The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1876, Page 3

~ WASHINGTON. Mr. Pendleton in Explanation of the Kentueky Central Railroad Claim. A PROFITABLE BARGAIN WITH HIMSELF Satisfaction of the Company with the Settlement. NO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IMPLICATED. How a Newspaper Correspondent Obtained Important Information. Difficulties of Investigation and Retrenchment. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Wasu:xctox, March 14, 1876. THE BARGAIN WHICH MR, PENDLETON MADE WITH HIMSELF—A RIGID CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN—THE BEL~ KNAP INDICTM@NT. The examination ot Mr. George H. Pendloton this morning before the Clymer Committee attracted the livehest interest, and the committee room was crowded, ‘Mr. Pendleton’s testimony was listened to with close interest, and when Mr. Bass concluded his cross-exam- imation a democrat, who nad been taking it all in with srowing disgust, muttered to himself:— “Well, George, you'll never be president of any- ‘hing bigger than a one-borse Kentucky railroad. ”’ The following is a literal transcript of the cross-ex- amination by Mr. Bass, which summed up the facts in the case:. By Mr. Bass—As I understand, in general terms you, as administrator of the Boler estate, owned three- Afths of this road? A. In general terms. Q And your administration was for the benefit of in- fants? A. Yes, sir. Q. And you, as administrator, made a contract with yourself, as President of the road, by which you re_ teived $80,000 and the Boler estate received three- Afths of $58,000 or $68,000? A. No, sir, I did not make it with myself. Q How was that done? A. Because I consulted Mr. Boler, my nephew, who was one of the heirs, and en- titled to his full share, and I consulted my sister, Mrs, Boler, who had her interest. i Q Yes, but there were two infants. Who repre- Bented them except yourself? A. Well, as far as they were represented, their mother and their brother and I represented them. Q It was assumed— The Witness—No, sir, it was not assumed. Q It was assumed that they would not object to this when they became of age? A, Yes, sir; I don’t think they will object to it, : Q Then it ts @ fact that, as administrator, rep- ‘resenting three-fifths of the road, you made a contract with yourself as President of the road to perform these services? A, I made the contract just as I have stated it to you, Q Out of which you realized $80,000, as I under- stand? A. Yes, sir, at least $80,000 or $90,000; that is to gay, 1 realized that and settled Mr. Ransom’s claim; my impression is that I paid him $15,000. Q. Out of the $80,000? A. Out of whatever I ro- ceived, Q@ 1 understood you to say that his claim or part of his claim was paid out of the portion which went to the railroad company—the $68,000? A. You misunder- stood me, if you uuderstood me to say that any portion of his claim was paid out of the amount which the company was to receive fer its share, They allowed me a certain amount out of which’! was to pay him. Now, the question was asked me whether or not a por- tion of acertam arait went to him, the draft for $68,000, That I can scarcely answer definitely, My {mpression is that it did. Q. Then will you state, as nearly as you can, how much the company realized of thisclaim? A. If the company allowed me $80,000, as my distinct im- pression was they did, they realized $68,000, assuming that $148,000 was the amount received instead of $140,000, as I think it was; if, om the other hand, they allowed me $90,000, or $87,000, or $88,000, or whatever it was, they realized the balance. Q. That is what I asked you, to state how much they realized? A. I have told you that tne:mpression upon my mind was very distinct that they allowed me $80,000, and that 1 was to pay Mr. Ransom out of that, but in thinking over these things my mind is a little confused whether $80,000 was the exact amount that was allowed me, but whatever they allowed me I paid Mr, Ransom out of itand the company received the rest;if 1 am right in saying that they allewed me $80,000 they received $68,000 and a fraction; {f they allowed me $90,000 and I settled withMr, Ransom, they have received but $58,000, Mr, Ernest, of Covington, treasurer of the road, has been subpenaed and will be examined. Mr. Boynton to-day gave the name of General Kid- foo as his authority for the statements on which this Investigation is made and he will be examined to-mor- row, Other witnesses have been and will be called to trace the money paid to Mr. Pendleton. Meantime it is not known that the committee have so far obtained any further evidence implicating Mr. Belknap beyond that given by Marsh. The Grand Jury have examined Mr. Tomlinson and are forced to rest there, and will probably be unable to indict afr. Belknap, unless the House orders the Clymer Com- mittee to appear before them and be examined. onderstood that the republican members of the com- mittee have been and are willing to waive their priv- lege and go before the Grand Jury. The Judiciary Committee is still investigating the origin of the report, sent out by the Associated Press, concerning the asserted action by the Cabinet, which never took place, ARDUOUS LABORS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE—THE BAD VENTILATION OF THE HALL AND THE DELETERIOUS EFFECT—RETRENCH- MENT AND INVESTIGATION UNDER DIFFI- CULTIES. No House of Representatives since the war bi worked so laboriously as the one now in session. The tommittce work Is extremely hard and the discussions m the House have been also of a character to weary md exhaust many members. Several, among them now ilL Atthe same time the air of has never before been so foul and Many members attribute their illness Kasson anbealthful. so this caase, and with justice, and Mr, to-day spoke the general mind when he demanded im- mediate and better ventilation, A Cincinuati gentle. an has suggested a simple plan, which, it ts believed, may be effective, and Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Chittenden and ‘number of others have, it is understood, asked him Jo explain his method, with a view to having it at once wpphed, Ii nothing better can be done, it would be ¢ to knor% out a square or two of the glass in the fat root and thus allow the bad air some way to escape, As spring opens the present difficulty will be increased, tnd unless some remedy ts found, half the members Will be disabled, aud haifa day in the galleries, wuich | are even fouler than the boay of the House, will enutle visitors to a doctor's certifivate. The work ot the session in the House ts not only | very laborious but, as inembers complain, extremely Gisagrecable. It consists mainly in retrenchment of expenditures and investigation of frauds, both involv- ing tedious and painful labors, Retrenchment can be made conscientiously only by @ careful scrutiny of Many thousands of items, and Mr, Randall and his sominittee have been conspicuously faithiul in this task, and Bbave still a long and heavy siege of work before them, Tho numerous investigation committees also deserve great