The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-13

The Trial OF Dowdcn, the Treasury Clerk
We have the fourth days proceedings in this case.
We have already stated that attempt has been made to
show that there was dispeasurs manifested towards
Dowden by the Secretary OF State for various causes but
amongst others for having written letter to northern
exposing ovsrssue Of stock or Treasury notes
in the Department On this utect we find the following
examination Of James E. Harvey clerk in the Treasury
Department who was witness on this trial for the pro-
| secution:-
before Mr. Dowden's arressome time before-an error
discovered in your Of an overissue OF treasury
not have Dowden before him relative to that ransaction
A. Icannot say of my own knowledge that the secre-
tary had Mr.. Dcwden before him for that purpo.se,,
| Question by Mr.. Fendail: Were you then with ninf
A. Iwasn my office with him.
MrBaKrr examining the witness Was there not
overssue Of stock amounting supposed 10 amount
to- several hundred thousand dollars than the law
authorized which supposed to ce detected
ther by Mr. Dowden or some person in connection with
that business and Secretary spencer dsplessed
Did he have Dowden before him respecting an at
Gle which appeared in paper in theNorth, announcing
Al know Of that but from hearssy; partly from Mr.
| Dowden, and the Secretary partly.
Mr.. BRENr-That is evidence.
| Mr.. FENpALL insisted that it not
Mr. BRENT remarked that the counsel for the accused
wanted to account for the object of the conspiracy against
their client; and wished to show that there was un.
friendly feeling excited against him, through this trans
action, as a motive for such conspiracy.
Mr. Thomas L. Smith, Register Of the Treasury, was
recalled and thus examined in relation to that matter:
Mr. FENDALL-MrlSmith you have heard OF the case in
relation which Mr. Harvey just called upon test
G Do you know of the circumstances Of that affair." sir
A-So far Mr. Dowden is affected by the question:
say that was in the secrearys room when he sent
for Mr.. Dowden to there in relotion to
muncaton made by writer in paper In the North in
reference to this over issue Of stock loan Mr. Dowden
he was the author He dsclamed all knowledge of the
authorship and ter questioning him in various forms
owledge the Secretary his entire satsac
ton Of his explanation Mr.. Dowden left the ROOM and
then the Secretary and myself had conversation, in
which both agreed that he had exculpated himself
Mr.. BarNr crossexamined the witness-You do say,
sir, that Mr. Dowden denied that there was an over
issue Z
A-No sir and to the error part of the question:
would say that far as that was concerned there was
nothing apparent In the of theSec
rotary that indicated unfavorabe In relation
to MIR. Dowden in that matter, as well as recollect.
no dissatisfaction with Mr.. Dowden connected with
the discovery Of this ISSUE Was dis atsed with
the fact of over issue having been published7
A-That he can best answer himself.
Q-Did the Secretary ask him if he was the author Of
Ale asked him whether he communicated the in.
formation.
o-Then what the Secretary was dissatisfied WITH was
the communication OF the informaton2
Amor do know that, sir
MIR. BRErr-That can take as an Inference.
Q,Wsll, sir, in asking Mr. Dowden the question: did
he ask him the question If he did to ascertain from
what the information camel or did he ask him in
manner as if he disapproved the fact being commu
nicated?
Ale asked him as If he wanted information on the
su, jeot
Odd he show dissatisfaction as to the manner in
which it communicated
A-The object OF his inquiry whether officer of
the Government had communicated this fact
OIL ask You whether Secretary Spencer did not say
fact Of an over issue should be kept secret and not d.
vulged?
A-No sir
Q-was there not an over issue ; aud if SO, what
Ayes; / do not know what amount but the sum was
upwards Of $500 900. believe.
81 understand you to say: then, that the Treasury
Department issued upwards Of $4,000 more stock cer
fcaes than the law allowed1
Off Mr. Dowden ha, continued to issue as ordered,
would not the issue have amounted to upwards $780,
600 more than the law authorizedf
Al do not know. did not know that he stopped is
Qewere you not told so7
A-No, sir; the first information had was by commu
acation made to me by Mr. Nourse the chief clerk He
to morning. after my entry from break.
fast and stated that issue had taken place.
in consequence OF an error Of his. He said to me, at
diStresses than any act OF my official Lille. was
in consequence OF of mine in taking copy OF
comparative statement made aclerk in the secretary
Office upon which the certificates of deposits made,
and in casting up the amount Of deposits which the
certificates are issued, misook figure, which caused
Mr. Smith here explained the mode in which the &C.
counts kept concerning the issue OF stock the mode
of ascertaning the quantity issued and Of detecting
Q-How much was il ascersIned was the over.issue7
Aldo not rccolect what was the amount. That was
that matter. Immediately upon his unicating the
fact went to the Secretary named the fact to him, and
related all the particulars.
Q-The fact was an overissue of upwards of 100000
OF stock certfcates1
Ayes, sir.
Q-Thefact was published in letter from some
respondent of paper and Secretary Spencer sent for
Mr.. Dowden to ascertain whether he knew how the
Alt notthe fact in relation to the overissue The
purportedto ssy that there had been an overssue
of Treasury notes. The of the letter was in part
thehfsct Of stating that the overssue was of Treasury
notes, instead OF stock.
Mr. BRrSr-so far as that goes amounts to the
thing, whether it overssue In one case or the
other.
Mr. FrNpALL here raised eson to the propriety
COURT He did not know Whether in the publication Mr.
Dowden's mentioned. He must insist on the
production Of the publication.
Mr.. HoBAN-The gentleman must introduce the publ
cation il he woLts II.
The CouRr said it did not know what to beIdone in
that case.
Mr.. FErpALL-The gentlemen wish to show reason
why the Secretary sent for Mr. Dowden.
We have nothing to do with it.
Mr. SMITH remark, that he the letter Of the
rculstng papers.
Mr. FENDALL-I must try and get it, and show the rea.
son why the Secretary sent for Mr. Dowdcn.
Messrs HoBAN and BRErr saw no propriety in having
s1u,n wss pernen. to the question
As the gentleman had inferred motive for the secretary
in sending for Mr.. Dowden want to show the reason
Much other testimony was given, and from last
accounts we understand the prosecution had closed
its case.
FROM YucATAN.-There were two arrivals from
Yucatan yesterday-the schooners Denmark and
Freeand, the latter in seven days from Sisal. The
news is of some interest Two English officers,
the first lieutenant and surgeon Of the Mexican
steamer MonteZuma, who were TAX en- prisoners at
| Telchac and confined at Merida, have been libe-
| rated Thau arrluad af SIaal their Nuau a