The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-29
WHOLE NO. 1872.

money they to receive | told him fifty three
dollars, per revenue boatmen time-book which pre-.
scented TO him. Luke Ross, Of the boatmen, could
not sign his name aud requested usual to write
It for him. he making his mark Mr. Reckless then
gave me hity-three dollars. and paid the boatmen in
his presence. Teh amount due James Seguine was,
think paid to Francis Segune his son. to be delivered
to his father This the general rule in the absence
OF any boatmen at the time OF making payment for the
quarter had, times, before signed for the absent
boatmen. but the accounts always, before this
complete, aud filed with the right sums The boat
men, on being paid Immediately left the Office pre-
sumo II is necessary here for state that mmedi-
atey after the boatmen left the Office my impressions
were unavorable, and that in consequence again laid
the accounts signed Mr.. Reckless table
and the next morning (Mr Parker being absent at
Nashngton) stated the above facts William White.
head, Esq personally and it suggested that had
under the circumstances, better proceed in the manner
had begun and let the accounts 90 on as they were
hat was efectualy justified In doing by its tending
sun more TO confirm circumstances before comnunca
ied and that by making them known 10 the manner |
had, was an evidence Of my coincding with Mr.
Reckless The aforementioned accounts lay on the
table for several days more until Mr. Reckless stated
70 me that he wanted send them on TO Washington by
That days mall and selected the boat account aud pay
ron, ana required me TO fill up the blanks opposite the
names signed as above, to make one hundred and
thirteen dollars adverted to the fact that this sum
exceeded that actually paid the boamen, by sixty dol
lars he said that would cover contingent expenses |
o'u MN that was ncorrect when he plainly and dis
ncty said that he was determined to get out Of Co
/ vernment that he had consulted Mr. LYON deputy
collector at New York, who had told him that il could
be entered IN this manner He stated more on the
SUBJECT, IN an urgent manner, which do not now re.
conect; and reflected that, however the accounts
weht on, would, at proper time put it right and
On MS again requiring to complete the accounts in
lne manner above mentioned, did as was ordered
directly afterwards, when he wen, out Of the Office with
e pspeiS 70 the post Office, noting the circumstances
ana inc next DAY MT Parker being still absent) stated
.nem 10 W li'iain Whitehead Esq, and to Robert A
lhorp, and particularly advising with MIR Wh;ehead
TO whom showed the memorandum in the collectors |
office, and TO Mr. Thorp his store state this cir
cumstance, because that memorandum has been lost or
mlslad, and after dillgent search cannot be found
/ Either oil the above mentioned gentlemen can | have
no doubt qualify TO the above facts The substance Of
that memorandum Of such nature as to be ndeli-
| bly, impressed on my memory
/" II 1t be asked why ! signed the payroll for the
boatmen, Luke Ross and James Seguine in blank las
stated can answer, that it done by the order of
the collector; and under that order mechanically
signed for them as had usually before done but the
time not adveng to any circumstance that might there
after accrue IN consequence OF my having done SO
besides, did not suspect, until Immediately after the
boamen left the office that any thing wrong intend
ed IN the Transaction because bonds and other papers
are frequently signed in blank in the custom house, TO
be filled up thereafter at leisure and when subsequent
! ~ was required TO fill the blanks with sum which
knew TO be incorrect. demonstrated the improperly
OF such charges, until, inferior officer, absolute
requirement to do So but not without at the time
communicating the fact to Messrs Whitehead s. Thorp
! and making private memorandum, IN order that at
proper time the transaction might be fully explained by
an explanation that might thereafter be made by me-
While continuing in office, was frequently admonshed
of the necessity Of my obeying, inferior officer
the commands OF my superior, but at the same time it
was duty owed TO myself to take care that my own
conduct under whatever circumstances, could be shown
to be governed explicitly by correct motives
In making ont tho accounts for the first quarter Of
1884, Gin April Of that year. determined to fore
STALL as much as in my power, the foregoing method OF
proceeding regard to the revenue boat account and
pay roll, and filled the columns of the pay roll with the
figures of the dollars (S3) each there being
| four men, which the actual sum they to
ceve for this quarter filed up the general account
current and the other papers accordingly and placed all
the accounts ready for signature Mr. Reckesss Ia
bic for his examination and signature. They lay there
for more than week. until day, in overlooking
them, Mr. Reckless said to me- you have only put the
sum that the boa.men to receive on the pay roll
! told him yes and that | bad filled the columns OF
the other accounts accordingly He said he would no,
have it so, and that must be altered. told him 1t
would do but he required me to the figures
8 in the payroll which did he standing by in such
that the could be plainly perceived,
and Intentionally left SO BY me. immediately went out
OF the Office determined to have nothing TO do with
beach to superintend the discharge OF wreck, and
when returned two Of the boatmen had signed the
payroll the two others signed afterwards IN my pre-
The hoatmen not then paid, nor did they
their three dollars each from Mr. Reckless until
some time after the 7th OF Nav. ] did not see the |
boatInen paid, as then in office but ascer
tanned from each of them that they had received their
three dollars
'On or about the last of April, or lst of May, Mr..
Reckless brought the accounts of the first quarter OF
lasG m the roll
with the OF twenty mine dollars opposite to each
mans name, making the total Of one hundred and
sixteen dollars / demonstrated for some time; but,
having fully made up my mind, to the course should
pursue, did / was ordered, carefully placing the
figures 49, to the left hand Of the SIS, before erased
which fact substantiaed by that document, now IN
Washington | Immediately afterwards made the cir
cunstances known to proper persons did not remain
more than a day two longer in the Office, and, Of
course can give further Information.
never informed Mr. Reckless that it was the usage
Of the office charge the incidental expenses and cover
them by the receipts OF the boatmen oil the revenue
boat. 1t done until the making up of the
fourth quarter of 1888, which made up in the
month of January, 1884 He does know tina, the boat
always received the specified in their accounts
until the fourth quarter of 1888; and that during the
time that Mr., Parker was collector the boamen al
ways received the sum specified IN their receipt Wit
has looked into the revenue boatmens tme-book,
produced by the collector and appears that the amount
paid to the boatmen for their services for the second
quarter Of 1884 is $35 only 1t appears by the account
rendered 10 the Government by the collector that he
charges 1924 for boamen's wages. He has looked
into the book produced by the collector for the third
quarter Of 1894, and finds that the Of S45 is the
sum down paid TO the boatmcn for that quarter
the account rendered to the Government shows the
paid to the boamen for that quarter, as charged
by him, $l24
1.-THE annexed receipt, signed by J w. Reckless,
collector, port Of Perth Amboy New Jersey, bearing
date July is, 1888, in the handwriting Of W, Reek
less.
" Being cross.examined by General Wall, as coun'