credit for their zeal and pertinacity. They begin slowly to reap the fruit of their labors, but they are forced to work in the beginning more or less at haphazard, and some of the committees had accumulated large masses of testimony before they were able to get hold of the propor clews. Directly after Mr, Belknap’s impeachment there was general con- > NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1876 TRIPLE SHEET, sternation among people who knew of or had been parties: to corrupt practices, and for a few days it seemed as though the gates would open and testimony would pour in from many sources. But the unfortunate misman- agement of the Belknap case appears to have, for a time, closed the gates again, and while the committees are undoubtedly working with more energy and suc- cess than in the beginning of their labors, and have | secured some valuable and very important clews, they need further time to bring to light what they seek. Some members are discouraged because they imagine the public does not take a proper interest in the work of investigation, but in general they find that their constituents encourage them, and it was said by one prominent member to-day :— “It is our duty to the country to enforce rigid econ- omy and to make patient and thorough investigation of corrupt practices, and, for my part, 1 believe this to be the most important work this Congress has to do, and it ought to do it if it sits here until September and no matter who is hit or what side is damaged.” FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT, Wasuixarox, March 15, 1876, REPORTED REJECTION OF THE NOMINATION OF RICHARD H. DANA AS MINISTER TO ENG- LAND. It is reported that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have decided to report adversely on the nomi- nation ot Mr, R. H. Dana, Jr., as Minister to England, It has been known for some days that influences were industriously at work to cause his rejection, influences mainly arising out of personal hostility, GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, It is | Wasutxaton March 14, 1876. GEORGE H. PENDLETON BEFORE THE COMMIT~ TEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE WAR DEPART- MENT—THE HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY CEN- TRAL RAILROAD CLAIM—SATISFACTION OF THE COMPANY WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM—TESTIMONY OF SENATOR STEVEN- SON AND GENERAL BOYNTON. George H. Pendleton was before the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department to-day and gave a history of the Kentucky Central Railroad Company, which was formed in 1858, Robert B. Bowler, of Cin- cinnati, and two or three associates operated the roud till 1863, The copartnership continued with various changes till the death of Mr. Bowler. In 1869 he became the President and represented tho estate of Mr. Bowler, his deceased brother-in-law. The witness had been a director in the company, but had taken no active part till the fall of 1870, after he became Presi- dent, when he found the company had a claim against the government for the difference between ninety per cent of its regular rates and the amount that had been pald it for the transportation of troops and supplies. When he heard this claim existed he went to Senator Stevenson, William Earnest and the other owners of the road, Mr. Stevenson in- formed him that the claim had existed for a long time, and that the company would give a large percentage to anybody who would get is through. He said they would give him filty per cent of the claim if he should obtain the money. That put a new aspect upon the case, and Mr, Stevenson said that the owners of the claim would assent to such an arrangement. The ar- rangement was made, and the witness accordingly en- tered upon the examination of the claim. His impres- sion was the claim was for $149,500, This claim was presented to the War Department, and, by direction of tho Secretary of War, if was referred to General Dann, then acting as law officer of the department. After sev- eral months the claim was allowed by the War Depart- ment and passed to the Treasury, Mr. Pendleton went to see Secretary Boutwell aud made but a single re- quest, that he should not be kept waiting lor the money. The Secretary Said the examination should be made at the carliest practicable moment. He thought at was over a week before the warrant was issued, Q Inprocuring the award from the War Depart- ment did you pay the lateSecretary of War, or auy member of bis: fa) , of mny other person tor him, directly or “indir@Wtly,“any consideration for his action? A. NOta dollar, or any other consideration. 1n further reply to questions Mr. Pendleton said he found on examination there had been a couvantion of representatives of railroad lines in States not affected by rebel mcursions, at which certain charges for freight had been agroed to, but exceptions were mado in fayor of roads in territory liable to such incursions; the claim of the Kentucky Central Railroad Company was the difference between what had been paid to it and ninety per cent of its regular tariff rates, such difference being ten per cent, the company having ro- ceived only ninety cents on the dollat; he found that the Baltimore and Obio Railroad Company and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company bad beon paid the full amount of freight charges; he presented the clam to the: Secretary of War in Novem- ber, 1870; he went to the Secretary's office at half-past nine o'clock in the morning; be bad an interview of half an hour, and stated the case, when he thought the Secretary sent for General Dunn and referred the cuse to him; he was of the im- pression that he went immediately to General Dunn’s room; he had been dequainted with him, having served in Congress with him; he saw him once or twice and had several written communications with him; he was not in Washington again until the ensuing 4th of March ; he came without special business, and was not now able to say whether he saw the Secretary of War | or not; although his claim had previously been before Secretary Stanton, he could not say whether it had ever been before Secretary Rawlins. Q Was there any other person interested with you in the prosecution of the claim? a. The only other person was A, H. Ransom, who was a clerk in the railroad company’s office during my time of service; Ransom .made up the origmal account on which the claim was based; in addition to the fifty per cent to be paid me, there was a stipulation that I should pay Ran- som. In further response to questions, Mr. Pendleten said the Bowler interest was a fraction less than three-fifths the mtorest in the road. In reply to interrogatories of Mr. Robbins, he said that General Dunn made a favorable report, and on this the claim was allowed by the Secretary of War. * Q. Was any pecuniary inducement asked or paid to | General Dunn? A. None whatever; not a cent, Q Did any official of the government have any inter- est iutheclaim? A, Not one. there was vothing in the prosecution of the clas: woald Warrant any statement that would