawn. He would say that he
had information that Lieut.. Carter was
associated with Mrs. Graham as well as
Capt. Greene.
Lieut.. Carter asked Col Hughes permits
sion to interrogate Mr.. Hartridge, and it
was given with the statement of Col
Hughes that Mr.. Hartridge had the option
to answer or not.
Lieut.. Carter-Who stated to you that
was associated with Mrs. Graham; in what
capacity and give fullest detail and inform
alton.
Mr.. Hartridge-I meant no scandalous in
ferences, but that you were associated with
her as you would with any one else; that
is, you were in her company while she was
| in Savannah. think l had better give
| you the names in private.
Lieut.. Carter-The charge of an associa-
ton was made publicly, and think ought
to have the names publicly.
| MIR. Hartrldge-l think you have a right
to know them, but hadn't you better have
me tell you hereafter? There was no int !.
| ton to connect yourself and Mrs Graham.
improperly. don't see any inference as tx
! any business connections with her. | don't
| think ought to give the names publicly
one Of them being a woman.
THE SMITH-BURNETT CONTRACT.
! Ex-Alderman Elton A Smith was inter