The New York herald., 1845-10-19
Nayal Court or Enquiry.

81.
to Indian Key in ls4l, shipped quantity Of lumber,
and sent down mechanics for the purpose OF building
nae store on the Key number oil the mechanics ar
rived before did they must have arrived in the hrst
part Of October lS4l. On my arrival found that my
lumber had been used by the Government and my me-
stances, Lieut. Mclaughlin gave me the of an old
building which had been used think, for hospital ;
it was miserable sfair-t shed-I occupied that
building as long as it was tenable The next building
moved into was room fitted up in the hospital occu
pied that but short time Lieut. Mel. then returned
me the lumber which he had consumed Of mine and /
mediately erected the building which afterwards
cupied occupied the buildings of the government be.
tween three and four months not more think than
the latter; am not positive; the first house per-
mitted to occupy was shed which was in very bad
SO that my goods were very much damaged; was de-
tanned some time the Key before could get the
building was erecting and my goods seriously
injured board of the vessel the oLieutenant Nc
Laughlin's building by me was by no means a
ed in it, the lumber was returned to between three
and four months after it was takent might have been
longer the bills Of Lieut. Mclaughlin were charged
parately, and were always examined by him when they
presented to HIM for payment; all the articles fur
nshed by for the use of the hospital were always
| ceipted for by the surgeon OF the hospital.
| BY the JUDGE ADvocArr.-I don't know how long it
after the government lumber arrived when it was
returned opened my store on Indian Key In the first
part think of November; resided at St Augustine be.
fore went to Indian Key; the body of the building
erected Indian Key about 20 feet square, with
piazza on either side and it was story and half high;
don't know that give the cost OF the building hav.
ing kept no account Of It's expense; was great deal
known on Indian Key that the title Of the land is in
pute; i was pre.emption right or CLAIM;
By the JUDGE ADvocArE-l furnished Lieut. Nc.
Laughn with canoes procured the two first lots of
canoes think about eighty.fve ninety, at savan-
eren times the most of the balance procured in St.
Augustine there were some scattering from Charles
ton those ! purchased at Savannah were from Mr..
Wyle don't recollect his christian name the other
parcel purchased from MIR. McMulen, at Savannah,
purchased at St. Augustine were got from Mr. Robert
Micker, and one from Mr. Backor at Charleston the
other parcel of them were made under my own super
ntendence the first parcel paid Mr. Wyie Ss5 apiece
for the second paid Mr. McNullen sos apiece think
all the rest about the same except one parcel
paid Robert Micker sos piece those superintended
myself do not remember what they cost tins not
the whole cost for the my time and expenses OF
travelling spent in procuring them was in busi-
ness at st. Augustine and it busy season with me
my time very valuable to me spent one entire
summer in procuring the canoes ! travelled through
voring to procure them had agents employed in both
places to procure them the agents in Charleston
my books or bills of those with me accompa.
med Assistant Surgeon Hopknson to Charleston pro
cure medical supplies before was employed by the
Government the drugs and medicines he barganed for
and with him for the purpose of paying for them
also articles, such medicine chests bought
and paid for them these bills made out by my.
SELF in my name, probably at my own suggestion
have not the bills with transported the medicines
in my vessel and returned before DR.. H., who pro-
ceeded farther North to obtain surgical instruments that
he could not get in Charleston He returned in the mail
| packet Hayne, to the Key ! did not charge the
government freight for carrying these articles that
/ advanced money for; | charged the. govern.
ment an advance upon these articles Of perhaps,
"a to 80 per cent had list of those goods paid for by
me cannot tell what would have been the insurance
upon these II applied for insurance upon my
vessel some months afterwards, and refused she
was new vessel this vessel was at all times manned
and naygated by men in my own employ not to my
knowledge did men in the employ of the government
ever aid in navigating her; was not directed by DR..
Hopknson to go to Charleston but going there at
the time and kept my vessel running constantly to
suit my own convenience.