irplicate the Secretary of War, General Dunn, or any member ot the Secretary’s family in the prosecution of the claim ? | A. You did understand me to say that most emphati- cally. By Mr. Danford—The claim of the Kentucky Central Railroad Company had been pending tor some years in the War Department; bad it not been presented and rejected repeatedly before you took hold of it? am not able to answer of my own knowledge; my in formation is that it had been presented to Secretary derstand that Secretary Stanton’s action concerning the claim was rejection; if the claim had ever been presented to Secretary Rawlings the fact never came to my knowledge, In further response to questions Mr. Pendleton sald Judge Holt was Judge Advocate General while Stanton was Secretary of War. Holt held that position and twice rejected? A, | have no such knowledge, Q. Did you suterest yourself with Secretary Belknap to have the claim referred to General Dunat A Ido not know how 1t came to be so referred. Q@ Did you ever take the papers to Cincinnati? A. I did not; 1 prepared two or three arguments in Cinein- nati without baving the papers by me; I think it very probable that 1 had @ copy of the adverse report of General Meigs the case? A. Jam not able to say; I obtaived my in- formation irom every source pertaining to the claim. Q On what basis was the claim originally rejected? A. 1 could only tell from the papers; I have an impression that it was on the original report trom General Meigs; my impression ts 1 went to see General Meigs whon { was here, and had a conversation with him on the subject; baving replied to bis argument, General Meigs told me tho claim ought not to be paid; having ouce been before the War Department and vot allowed, he did not think it ought to be reopened; tie General further said the Kentucky Central Railroad By Mr. Blackburo—Did | understand you to say | that | At] Stanton, but not to any other Secretary; Ido not un- | Q@ Was not the claim presented twice while Judge | Q Did you get your facts from Meigs’ statement of | the government had been at a heavy expenditure to change the gauge of the road; I said to General Meigs that he mistook, for the gauge had never been changed, and presented the proofs; it was the gauge of the | Louisville and Lexington Railroad that had been changed, and not that of the Kentucky Central; he ad~ mitted his mistake, but still insisted the claim should not be paid; the witness was uncertain as to whether the company allowed him $80,000 or $99,000; at no | time, to his knowledge, was his family travelling in | Europe with Mrs, Marsh or Mrs. Sowers, afterward Mrs. Belknap. Mr, Bass remarked to Mr. Pendleton that he under- | derstood him to be the administrator ot the Bowlor estate, representing three-fifths of the railroad prop- erty, and yet, as such administrator, he made a bar- gain for himself, as President of the company, withthe remaining stockholders, by which he was penefited to the extent of more than one-half of the claim, re- ceiving $80,000 for his services. Mr. Pendleton said if the company allowed bim $80,000 the company received $68,000 of the claim, and if the company allowed him $90,000 the company received $58,000. Mr. Clymer asked Mr, Pendleton whether he met him at any time in Europe, Mr, Pendleton said he never did. Mr. Clymer further asked whether Mr. Pendleton ever had any private conversation with him in this committee room. Mr. Pendleton said such statements as he had seen in the papers were infamously false, He never had any private conversation here with any member of the committee. Mr. Danford read the reports of General Meigs and others upon the claim under consideration, and other papers, which were ordered to be put in the record, C. P. Wannell, a clerk in the Treasury Department, presented the warrants by which the claim was paid. ‘The first is No, 1,785, payable to Mr. Pendietop, for $20,000, dated June 12, 1871, indorsed by George If Pen- dleton, President, ‘Pay the First National Park Bank of | Now York;”’ the second is for $50,000, same date; the | third amount is for $68,533 $2, same date, indorsed by | Mr, Pendleton, to be paid to the Northern Bank of Kentucky. Mr. Wannell testified that all the papers were filed in the Third Auditor's office; the warrants or requisitions have been in his hands for several years; the warrants are countersigned by the Register, Third Auditor and Second Comptroller, and were issued on the requi: tion of the Secretary of War, being also countersigned | by the Secretary of War; all the business was trans- acted on the same date—the 12th of June, 1871; Mr. Hartley was acting Secretary of the Treasury at that time; the warrants are marked “‘special.’” A. P. Ransom, Auditor of the Kentucky Central Railroad Company, testified, but what he suid was not | of general interest, Senator Stevenson having been requested to appear before the committee, testified that he was one of tne stockholders of the Kentucky Central Railroad. He had been @ director since 1863, and also the general } counsellor of the company. Mr. Pendleton was em- ployed to take charge of the collection of | the claim of the company, for which he was to receive fifty per cent. The Senator was present when the agreement was made and when the account was settled, but he had no knowledge of the mode and manner of the settlement. As one of the managers of the road, he indorsed the settlement as just and fair, and was glad to get the money, The Bowler estate owned four-fifths of the entire stock. Tho Senator was the poorest man in the company. Mrs, Bowler indorsed the settlement for herself and her in- fant children, for whom she is guardian. Mrs. Kief, who is the next largest stockholder, was delighted at the settlement, Everybody interested in the road was pleased, as they considered it just so much money made, Mr, Bowler, in his lifetime, said he would sell his interest for five cents on the dollar. The Senator thought it was as just a claim as ever was presented, Bridges had been burned and trains damaged, the rebels seizing the road and working it for thirty days. ‘The Senator had regarded it a good claim, but hard to get. He heard that Stanton and Meigs had decided adversely to the claim. He was gratified and a little surprised when it went through, it having been hanging so long. General Boynton then presented himself and was sworn. He wished it to be understood that he appeared here voluntarily and not by a subpana, The Chairman alluded to a despatch in the New York Hxra.p of the 8th and also on the 9th of March, the foundation of which haa been furnished to Mr. Nordhoff, the corre- | spondent of the Hxnaxp, by General Boynton and pub- lished on the latter’sauthority, The witness said he had no personal knowledge of the truth of the statements but held himself responsible for what Mr. Nordhoif printed inthe Hxriup so far as it conformed to the manifold copy which he gave that gentleman. Tho nextday the statement was reasserted on the wit- ness’ responsibility. The witness having been asked by the Chairman to give the namo of lis informant, responded