Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-10

The !~O last Of these drafts Returned AZ vouch
sst. 1927, with abstract. on which were the follow
1927"
"scsto.T. Watkins draft 500
Neither did these two draft, ever come into t,e
hands Of she examining Clerk, and the abstract is
deiaced hv an erasure of The numbers Of the
vouchers, and g. and the words IT Watkins' dran, I"
with knife, after which pen run several times
through the whole entry, including the sums of 100
500 and 100 The clerk who settled the accounts esi
flee, that the abstracts came into his hands in hc mn
lated state in which they appear, unacconipsned
Nv the drafts; that he took them to DIR Watkins inform
ed him there were no vouchers, and asked him what NJ
should 10 with those items; and that tho Doctor told
him to suspend them, for there derstaniing
between him ard tho Secretary of the Navy abou,
them They were accordingly suspr nded, and that sus
pc nsion was noted 10 statement OF the account prepsr
ed 10 be sent 10 Mr. Harris and in several other state
ments Of subsequent late. not of which although
they were all recorded in the 4th Auditors Oiice as
having been Forwarded, was ever received Nor were
one Of Watkins letters him In relation 10 the TRAITS
and the remittance, though prportine to b. Official re-
corded in the Office Every thing was kept from the
records and files which Gould convey any knoyyye of
the Transaction to the sks and The words IT Watkins
drar were erased from HE abstract with IN. same OBJ
jet All statements an letters prepared in the Office
Tor Mr Harris which coad have appriz-d him Of the
condition OF his account, were suppressed and he knew
nothing OF the suspensions r the 81 4,h quarters of
1927 until informed by the present 4th Auditor
Except the letter of Watkins 10 Mr. Souihard which
has been recently found in the Navy Department the
whole evidence here presea.eS and referred TO- was
submitted TO the Grand Jury. They unanimously pre
.ented Dr. Watkins for fraud the United Sa,es as
in The first Of Paulhine; bot the indictments pre-
terred upon il have met with tho common fate. From
extreme caution the jury would not find them in pro-
per form OF from extreme 'echnicaty the Court would
not sustain them IL was decided in substance that ne
was punishable al common law but that there was no
way TO punish him!
II wllbe observed tina, the last drafts are drawn
In tavor of Thomas Il Pottinger who was A clerk in
the oh Auditors office l. supposed that he might
give some information OF the purposes TO- which bev
were drawn and tn. objects 10 which the money was
applied, and he called for explanations He said
he had totally forgotten the whole Transaction aud was
so earnest TO be believed, that he voluntarily went b.
lore magistrate, and made affidavit which no re-
qucsed should be laid before the President in which n.
swcre 90" have lot the east recoIie ction of such ra
having been presented 70, endorsed hy me- and fur
Their, am positive in declaring. that ,cver lid n any
tims negotiate sell any draft drafts Of the said
Watkins on the Navy Agent Boston, or receive the
money for the from Mr. Fowler or any one else
In his conversation aud in -rine no endenvored TO ex
plain how II might be no5sble that his nam. was not OIL
he drafts conveying the Irresistible inference if he
did not directly that he did believe he ever had
endorsed All who heard him read his affidavit and
letters, doubted in ;heir ininds whether Mr. Pot
finger was forgetiu', whether Dr. Watkins had forg
ed his name Mr. Swami, ;he district attorney, threw
out IN argument, the suggestion, that Mr. Potgingers
endorsement, might be a forgery, when loi Mr. Pot
never suspected, or intended to insnuate such thing
in relation to his "unforIuna,s enl,' watkins aud has
no Doubt tina. IL his on the draft he put II
there himself
mention Ibis incident par, OF the history of the
times, "a well as remarkable instance Of mans total
orgeu!ness of-ai thu: would sponsbi!i,y upon
himself, although he admits thai II "out Of the or
binary wav, and we'll calculated to make deem and
lasting impression OH his mnd ami the Same time OF
his entire confidence that his unfor,unate frieud al
though known depreciation upon The Treasury had not
made an improper use OF his ranel
In Justice TO DR. Watkins am bound to add that
the general beliefs. that Mr. Ponger did endorse the
drafts, and that his "unfortuna,e friend ought no, 10
suffer through his want of memory
In my next .ball detail The circumstances of the
two Remaining frauds supposed have been committed
by DR.; Watkins.
p purser s. Hambleton arrived in this CITY yes
,erday. understand, hs denies drawing draft<on Dr.
Watkins or writing any letter requesting him 10 draw
the $4,000 from the Treasury his account or any o.
Their sum. MI Southard. told states that he is-
sued the rcquson upon the statement of Or Watkins
that he had in letter request from Mr. Hanhle,on 10
that effect. This presents plain in which there
is evasion II will 20 before the Grand Jury again
on Monday, and as the false pretenccs will he fully
proved. there is no doubt of such an Indictment rs no
sophistrv qcihbling can overurn