Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-10

The Investigation into the loss Of property
belonging to the weather bureau threshed over
old straw on Saturday when the inquiry was
continued at the Agricultural Department.
number OF witnesses were examined and moth
ing OF Importance was developed The loss OF
come iron beams which one witness had claimed
were missing was explained, but beyond this
the testimony was entirely corroboratiye re-
lating to the disappearance OF the granite step.
the hnoieum, stationery and other things told
Of before
At one point during the afternoon those pres-
ent we're startled by an admission made bv one
witness which was considered to implicate Chief
Harrington in an unfavorzble light, but later
developments dispelled this theory and proved
that the chief WIS in sympathy with the in
vestigation and doing what he could to probe
the matter to the bottom
cHIEF HAKRINGros s REQUEST.
Thomas III. King, one of the printers in the
Job office Of the bureau, was on the stand, testi-
flying az to the loss of the moids and his efforts
to find them. Gen. Colby had finished with
him when Geo. VI. Cartel, the assistant fore
man. inquired whether he might ask the witness
aquestion- Being answered in the Affirmative,
he said:
did not Chief Harrington send for your"
did he not ask you whether you were play
ing the private detective for that Officer
II think so.''
'.Did he not ask you to keep the matter qaie.
and saw nothing about III"
Il believe he did
IL was afterward shown that this converse
ton between King and Sfr. Harrington occurred
after Detectives Weldon and Lacey had been
called into the case and were trying to locate
the guilty ones. and it was at their request that
Mr.. Harrington was asked 10 have the employees
keep quiet SO that their work might not be
baked
Chief Harrington was present at the inyesti-
CATION on Saturday, accompanied by Mr.. X. Ross
Ferry, who will act as his counsel Before the
testimony was continued Mr.. Perry had a con-
yersatiOn with Gen. Colby, asking the privilege
to cross-examine certain witnesses who had
ALREADY been heard. The result Of this
that when Gen. Colby opened the hearing he
said that Maj. Harrington and other officials of
the weather bureau were interested and effected
by the investigation They had asked the
privilege 10 cross-eXsmine some witnesses who
had previously testified.
GEN. coLBY-s REMARKS
Today. therefore. all the witnesses or such
as may be designated will be recalled, in
order that they may be asked such questions
as the attorney NAV see fit. II would like TO
say" continued Gen. Colby. that thus far
the examination has been into the charges
which more properly affected the lower en-
ployes as to the loss of property and did not
reflect in any way the integrity or
character OF the higher officials OF the bureau
There is no desire that any ones reputation
should be unjustly smirched and it is the wish
that every proceeding shall be unrestrained and
unconcealed- For these reasons / have not
thought 1t worth while TO notify these officers
Of the investigation. When the charges re-
lating 10 alleged partisan promotions and il
legal appointments are reached IL is my inten-
ton TO formulate proper charges and forward
than IN tnnse INV we'd in hat fhav
be given every opportunity to have the pro-
ceedirgs conducted in the proper manner"
At the close Of the days examinat ton Gen.
Colby said that after Monday the cross-examin-
alton Of witnesses would have to be made when
they were called. otherwise the proceedings
would be too long drawn out.
IRON GIRDERs AND A GRANITE BLOCK.
John A. Harvey, an engineer OF the captains
watch. testified that when the weather bureau
was transferred TO the Agricultural Department
he found that it a very hard matter to get
coal into the building. as there vault in
which to store II. He had seen Secretary Rusk
regarding this matter and was told by him to
have plans aHd Specifications for coal vault
drawn. He had seen some iron beams grid
ers about the depar ;ment which he learned were
of and learning that they coId be
utilized IN the construction of the coal vault
they were included in the specifications. He
positive that the iron beams used.
Charles W. Steers was employed as u laborer
about the grounds of the Agricultural Depart
ment. At one time he was detailed for work at
the weather bureau. While there he had seen
An old granite block or stepping stone. 1t was
moved from one place to another and as there
appeared no place or use for it he suggested
that il be sold. He was tod to do and dis
posed Of the granite block to Philip Smith. the
stone cutter. for the sum OF IS, which he
turned over TO Capt. Stone.
ut. Z 80 tt,n1
was called upon TO tell what he knew of the tax
Ing away OF two boats from the department one
morning about o'clock. He testified that this
had been done. ard turning in his chair in re-
ply TO q question he pointed out John johnson.
one OF Hopfenmaier drivers as the person who
was present Mt the time. Mr sullivan WAS there
q; the time the removals were made. He had
never purchased any goods from any one in the
department.
John johnson declared that he was the only
driver Mr.. Hopfenmaier lad and was very posi-
tive in his denial Of the statement made by the
preceding witness that he johnson had
been at the bureau before the hou-s for opeu-
ing. His testimony not very sa:IfactOry
as he had an unfortunate manner OF forgetting
things and made his replies In mouosyiiables.
AL that elected from John Woods. an
other colored employee OF Hopfenrnaier, WAS
that he with his employer when he called
on Ryan on the evening of February 20. He
did not know Whist occurred ut that time as he
did not enter the premises.
George p. Garner, night Waterman, had
never seen any material taken from the bureau
Ut unusual hours. He was present in the cellar
when Lewis Colyer tired to leave with a chest
which Collyer said had been given 10 him. but
he restrained him lie had seen Robinson
leave with package. which sfterward proved
TO be the stolen linen.
Lewis Collyer. colored messenger told how
he had carried up n quantity o; waste paper
from the cellar TO Capt. Brannoa's shed.
Brannon told him TO let HIM tBraEron) know
when he had paper, as there might be some
thing in il for him tCoilyer), but he had never
received any money from HIN.
TURNED ovER TO THE CAPTAIN or THE WATCH.
Thomas H. King. Q printer in the weather
bureau. explained how he had placed the six
brass and two roller molds pehing door. bu.
upon looking for them again they were gone
He had been told that they had been TUNED
over TO the captain Of the watch and he king
reported the loss to Mr.. Harrison. He then
went to see Capt Brannon about them. who
said thew had been turned over TO Thompson.
When Thompson told this the latter said
that Capt. Brannon a liar and accused him
OF having sold them to Hopfenmaier. The
rollers had not been condemned They were in
rood order and worth $50. A copper kettle
was also lost He tried to find ii. but could not.
TWAS at this point that the questions were
put TO King BY Cartel, which are reported
above.