that*he would like first to tell Low he came to publish that information. The Chairman said he wanted the name of his informant first. The witness | said be did not obtain the statement from the man who would verify it. Mr. Blackburn said they were entitled to a catagorical answer. Alter a short colloquy the witnoss was permitted to state that he obtained the first intimation from Hon, Jeremiah M. Wilson, who referred him to Mr. Shellabarger, also an ex-member of Congress and Wil- son’s law partner, and Mr. Shellabarger referred the witness to Colonel B. F. Grafton. The latter gave bim the information referred to in the HexaLp despatches on condition he would not use his name, and Colonel Grafton gave as his authority General Kiddoo, of the United States Army, with whom the Chairman of the comunttee travelled, and with whom the Chairman conversed on the subject of this inquiry. i ‘The witness said he met Mr. Wilson at the Treasury Department a week ago on Friday, and Mr, Wilson re- marked that he had heard of a matter that ought to be looked up and referred him to Mr. Shellabarger, who said to witness that while sitting in the Court of Claims Colonel Grafton said to him: “There is a gentleman who knows all about a sum of $20,000 or $25,000 being paid to Mrs, Bowers, alter- ward Mrs. Belknap, out of the Kentucky Central Ruil- road case.’? ‘The witness asked Mr, Shellabarger whether he would authorize him to go to Colonel Gratton and talk about } it, Mr. Shellabarger respor.ded:—‘Certainly.” The | witness accordingly called on Colonel Grafton the next | morning. Colonel Grafton introduced him to General | | Kiddoo, who soon went out Colonel Grafton said, | | phe gentleman who just went out of the room knows | The amount of the statement was this, | | ail about it that General Kiddoo was one of a party with Mr. and Mrs, Mursh, George H, Pendleton, Mrs. Bowers, alter- ward Mrs, Belknap, and Mrs. Clymer, who made somo | parts of the tour of Eurove together. The witness ob- | tained the impression that they all travelled together | | at the same time, | | Mr. Clymer, interrupting, remarked that he was not | in Europe at that time. | The witness replied, be regrotted if ho had made any | the proper division of this party of dis- | tinguished travellers; that he was responsible for | error might be in that statement. | learned from Colonel Grafton that | and Mrs. Marsh testified | a conference at the Arlington Hotel, at which Mrs, Marsh, Mrs. Belknap and several | other persons were prosent, all of them being acquaint- | ances, and most of them knowing the facts which Mr. Clymer’s committeo were instructed to inquire into; that at that meeting Mrs, Marsh, in talking of various transactions of which she had knowledge, alladed to statements in circulation in regard to the so called | Pendleton Railroad clatms relating to the Kentucky | | Central Railroad; that Mrs, Belknap said the stories wore gross exaggerations; that while it had been Delieved among some of her friends that sho | received $70,000 from) thats claim — she had in fact obtained only about half that amount; that the friends of Mrs, Marsh asserted that if she was even | | prought before the committee she would undoubtedly | | testity to the main facts given above, and Colonel Graf | ton further mformed the witness that General Kiddo | | had gone to Mr. Clymer and said:—‘Here i a case | | mistake ip whatever The witness when Mr. there was against Pendleton of @ character similar to that of Marsh," and be was reminbed that | if he had determined = to bring Bolknap | down he could not justly decline to bring Pendieton | too and that Mr, Clymer asserted that he bad not suf- ficient data to reach Pendleton, and further that Mr. Clymer was pressed with the rejoinder that Mrs. Marsh | would testify to it and that the records of the depart- meat would throw some light on the case, Now, the only way was to summon Mrs. Marsh and she would tell all about the interview. The | | After the story came back in printed form, Mr. Clymer | won, if the first and second steps of private admoni- | fessor a favorable consideration of the proposal of that | which every cowardly calumniator and every crodu- | which may throw Light upon the subject, should v witness understood a subpana was obtained | for Mra, Marsh; but before it could be served she went i to Canada. The witness took tho responsibility of | publishing the story because of its importance; for, if | true, it placed the committee in an awkward condition, He took the responsibility of writing it up and giving manifold copies to the correspondents of the | New York Hexatp, Boston Herald, and to Major Poore. | of the Boston Journal, and to the Chicago Tribune, | made his personal explanation. quently met Colonel Gratton, who informed him that the points could be sustained, The witness said he | never hud any communication with General Kiddoo personally. The chairman suggested whether, in common fair ness, it would not have been better to ask thechairman | whether ho had taken proper steps in the matter before venturing on the charges against him. Mr, Blackburn interrogated the witness as to his au- thorized statement that the facts in the case were cal- culated to bring disgrace on the managers of tho committee, whatever the result as to Pendleton might be, and asked whether the witness kKhew when he prepared his article the statement to be facts. The witness replied he believed them to be facts just as he stated, and to that and to no other extent. On being reminded that that was not an answer to | the question the witnes$ said be did not propose to answer ip any other way. After further spirited colloquy Mr. Robbins sald he | understood the witness to say that he knew the facts only by hearsay. Mr. Blackburn remarked that the witness had pot so answered, ; ‘The witness again repeated that he knew the facts in no other way and to no other extent than he had stated. The Chairman inquired:—‘Then why did you not say sof” Mr. Blackburn claimed he had a right to an answer | whether the witness knew them to be facts then or | now. | Mr. Danford said that the witness bad given a de- tailed statement as to the imanner the facts came to him and how be came to make the statement, saying ho knew the facts in the manuer stated by himself, Mr. Blackburn asked whether he had not @ right to subinit the question and expect au answer. Mr. Danford replied he thought the gentleman had | the right to put the question and the witness a right to | answer in his own way. Mr, Blackburn thought not. | ‘The witness repeated he did not know the facts ex- | cept by hearsay and in the manner he had stated at length, as he never had any communication with Gen- eral Kiddoo. The committee then examined J. B. Corcoron, who | was acquainted with the manner of conducting trading posts 1m Texas, and gave numerous facts to show how posts are secured and profits divided. The committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning. The witness subse- | | | THE PAYMENT OF THE INTEREST ON THE 3,65 BONDS, ‘The Interest on the 3.65 District