Blythe COUNT was to receive from Lieut. McLaugh-
lin, for the canoes, $3.50 each, on my delivery of
them at the Key and he to pay the freight there
be chartered by the best terms the schooner
Badger about tons and carried about 400 barrels
the Medium was chartered by myself and she belonged
to Captain McGee of Charleston the usual time the
Badger went from Savannah to Indian Key from
eight to ten days; the Hayne took about the same
Charleston; there was a verbal agreement between
Lieut. Mclaughlin and myself but no written contract
furnish goods the first parcel of Lieutenant
Mclaughlin requested me to get for him, there
price fixed upon found SO much trouble and expense
In getting them he did not set price charged $3.50
each for them could not at that tme contract get
them at any price impossible to fix the price
Lieut. Mclaughlin wrote to me to procure more canoes,
and at a less price, il possible applied to the quarter
master at St Augustine to transport them and could
not get them transported; the not to be paid
for until they safely delivered at Indian Key
allude parcels canoes; agreed verbally with
Lieut. Mclaughlin to furnish the goods there as low
Florida reef there understanding between Lieut.
Mclaughlin and myself whereby Lieut. Mel was to de-
the third inquiry contained in the precept do not know
anything there large number of items purchased
of other charged to and incorporated into
my bills matter OF convenience to the dsbursing Of
fcer in the quartermaster's department. this
practice the other departments Of the service
simple written order and not requistion signed by the
surgeon, sent to my store for articles don't know
what silk hecures are charged in my bills the bills
were paid by Lieut. Mclaughlin in Mexican or Patriot
doubloons at SO each, and Spanish doubloons at sl7
each; there was silver offered me but preferred the
doubioons as they were most convenient to send to
4
looms SIG 80 EACH and for the Spanish from SIG 40 to SIC
s0 have knowledge what kind of money Lieut. Nc.
Laughlin took from the United States to Indian Key
did time receive drafts the Navy Depa rtment;
they accepted but not paid for want OF funds;
large amount (Sl400 and upwards paid in Spanish
and Mexican douboons
Mr.. G. CENTER, it will be recollected is a very i'm.
portant witness in this and the close Of his test
mony asked to be excused from further attendance upon
the court He stated that he had already waited patient
here eight days to the neglect of his official business
home with the desire and hope that he might be
ned thoroughly with regard to his connexion in this
He was now anxious to return to his home and
prayed the court permission to 10 secret session of
the Court then held, with the view of determining
what other important matters they required him to test
fy in relation to- On the opening OF the ofhe Court
the witness asked if stl retained the desire to
to his home forthwith. 1t likely there
some further matters that they might wish to examine
him upon, but II must return, there rule COM
pelng him to remain
MIR. CENTER replied he should be glad to remain but
said he could not do account OF his business &C.
He then dismssed-the Judge Advocate obtain
ing his reasons in writing which he accordingly gave
Dr RICHARD w. W.JEFFREY, surgeon IN the u. - Navy,
then sworn-By the Judge Advocate was in the
Florida expedition under the command Of Lieutenant
Mclaughlin; went out in January, lS40 and returned
in July ls42; part of the time attached to the
schooner Wave and the brig Jefferson and schooner
Osego, for a short time never any Of the hospital
stores wasted there but there was hospital mess the
Key, in which have officers not ON the sick list;
have such eating in the mess; have seen them
drinking liquors. cannot rccollect what articles they
used; il has been i've years since.
By Lieut.. McLAuoHLIs.- don't know that the articles
saw were not purchased by the officers in the
he Of any cousion partnership ever existing
between Lieutenant Mclaughlin and any other person.
whereby the government defrauded sc. z and whe
ther Lieutenant Mclaughlin ever in his opinion derived
any emolument or profit acting purser, by exchang
ing the money paid him by the Government for other
money funds and his answers in the negative
in both instances.l
Varieties.
The Grand Lodge of the /. o. of o. F. at Cincin-
na have voted appropriation OF four hundred and
fifty dollars for the apprehension Of the incendaries and
1 q