The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-03
United states Com MI ssiCn er's Court.
Before J. W. Nelson. .Eso.
hohkiEs OF POWERS OF ATTORNEY
TO BOUNTY LANDS

United states Com mi 1ssICne er's Court.
Before J. W. Nelson, Esq.
| TO BOUNTY LAMBS
fts 70 The United States p, Le,yis The az am,na
on In this case which had been adjourned from Ia,
week, was rssumed II appeared BY tie previous eyi
this offence, and that he discharged ON 6is own
recognizances he having charged Captain Lewis tn,
defendant with the mission OF the forgsries wit
nemes are no. produced to impugn the shsr scter O
MerrLew and to prove that his and wrts ia AM .sc
several OF the claims to bounty lands and that
| were forwarded to the government by him
John A. Macgregors Testimony va, ssumed tpow
er Of Attorney produced The signature OF the wit
! handwriting OF William Merrihew; Msrrihew 1 under
stand, has been extensively engaged IN the laus var
rant and pension businsos; have been to Washing
ten last week; went to see and obtain papep IL
reference tothis case in the hands individual,
In government ofzces my attention was perieulari,
might have, spd wi;ch written by Msrrihew IL
relation TO claims against the governmeat; am &C
GRANTED with Msr.ihs.'s haSd.riting; b. say mum
Va the handwriting o? Merrihew; several in the pos.
sesson OF Mr. Neay, and letters written by
Merrihew IN the bands OF Mr.. Risq1e in relation to
the claims OF various pereons Letter produced.
go, possession of this letter from Mr Nealey in Wash
ip3ioni the letter s In tho handwriting of Mr. Merrt
LTheiet,er vas 'gn.d by VIM. Merrihew, and eaclos.
ca psTer OF attorney c in relation to arrearases Of
pay due to Rachael Danham, widow OF j. w. Dunhsm
late j.. Company Louisiana Mounted Voluute and
also calming tbe arrears due to Catherine Kenna and
iSVoeo.ibk tnhb thc romcH peICfWoruou TO u
Iaues zion Do you know what reputation Mr. Ms.ri-
bew bears in Washington in relation 20 these mateIs
Auswer.-rhose in Washington who know him, now
him 20 bs engaged in sending applications for land
claims 1 called at the pension ofsce; cannot ssy
what his reputation there Ia acquainted with his
general character for truth and yeracy IL bad 1t
is 80 bad that should not believe him oath where
he vGs Interested; would not believs him oath,
anyhow, unless be was corroborsted; AN acquainted
With Capt Lewis know his charsctsr for honor and
yeracity to be very good never beard anything
sgsinst IL until this charge know h.s handwriting.
il eGman a,o the sfsdavits Of her and tso witnesses
named Eesland and Gardner, produce2l see none
otuapt Lewis handwriting in these documents; tn.
sfiicavit Is in the handwriting OF Mr.. Merrihsw.
mr, Lstson, council for Capt Lewis, called the at
eution Of the Com soncr TO the fact that the
Sd July
Witness coptinusd-I saw papers in Washington in
thee cas- purportipg to be claims for and
for volunteers in Capt Lewis regiment ous was that
OF Michael Beaumont another of Benjamin Mills
and the other on behalf of a widow nam al Dun
ham, bat am not certain TO what company her bus
hand belonged; the land warrants on those spplics.
tons we're issued the one to Dunhapa mum ssrea
90 eco nd was dated lay 1st 1850 the 9th
TO- os Pa and issued Msy 81, 1850.
Cross examined by nr. Owen Summers, on the part
shsIs1-er Of Merrihe~i in Mexico. be called on me
and asked me Tor a draft on New York for Slto for
which le gave slight premium; gave It him AMI
be called in few days and said he did not think he
could it me have more than S75 and he asked for
drs.. Ter SO, aad ssid that he would caBosl the
one got back tho frat draft for 400 bur it
was presented 10 ior payment in New York l be.
ltye there 10 littls balance OF 50 or $40 due on
tbe hr't draft; havs beard his general reputation
spt stp OF IN New York and Mexico In Mexico his
utation was that he was not good soldier, hs gan
blcd an5 ersak great deal and generally sick
wbsu no wss wsnts for duty; he in but skir
nth, ard cid not behave very well Ia thai. he didn't
keep his engagements; would not reject a mans
oath because he VAS gsneleri it woaii depend upon
the eesres 70 wbicn man drank whether would re-
Ject lis cath or not; ara partner OF Mr la'eon, and
hsve been actively engaged a. counsel In this csssi
among those Who hDow Merrihew In New York his
rspuistlcn STA uce BAD he has been chsrg sd with d.
honery IN several ,nrapcss Ihesrd these reports in
1873.