of Columbia bonds will be paid at the Treasury of the United States in Washington and by the Assistant Treasury of the United States in New York to-morrow. ‘The amount to be paid is about $250,000, WILL If NEVER END? Mr. Henry C. Bowen, accompanied by Dr. Ward, of the Independent, who acts as his counsel, and bis three eldest sons, last night attended the adjourned meeting of the special committee of five appointed by Plymouth church to hear Mr. Bowen’s defence, if he has any, to thecharges preferred against him vy the Examining Commitice, No one was presont but the members of the committee and the Bowen party, Mr. Bowen's de- fonce was opened by Dr, Ward with a short statement in support of Mr. Bowen’s position, He then proceeded to exainine Henry and Edward Bowen as witnesses to Support their father’s accusations against Beecher, The charges were considered seriatim, Wheu the third one Was discussed the time was found to be ten o'clock, and an adjournment tll next Tuesday night was agreed upon, person. who was present during the meeting and who did not feel at liberty to detail the proceedings stated that a large part of the evening had been con- sumed by the Bowen party in refusing to apewer questions put by the comiittee. The main object uf th€ comnuttes throughout the evening, it appears, was w learn whether Mr. Bowen had any knowledge derogatory to Mr. Beecher’s character which ho has not published, and bis replies and those of his sons amounted toa positive statement that be has not any other facts in his possession. One of his sons admitted that he had gone to South Brooklyn, while the case was pending betore the examining committee, in search of a Woman who Was suid to know something against the character of Mr. Beecher, aud that the man in the cage proved to be nut Henry Ward Beecher. DR. BACON TO PROFKSSOR SMYTHE. In the Christian Union of this date Dr, Leonard Bacon will publish along reply to a communication from Professor Kgbert C. Smythe, D. D., of Andover Seminary, lately published in the Congregationalist, on the various propositions to iry Rev. Henry Ward Beecher by an ecclesiastical tribunal He says Mr. Beccher’s responsibility 1s first of all to his own church, He may be expelled from the clerical associa- tion of which ho is a member, but that proceeding would not excommunicate him from the church or de- pose him from the pastoral office, If any responsible complainant should prefer charges against bis (a thing which has not yet been done) the complaint ex- hibiting those charges must be brought to the church or (according to the rules of the Plymouth church) to its Examining Committee, Thea, if the matter of the complaint is worthy of grave cousidera- tion have been taken, and if the complainant will un- dertake to prove the matters of fact alleged by him and dovied by the respondent, the tine has come for the calling of w counell (Platiorm of 1865, p. 54). Of course the council, fealled, must be ca led by the church, If it be a mutual council it must be Mutual us between the {Wo parties—namely, the complainant and the | respondent, The church is not a party in the case, but is the court (if J may use that word) betore whose tri- | Dunal the partes stand. When a council is called tor | the trial of such a cuse it acts ior the churet, beng | empowered by the church to do £0, | Dr. Bacon assumes, trum the purport of the Andover letter, that it Was (he invention of Lut church or sume responsible person known to that church to be prepared to preter formulated charges against Mr. Beecher and tw sustain them by pros Batas Plymouth church | has declined the Andover proposition for a mutual council to try Mr. Beecher, the venerable Moderacor of the jate Advisory Council asks trom the Andover I’ro- body for clearing up the matter of the scandal and ex- posing to the eiear light of day the facus upon which it lests. That proposul, he says, assumes that there can be uo trial of Bir, Bercher without defiuite charges, backed by @ responsible complainant, with offers of prool. Yecovstitutes no “scandal bureau,” no reser- voir inte which the sewers shall discharge their filtu, uo inquest to hunt for rumors und trace them to ther source, no “lion's mouth’? into 4 | lous recipient of stories that ha dreadtul by heedless or malicious anonytous accusations, It assumes, what the Ando- | ver letter assumes, that there are not rumors merely | but tangible charges against sir. Beecher, and that somebody ts ready to prefer charges and to undertake the responsibility of prosecuting them. It assumes | that the trial of those charges must be not civil but ecclesiastical; not Presbyterian nor Me houist, but Congregational; and thatiherefore it must be either betore the church itselfor Letore some special tribunal (commitive, commission or counct!) which derives its power irom the chareb, which acts in bebalf of the cbhureb and which reports to the church the result of the investigation. The proposal is that this investigation be made not by Plymouth church en masse, nor by a committee of church members, who might'be swayed by aitection, but by tive men’ outside of Brookiyn and New York | and outside of the late cuanei, Whose names would | command the confidence of the ecburch and of all | reasvuubie people, In view of the publicity of the scandal the complainant would wot be required to take | the usual steps of private admouiton, but may bring | grown hirg | Baptist; Rev. Dr, Stephen Tyng, Jr.; Rev. sume this burthen, Or rather, lessome member or members ot your charch (informally designated, if bot formally) come forward, at the earliest practicable day, with the charges and the proof, whicn, it would seem, are in some dogree of readiness, Let not the cause on which your heart and the hearts of thousands more are Set be ‘in any degree imperilied by devolving on Mr. Moulton, on Mr. Bowen, on anybody who has a perso- nal interest in the affair, or even on some such goud brother as Mr. West, the grave responsibility of appear- Jog as complainant or ‘public prosecutor’ im this mo mentous case. Oh my brother! many a good thing has come out of Andover, but never yet has any better thing been done by your church or your seminary than | you and your brethren will have done if, by your faithful yet loving diligence, the truth and the whole truth ia this case shall be uncovered, be it what it | may. ‘To the letter proper, which is dated on the 7 the writer adds a postscript, in Which he allu¢ reported assertion of Dr. ‘Storrs in his sermon last Sunday evening, that the proposed commission would be open to the charge of incompetency or partiality, and appealing to that geatloman when unswayed by the heat of argument to reconsider the statement, MOODY AND SANKEY. The noonday services at the Hippodrome yesterday were well attended, about four thousand people being present, Messrs. Moody and Sankey were surrounded on the platform by a number of ministers, among them | the Moravian Bishop Reinhe, Rev, Dr, Charles F. Deoms, of the Church of the Strangers; Rev. Dr. Holme, Dr. Os- borne, Baptist; Rev. Dr. Newell, Presbyterian; Rev. W. C, Van