Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-28
9QlGITI1.MH,a
DR.. WATKINN

"asiogon cannot fail to arrest public attention. ant
we know htte OF the virtue of this people, if il do no
excite general surprise and indignation There he sor,,
VINO sneer at laws, both human aah divine as shackle
n,Hrey ior weak minds, who woSld laugh honesty on
OF counenance, and no would mot agree with the po
ct, that VIC
: "i1cs IS ,rons,,r Of s,,ea Aorril raisa
without being utterly amazed. TBat Rep.
FROM CORRESPONDENTS
4. ~ ''ItdShingio Julv 10 1920
The trial Of Dc Watkins OF, on, of the cascs Of ia,
msnu"ned in my former letters, has come TO a close
The Jury ind him guilty of procuring $3.50 of the mo-
ney OF the United States az ah Auditor and onn,; !;
TO h,s own use whetter he procured il fand.ieni,,
or no' they have not said Consequently their verdict
no answer TO the charge They have not found tha,
he |. guilty OF fraed, yet tla, he il not guilty.
rms verdict viii appear very extraordinary when tho
evidence comes before the public Every fact have
stated IN my letters bearing Hpon this case was concl
sivsly proved In addition to the ciearest evidence of
gum which was perhaps, submitted toa rry h,c
go 1y PROOF OF the most prolligaic rccrmiDaton aud
iaisehooi IN attempting 10 conceal it, the clInay was
capped by confession in his own hand and an apnea
to the late Secretary of the Navy save him 5 perj
ny! - f'J"
Al the suggestion OF the present 4,h Auditor. Mr.
Harris, the Navy Agent at Boston, called on DR. Wat
ks 'hen IN mat city, Tor an explanation of the singular
circumstances attending his account After the eSpla.
nation bad been verbally given, Mr. Harris requested
him oput il in writing, The following IL correct CO.
| py oil the paper then produced BY DIR. Wa,ku.:--
! COPY.
| Bosrov 9Th April, 1929.
DtGT ST;-liic effort which is making at Washing
ton by the 4h Auditor TO blast my reputation il inre.
niousiy contrived, aud will for time perh,us ,rob5ce
Tue effect designed; but have no fear of beiny ,l,i
uiate'y enabled TO free myself from every mputation
anu 10 'irow back upon MIR Kendall che inany which
he has endeavored TO fix upon The transaction 10
which has magnity has chosen give so black coor
ing fortunately admits OF easy explanation and il ss.
ceptb'e OF such proofs OF innocence as will no. fail TO
strike conviction or the minds OF all who are not deter
Mined like AIR Kendall ruin the character of every
man whom II has pleased the President 10 dismiss
IRON nice--Sonietme in the year 1927, it was thought
| he nf ti,o
10 auborisc certain expenditures tor the service for
wch mere was no specific appropriation. To promote
MS oceci u became necessary 10 make advances at va
nous unes TO the amount OF $1,000 which instead of
helns made in the usual form of Rcoui.ition directly
rom me department were made by in drafts your
sell anu the Navy Agent al New York and charged 10
an Appropriation which supposed could hest hear
the expenditure, until regular transfer could he made
me FUNDS 10 meet my drafts were RENTED to YOU d
recly by the Secretary of Arrearayes Nh acconnt
was opened against the individual 70 whom these adj
Vahces were made, because deemed best 10 wait
unti ms accounts were finally wondered This wac not
done untl! some time during the laet winter-The mo-
ment The account came into my bands il was referred
10 ,e secretary OF the Navy; as without his approval
and sanction had authority allow the expenditure
During the progress of these advances as your ac-
counts and those OF MIR. Pauliin9 came into the off re
were by the Secretary OF the Navy, could not imme-
dateiy be passed 10 your credit, and the examining
clerk was directed 10 suspend these items aud refer the
Vouchers 10 the Secretary. This done in every
instance, and the vouchers for the whole amounts are
now in the bands OF the late Secretary Of the Navy;
who delayed his sanction, until il could be affixed to the
final account The last, as have said, was not pre-
scented until January, aud was then Immediately refer
red by me to the Secretary His long illness and ina
ty 10 attend 10 business prevented acted
upon, and the whole affair unconscious as was of i'm
pfopriety, escaped my recoectio until the 10Th March,
when learned was to be removed from Office II
then for the first time occurred me- that the transac
ton might be so msreprcsented and discoloured 10
affect my character, unless explained Mr.. Pauding
aud YOURSELF the only two Agents upon whom my drafts
had been made; and Immediately wrote both Of you
Ia tu exposition of the for suspendng those
baV not
ceved my letters; the fate has attcnded all my let
teis which wretc and l, usual TO the of the
Messenger of thc Office, the 10Th, 10Th and 2Is:
March Not only did none OF my letters reach their des
nation but letters have been received by me through
The Office since the first mentioned date The inference
is irresistible, that from the momenti decided re-
move me from Office, il also decided adopt all
means that vindictve malice could invent 10 iujurc my
character, and Mr.. Kendall has not scruued 10
my private correspondence with the hope no doubt of
finding something in that, upon which TO build his i'm
pr'aions
their MASTER by aiding him in his work Of derac-
ton, s but too apparent from the fact which you state
TO me oil the erasures and mutations in your accounts.
He may triumph IN the success OF his villanes for
time, hut ii God spare my life, he shall ere long he
made 10 feel the full force OF the rcco Of his blow up
on himself AS far relates 10 yourself in this trans-
action your official conduct is uninipeachablc; you did
nothing but by my official authority which you could
not dispute; the evidence Of hat official authority is
probably by this time 10 the hands Of the Ith Auditor
who can have no plea 10 withhold from you credit Tor
the paid NY order.
DO She justice 10 believe that no ensures or nui-
niions Of the accounts made by me; and with re-
gard 10 the Rccoucemcnts these have been ever since
entered that Office trusted TO the examining clerks
themselves who wrote their letters, and forwarded
them 10 the different Agents. IL none have bnen re-.
ceived therefore, the failure is in instance charged.
BILE TO me.
i am, Dear Sir most Respectfully,
our ohed't servant
Il (signed) Il, WATKINS
RtcHARD D. HARRIS, Esq. Navy Agent, Boston.
After this evidence given in. Mr. Southland was
called to state whether ne hal a letter from DR..
;, Watkins upon that subject. He replied that he lad
letter in Dr. Watkins hand writing, without signature
but az il was not written for any eye but lis own lie
declined producing IT, unless ordered 10 do by tlie
Court Alter some discussion the Court required the
letter 10 he placed in ;hci haudsand, pcrusai, be-
ieving IL TO be evidence they handed il 10 the United
. States Attorney, who read il as follows:
A " PHILADELpHIA. May !, 1920.
Y "On you, and, perhaps, you alone, my worthy
and honoured Sir depends the future peace lasting
misery Of au innocent excellent wife aud ten children
Their husband and father appeals TO your mercy
l. not himself, but them from shame and cou'unely
Driven 10 desperation at times, by the embarrassment
Il IN which his long and ardent political warfare involved
him, other source exhausted. he resored 10 hi.
official authority to raise funds, which he most frmIy
believed At the time would result in loss either TO the
g public TO individuals Fate has decTeed il otherwise
r. And those against whom be fought and against whor
bc woud willingly have lost every drop Of his blood
n have uumphed, and trample upon the enemy
whom than all others, they hated and feared. ri
is here in the hands Of the Marshal Of PENNSYLVANIA OF
a criminal charee--he was on his way TO Wasbinpto,