Evening star., 1901-10-08
THE HEMP INQUIRY
Mr.. Meiklejohn Cross-Examined by
Judge Mackey.
GEN. CORBIN'S FURTHER EVIDENCE
Testimony as to the Heistand
CabIegram to Otis.
NO EECHES ANTED

8. Heistand met at noon today former
Judge Thomas ]. Mackey of South Caro-
lima appeared as counsel for the accusing
witness, Mr.. Erastus L. Hawks.
After the committee was called to order
by Senator Hawley Mr.. Needham. counsel
for Col. Heistand arose and announced
that the colonel would pay for the Otis ca
blegram today, calling attention to the
fact that his client had admitted forgetting
to do SO heretofore Senator Cockrell said
witnesses had been summoned to tell who
had certified to the payment for the cable
gram by the War Department in view of
the fact that Mr. Hawks had desired to go
fully into the matter. While waiting for
these witnesses Mr.. Meiklejohn was cross
examined.
How'd you pronounce your name, Mix
eljokn or Micklejohn,'' inquired Senator
Cockrell.
''Micklejohn,' was the response
That's right. That's why HeiStand
should be pronounced Hghtstand instead
of Heestand. But then every man has
right to pronounce his name as he sees
fit. Having settled this important point
witness was asked by Senator Burrows if
the civil branch of the War Department a
part of the settlement of his claim
against Heistand and denied absolutely the
existence of any such understanding. His
son of his army record and his recommen-
dations. -
Denie. Hawks Statement.
Senator Burrows read extracts from Mr..
Hawks testimony, in which the latter as
serted that Mr.. Meiklejohn had promised
him the place either inferentially or direct
ly as part of the settlement, and Mr..
Meiklejohn denied all the statements. Ask
ed If he ever told Hawks after his removal
that he Hawks) could never hold a place
as long as Mr.. Root was Secretary of War,
Mr.. Meiklejohn said that Hawks called on
him at the Raleigh and witness told him
that Secretary Root had revoked his ap-
pointment. Hawks was with witness at
This time about four hours and told wit
ness about his alleged relations with Flint,
Eddy & Company and his intention to sue
that firm Regarding reappointment, wit
ness said he told Hawks when the latter
suggested withdrawing his papers in the
War Department and filing them in another
department, that he did not believe in view
OF the revocation Of his appointment, that
ne could secure an appointment anywhere
under the government ''as long as Root
was Secretary of War" -'. --
MI MeikleJohn further svore that dur
ing the four-hour interview or conference
Mr. Hawks finally grew acrimonious and
connection with his affair
then told him l cared to hear nothing
about blackmail," said Mr.. Meiklejohn.
referring to Mr.. w. Cranch McIntyre's
statement that witness had said that
Hawks claim against Heistand must he
settled before his appointment could he
considered, Mr. Meikejohn said he had
tod MI Mcintyre that 1t would be, he
thought, injurious to discipline to have a
man appointed in the civil service when he
had claim against an officer under whom
he might at some time have to serve
The Heistand CabIeeram.
3. T. Brown Of the office of the auditor
for the War Department was sworn at
this point and interrogated about the ca
blegram from Colonel Heistand sent to
OTIS He produced the original
The cost OF this cablegram, witness said,
was s49.61. The reply of Gen. Otis cost
$oS.l2 The latter had never been audited
in the United States. The cableeram of
Col. Heistand was included in the monthly
batch for July, 1899, sent to the auditors
once, the total cost being over 5000, GER
TINED to collectively by Gen. Corbin as
There was nothing, witness said, on Col.
Helstands cablegram to show that 1t was
not on government business. Witness
could not tell when the actual payment had
been made. but by reference to the record
on the back of the batch 1t was made
March 8, 1900.
Gen. Corbin was recalled and asked to
explain now ne had come to certify to the
Helstand cablegram; he said he had done so
on the report of board of officials which
examined all kilograms He did not ex-
anime each separate telegram.
Counsel Mackey cross-examined Gen
Corbin at great length about whether the
telegram was on private or public business.
whether Col. Heistand was in the insuIar
division and number of other things and
was about to wax eloquent when Senator
Cockrell told him he must confine himself
to questions and not make speech
General Corbin said the face of the tele-
gram made 1t appear that it looked like
uyoc on, ofT oil
tion of the official books of the department
had failed to discover a letter press copy
of 1T. Major Carter of the adjutant gem
erals office, corroborated General Corbin
In his statement that the Heistand tele-
gram was not written an adjutant gem
erals office blank but on a War Depart
ment blank, and that no official record of
1t was filed in the War Department. He
then described the system of the board
which examined kilograms. It was conf
posed Of experts They had passed the
Heistand telegram as official. Replying to
Mr.. Needham he explained the custom fol-
lowed In the War Department and its yari-
Gus branches in signing and sending tele-
grams.
An Interesting CoIIOquy.
An interesting colioquy here arose, Mr..
Needham having been told by Senator
Cockrell that the committee didn't want
to hear any speeches. Mr.. Needham said
he was not in the habit of making speeches,
but he desired to refute anything that
would reflect on Colonel Heistand's honor.
1--WE are not trying to impugn his honor"
retorted Senator Cockrell warmly. I'VE
are here to get the facts about this matter
and propose TO do it,
Judge Mackey was about to put his oar
in on the honor question, too, when Sen
ator Cockrell called him down with his
characteristic bluntness.
II have told you, judge, that we wanted
no speeches, Now, every time you start
one I'm going to stop it,
Resumption of Mr.. MeiklejOhn's Cross
Examination.
The cross-examination Of Mr.. Meiklejohn
was then continued by Judge Mackey, who
endeavored to ascertain the motives of wit
ness in getting back the Ito whom 1t may
concern" letter, after Assistant Secretary
Allen had informed him of what he had
heard from New York. Witness reiterated
what Allen had told him, and said he be-
lieved what was told him was true
Afterward Major Hawks told witness he
IT, xrx~N Ial