Moter, of the Vatican Mission, Rome; Rev. Mr. Payson, Presbyterian; Rev, Dr. Yosher, Baptist, and Rev. Messrs, McAllister and Harris, Metho- dist. Mr, Sankey and the —_ congregation sang the hymns “Sweet hour of prayer’? and “I need thee every hour.” Mr. Hepworth then read out the following requests for prayer:—For a dy- ing father who has not found Christ; for a dying mothor who wants to see God; from a clerk, that ho may be able to convert the other clerks in the same ollice; special prayers for the students of Yale College; for churches in Cranford, N, J.; rayettoville, N. C., and Plymouth, Pa; trom’ nineteen sisters for their derelict brothers, that they may be brought to Christ; from forty-live parents for their children, and tor eight persons who are in peculiar embarrassment of mind and beart, Alter a short prayer Mr. Mood? read from the tenth chapter ot Luke. ‘The story of tho good Samaritan is, said Mr, Moody, the one, friends, that all who wish to be Christians ought to study well, as he fulfilled one of the fundamental laws of Christianity—“Love thy neighbor as thysell, for the love of God.” There are, he said, so many men who, when a brother is in trouble, give him a sort’ of cheap sympathy, like the priest and the Levite, saying, “Poor fellow, L am sorry for him,” and then pass on; but the Samari- tan stopped to take the man that was half dead out of the diteh, pat hin on his own beastand brought him toan inn, That is wuat the siuner wants. He wants our genuine compassion, The gambler or the drunkard caunot be reclaimed by — scold- img, but by ~~ compassion, or — sympathy, And if they who when they meet the poor harlot gather up their skirts, aud pass on us if they feared contamination would only often try to extend to that errmg sister a little true compassion and sympathy and teach her ofa purer and better life, they would come nearer to Christ and nearer fulfilling His commandment. Let us pray God to give us the spirit of the goot Samaritan, God help us to go to the poor outcast with that spirit and tring him out of the ditch, work which has been commenced so favorably may continue, and that an army of good Samaritans may be | raised who will carry out the commauds of their God | and Saviour in thiscity, He concluded by asking the prayers of the people for a man who was addicted to opium eating, and for another who had been a gambler ail his life, at their own special request. Several ‘clergymen followed Mr, Moody, and Mr. Sankey sang with much fecling the sixty-lourth hymn, commencing :— ‘To the hall of the feast came the sinful and fair, She heard im the city that Jesus wus there ; Unheeding the splendor that blazed on the board, She silently kneit at the feet of the Lord. The meeting concluded with the singing of the Dox. ology, and a woman’s meeting was held immediately after in the Fourth avenue hail, at which two ladies from London presided, At the four o'clock enanthe, 4 and the eight o’clock mecting the Madison avenue hall was crowded, The women were largely predominant at the afternoon meoting, and tae men at the eight o'clock meeting. The subject of Mr. Moody’s lecture was the same at both meetings, * uses.”” His text was taken from Luke, xiv., 16, 1 “Then he said unto him, a certain man made a great supper and bade many. “And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready, “And thev all, with one consent, began to make ex- cuse,’? &c. Youare all, my frionds, invited to a feast to-night, said Mr. Meets, and how many of you will accept the invitation? t+ is the same wday as it was 1,900 years ago, When asked to come to Christ, nen do not have the courage to come out and say they do not want Christ; but they make all sorts of flimsy excuses, as the people did who were Invited to the feast of the great Lord, How many of this audience, it 1 were to go down among them to-night, would accept” the — invitation to join tho feast Christ offers — them? How many rumsellers would there be in New York to- morrow ii the invitation was uecepted? How many gamblers? How many drunkardst Not one. Why, thecity Would bea paradise to livein, ‘The excuses, though, are as weak as those spoken of in the Bible. There is noth- ing more important to man than the service of God, and Ho is an easier and better master than Satan, Is it not written that ‘the way of the transgressor 1s hard ?”’ and is there any man hero who has sinned who has effrontery to say he has not suffered for it? Mr. Moody conciuded with # long and effective | prayer, caling on God to bless all present and bring thein to his altar that night. Mr. Moody was followed by Rov. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr, and after the singing of the hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” the men adjourned to a prayer meeting in tho Fourth avenue hall, the Madison avenue hail. Mr, Sankey took charge of a number of inquirers in one of the smaller rooms, aod a boys’ meeting was held in-room D. The overflow meeting last night was presided over by Rev. Dr. Tyug, Jt. NEWARK GERMANS EXCITED, Police Justice Charles M. Jessup, of the Firat Pre- cinct Court of Newark, has got into serious trouble. Two grave charges are brought agwinst bim, It ap- pears that some weeks ago @ neighbors; quarrel broke out between a Mrs, Gustave Otto, residing at No, 132 Madison street, and two other women, Lizzie McGregor | and Mary Reed. The latter were arrested on a charge of breach of the peace, detained a few hours and then discharged, Then Lizzie began a suit tor false im- prisonment agmnst Mrs Otto, claiming $1,000 | damages, The papers were served'on Mra, Otto, who | concealed everything from her husband. the matter to be criminal, she Visited Justice Jessup and advised with him. He directed her to call on a ‘oung lawyer, a former companion of bis, and gave her a'soaled note to him. Instead of going to the law- yer, however, Mrs, Otto went home, pondered over her | concealmeuts from her husband, and, when he returned from work, made a clean breast'of the matter to bin, Ho broke open the note and found it read as follows :— Pouce Court, No. 11 Wittiam Srreer, Newauk, N.J-y Mureh 13." attend to this woman. she Her hus- My Dean Feanx :—Please speuks little English, sud I guess is not very rich, bund owns @ house and lot, however. Lwill explain when 7 see you further. $25 to begin with, Yours, &e.. grt CHARLES M. JESSUP. The facts in the other case are these:—Some time since Jacob K. Schaciler, a respectable saloon keeper, led on the Justice to have some parties dealt with Ask for at least « who had created a serious disturbance in his place, | Branching off from this subject, Jessup asked the man sharply i he sold beer on Sunday. ‘The man frankly said lie did, just the same as hunareds of others did without let or hindrance, Thereupon he was ordered to pay wiine or be locked up. He bad no toney and was locked up over might in acell, Next day he was liberated. ‘These things have greatly excited the Ger- | mans ot Newark, who are wlready out with petitions to & three rail fence followed by five others, all of whi crossed safely, the remainder taking to the road, Four miles on and half the pack bad lost the scent, The two velerau Marylapd dogs, however, kept on Rey- nard’s track till about two o'clock, when they, too, bo~ came confused, Most of the dogs scattered in the dix rection of Kinderamack, and the horsemen abando! the chase and returned in a brisk gallop to Hack- ensack. THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCHES. OFFICIAL CIRCULAR OF THE UNITED STATED CENTENNIAL COMMISSION, PHILapELPula, March 14, 1876, The official announcement by the ptennial Come mission of the international rifle matches at Creed moor is as follows:— Under the auspices of the United States Centennial | rile matches open to all | | the championship of the world. God grant that the | while the women remained in | Supposing | | | the Council for Jessup's removal, and they also propose | teelings on both subjects, WALLY HO! REYNARD AGAIN TAKES LEAVE OF HIS PUR- SUERS. “Never did I undertake to cross a country on morning so bitter as this,’’ remarked the veteran sportsman James Crowley, of Jersey City, to Joe Donahuo as they emerged from the yard adjoining the | Mansion House at Hackensack yesterday. The air was exceedingly raw and biting, and as a dozen horsemen | mounted and cantered along a hundred yards or more his charges at once. The © cept dvice of the Council it has pled; that the charges thus presected shall be lun referred to the proposed commission tor trial, Should the churen recede from (his engagement tt will cast itvell, with @ inilistone ubout its neck, into the deep | sea. ‘I! vo charges are preierred there will yet remain | & possibihty of mycstigation by the proposed commis sion mu case the Examining Committee of Plymouth | church and the three geatiomen named by the Council Judge it importent that evidence uot previously give judicially Weighed aud pronounced upow. Then the | commission of five must be wamed and empowered, Who shall be the complainant iv this case’ Who in the interest of purity aud peace, who in behalf of the ministry and the chureies, who for the sake of an 1 vestigation which shall expose the very bottom of the | terrible scandal, and which shali put beyoud the reach | ot doubt either the Innocenve of the great preacner or | his unparaileied wickedness—will assume the painful responsibility of formnulating a complaint, of maintain. | ing band of tuking care “that ull available facts ad- | verse to Mrs Heecher and pertinent to the issue be | proverly submitted?” Somebody ought to do this somebody, fet me say, Who can bring to the task U dignity of an honored ebaracter and position, the force of a cultivated and balanced mind, the dispas- siouato calmness of a heart without malice or pre. | possession, and (he pure candor of a soul working not for vietoty but for truth. I say, there. tore, let your church, which hag ' already manilested desire fora more thorough investiga- tion. and its willlagness to take hold of the work, as- | aud wheeled to the right, to the rendezvous the young urchins trom the farm- yards, who congregated to witness the sport, clasped | their hands ou their ears and looked discouraged, Mr, Maguire, of New York, Jed the way ona handsome gray. followed by young Donahue on a sorrel, which was tnuch | ‘The others followed im a buneh, Crowley | See admired, bringing up the rear, A pack of twenty-tive dogs, in- | York eluding party followed the road to River Edge, about wies aud a balf, without any divergence, when Hipper-in suggested that they turn westward for Donahue demurred, and went about a mile further, when he left the road leading to Ridgewood “Foteb em this way and try youder,”’ he said, at the same Ume jumping from his wagon and starting on a brisk run for cover. All the riders were dismounted and keeping up « lively trot to maintain circulation. The cold was intense, and ahe sweeping frosty blast augured badly for the sport, Donahue beat about to the right and the left fur about twenty minutes, when young Donahue eried out, nuk oat, pop, there be goer!’ and sure enough, a red fox was on his headiong career to the rising ground. He paused here « few moments, and, looking back, wok @ survey of his pursuers, when be ran straight forward abot Yards, aud then turned suddenly in 4 northwesterly direction, Fifteen minutes afterward the dogs were Jet looge, and rushed up the slope in full cry, followed by the orsemen pel! mel. * don’t let bim slip." said Donahue, as jaguire led an to | holding a mags inecting to give full expression to the | four veterans, were led out aud placed in | | Bastern Yacht Club, Bosto | | | | | valuable journal? woo | eballen, ‘ow go it, boys, and | fully, | rifles to be Commission, the National Rifle Association of the United States will arrange and conduct a series of comers of all nations, and | concluding with an international Jong range match foe ‘The contest will taka place at Creedmoor, Long Island, near New York city, | on the weil equipped ranges of the National Rifle As- sociation, ‘The Centennial Commission will award medals and diplomas to (he Winners in each match, in addition to certain prizes and trophies wo be given by the associa- tion, which will be specitied hereafter. A list of the ofticers of the association and a schedule of the matches are hereto annexed. Correspondence may be addressed to General Alex ander Shaler, President, or Gec chermerhorn, Jr.» Secretary, National Ritlo Association, 93 Nassau street, New York city, JOSEPH RK. HAWLEY, President. PROGRAMME OF TUE INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS, COM= | MENCING SEPTEMURR 12, 1876, Competition 1. Runge Match,—Open to all comers; distance, 200 yards; position, standing; rifles, any not exceeding ten pounds weight; minimum pul of trigger, three pounds; breech-louding rifles to be loaded at the breech only; ten shots; no sighting shots, ¢ Entrance fee, $2 Competition IL—Mid-Range Match.—open to alk comers; distances, military rilles of .60 calibre or over to be ‘used at 600 yards; otner rifles at 600 yardag rifles, any, as above; position, any without artificial Test; ten shots; mo sighting shots. The prizes in the foregoing matches will be subsequently announced, Entrance fee, $2 each distance Competitors may enter for both distances, Competition I1I.—International Long Range Match Sor the Championship of the World,—Open to riflemen, of allcountries. Conditions, —Teams—EFach team shall! consist of eight men. Members of the various teams participating must be native born citizens and residenta of the countries they respectively represent, except im the case of teams. representing a proyincial territory of a government, im whieh residence in the province will be sufficient, provided tu member is a native born subject of the parent countty, Rifles, any, not exceeding ten pounds weight; mini- mutn pall of trigger, three pounds; bi ‘at the bi only. Distances, 800, 900 and 1,000 yards, Number of shots, thirty at eack range by each competitor; no sighting shots, Match to last two days, Competitors to fire fifteen shots at each distance upon each day, commencing at 800 yards, Position, any, without artificial rest, Entrance fee, none. Previous practice—Competing teams shall bo allowed the use of the range for one week p 3 to these matches, but on the days of this match no per-| son Will be allowed to shoot on the range at any of the! distances prescribed herein except as a competitor, Captains of the competing teams shall select two referees, and the referees so chosen shall appoint an utapire, whose decision, in all cases, shall be tinal Prize, aim | American Centennial trophy; such trophy to be shot for in cach subsequent year, upon the same terms, im the country of the team holding it, at such time and place as said team or a majority thereof shall prescribe. Sights, targets, marking and scoring in the foregom: matches to be according to the printed regulations o the National Rille Association of America. ‘The fourtty aunual prize meeting of the National Rifle Association, will commence immeaiately upon the conclusion of, these matches, During this meeting there will be several ull-comers matches, THE INTERNATIONAL REGATTA, THE PRIZES FOR THE CENTENNIAL ROWING RACES. PuLAapELruta, March 14, 1876, A sub-committee of the Honorary Executive Commit. | tee, appointed to supervise the Centennial Regatta, | under the auspices of the Schuylkill Navy, held @ meeting at the Mayor's ollice this afternoon, Mayor | Stokely, Commodore James M. Fergerson and Messrs, | Philpot and Kershaw were present, The subject fot consideration was the prizes to be awarded for the suc- cessful competitors in the proposed races, and upon the different designs there was considerable discussion, Finally the prizes were adopted, All are very hand, some in design and will be costly in manufactare, The, several medals are to be of gold, silver and} bronze, The gold one is for the winning crew, siiver for the second in the race und the bronze for all the participants The medals will be cireular in form and in the centre, in bas relief, will be a single seu oursman pulling; over him is scroll, and the outel edge contains thirteen stars; the reverse is plain. | tached to the medals will be a pendant loop of quite pretty design. The diamond badge tor winners of sine\ gle shell races has upon it the Schuylkill Navy flag carvedand surmounted by a scroll. Below, in the cen tre, 1s the monogram of the navy in a shield, sur- mounted by bent sculls, entwined with laurel leaves, A‘ pedestal has raised devices of a rudder and foot board, / and below this, im bas relief, isa rower in a singl shell, The bottom of the badge is composed of crossed: oars, with a lantern and ascroll depending thereon, | For the pair-oared race the prize will be a magnifl. cent punch bowl The top is embellished with th figures of two oarsmen stripped to the waist and e: holding aloft an oar. On the sides ure the heads of | eagles thrust through laurel wreaths and boathooks! and oars entwined wiih wreaths and gracetul palm leaves. The base is of ebony, decorated with fes toons, rosettes, laurel leaves, &c. On the reverse side of the base 18 dspace for engraving the name of the} } winner, For the graduates’ race the prize is} n large vase. On the sides at the bulb are the figures of storks devourmg frogs. On the sides are the letters RK. R.’?—Internations Rowing Regatta. These are within a shield flank by oars, over whieh is a scroll with this legend, **1776— 1876, The shank rests upon the arch of a bridge, | through which is passing a four-oared shell vigorous) pulled by the crew. All rests on a base, which repre- sents the water of a river, For the double shell race a simple but tasteful and pretty prize was adopted. It represents two oaremen ready for work, carrying their boat down to the water with their oars on their shoulder, On tho baso sa blank for an inscription. For the College Regatta the prize is contributed by Mr, George W. Childs, of the Ledger. 1t comprises @ tureen of magnificent design, the upper part being em: Dellished with the heads of eagles, The tareen rests on a shank consisting of a siiver globe, flanked by four oars. The globe rests on two columns for side sup- ports and a representation of old Independence bell for the centre support, The bell has on it the United tos coat of arms and the coluinns the coats of arma ugland and Ireland, On the lid of the tureen is @ gure of victory. For the inte ional fonr-oared shell race is also a handsome tureen, having on its sides views of tho, Schuylkill. The top is a representation of the dome of | the Cupitol at Washington, surmounted by the statue! ef America. The shank has the flags of all nations, be | colors, entwined around it, and the base Js of marble different colors, YACHTIN THE CENTENNIAL RECATTA—OFFICIAL Ne NOUNCEMENT O¥ THE PROGRAMME, PuILADeLPUIA, March 14, 1876, 4 The following preliminary circular has just been’ ssued by the Centennial Commission :— ‘The undersigned, a committee appointed by th United States Centennial Commission to m sories of international regattas, open to yachts of regularly organized clubs, to be sailed during the yachts ing Season ol the present year, havo adopted the fole lowing programme Fixe? Day—Uhursday, June 22,—A regatta over th¢ New York Yacht Club course, open to all yachts, ag above, of fifteen tons and upward Skconp Day—F y, Jane 23.—A regatta in New York Bay, open to all yacht, as above, of tiiteen tons) aud under, over o triangular course not exceeding: nty-five tiles, ‘ump Day—Monday, June 26,—A regatta from New York to Cape May, and return, open to all yachts, a@ above, of fifteen tons and upward. In the first and second regattas yachts will ba divided into classes, with time allowance based upom the mean tength and breadth. Inthe third there will be two classes for schooners and one for sloops, with+ out allowance of tim A certificate of entry. The owner's measurem sufficient, unless protest is mad In cach case the committee reserve the right to remeasure. The medal aud diploma of the International Exhibls , tion of 1876 will be awarded by the United States Cem. tennial Commission to the winner in cach class m the above regattas, Additional prizes in silver will be awarded by tho undersigned committes. All entrieg aust be made to the committee on or betore Thursday, June 1, All communications must be directed to the retary of the Committee, 8. Nicholson Kane, New Yacht Club, Twenty-seventh strect and Madison York surement must accompany every, t will be considered! avenue, New x Committee —Geo S Kingsland, Commodore New | York Yacht Club; John 8. Dickerson, Commodore Forbes, Commodore . Nicholson Kane, Viet Commodore New York Yeeht Club; Willham L. Swan, Seawanhaka Yacht Clab, New York; William T. Garner, New York Yacht Club. GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING. Marcu M, 1876. To tux Epiton or tHe Hera.o:— Will you oblige by mserting the following in your Having witnessed the Greco Rowan wrestling match at Tammany Hall between Tistler Fernando and Willhetm Heygster, I hereby | Brooklyn Yacht Club; Jobn M. 8. tall 1 in, yours, respeete WILLIAM J. AUSTIN, iltiam Miller, ok me