Pierre Belts was asxt swora, and exsnineI by
ar. Lstsoo. lie decossd--I reside la ihs city;
stns-r doirg busintss IN al street, knos Csptn.n
ipvis by sight beve never done ary tCeiness with
him. or Tor lin; know william Msrrihew bysight
1 bave bought land ola,ms and certid5ste.; 4 rot
itcted The claim Of Rachel Dunham. widow it was
trough; 20 me By young man from Nassau street;
Lco'trtm.ulbsr wso be was; hs a large man,
Nm Nm iar isSe .iana tne papers wete mace ont ~
Esv oid rot bring theln 70 tia oAcs.
The vitnsss's examination w.. suspended, TO give
lin In opportSD,,y Of producing memorsnta
Cdcrel william joy Hsrkett. examined by Mr Lat
'sn dspcssd r-sies in New York; sm a osuns-llsr
50 law; am aeGusint.d with Mr. arrrihsw, 1 have
known himI bslisve since 1874 he then aosrk in
tie Y District Clsrk's Office, was srought In con-
trct wtto him by my cnte- 3. councillor at as an
.acqusiI,cd with his pdwrting tp1wrr OF attorney
IN ihs care ~ the claim Phc5s Hoffman proiucei
ths body Of tbis instrument n in the handwriting Of
Merr.bsn; the name Ph@be Hoffman aod all the
Lcsy of tie ipittument b.lisvs 10 be In his hand
wiii'rg except the mans Of james Brcc and bslisve
part 81 Absr tLe ia Two lrst re,toEs OF the
lsites I'D Fri 70 be In the hand writing of Msrri
Itw could hardly believe he would be guilty OF the
net sst = look, finguiar TO me; I anes nothing
peiirst BIN until This transaction
TO Hr. BurOm"rs : bad nothing 70 dis.urb my I'm
rtesfion Il he bsiSg fsspecrabs man, except tht
hi ;v high ar In the habit OF going pretty
tg4Crs" would believe aim under oath In ordinary
losseh A. pisrer Gepossd I wa, rst lieutenant Ia
-, .iiri regiment OF DRAGONS l conmanssd Com.
Tspy through the txiesn var, after the death Of
Usptsin Dan know captain Lewis since lssI; be.
ca l,s BtQusinted with him In Mexico; met MIN thers
various timts pnd slso in New Nork; know the cha
raoscr ~ Lewis Tor truth nd voraoty always con-
Acerea lin man OF high honor aud brave soldi.ri
be dstirg ggshed bins, II Welt In tn. sgmyi never
hand apy tLiDg that would cast the slghtsat blsmish
ca nis clmseer up 10 the time OF this charge; know
william Msrrilew since tberyTiog of 1877 he Wa, at
fseLto 10 ny tmpsDy them an very sell ted
yrh bis hsEdsriiD Ing power Of attorney produced
HtGIsn and wm II. G-iswsld Comm,ssion ner of Deeds;
n ouid tsy the name ~ james Brice u iu nsrrhss
tnpa 0u RVisee ~ 10 Msriias general character for
Truth aud trrsety sAoaid hot depend much upon his
zero, would net believe h.l under cath IL he had
gIoNttiul int-Isst AZ stsAe O. Via. vas mis- cns
ftcigi ioi Truth aud veraci'y anopg.t The en- 'ers
They J 40 veTy littie conmuni.aten With him; he
wse reported sick when they thought there was
Dcct,tity for ~ be WAS not held Ia very high s'
teen ~ gentleman ard ofcsr and for that reason
r. was fhnnu, uch possible by this en- csrs he
tae 1Gt brave man; he nsvcr fought IN any OF tue
rprars nj, nta; be hs,er sho sed ngnt was mis-
mAIdirR ,fictr; there Wess times when b, reported
himstl tiek that nen more sick than he toos the
alci HE ssntral appearance wa. thAi 81 healthy
cpr b. not sick then (aughter, he gss.rsly ate
and crsnk ME .hste, aud tmCk-d his se1sr, muster.
roll produced THE u the proper printed torn Of
muset rt crpy Of which IL Ia the possession OF the
ccumanesr uf every company thsis ui.i no "a TIE
roil- c the army generally are hiled al not nueh
sequainied with Captain Lewis writing. but every
th l,re ), In correct and proper orn II "a the
ter fVi ot captain Levis' company.
CrC.t. .ezamfntI bv Mr. Sumrsrs-Wksn I say 1
vcnd net b'Iisys hiz nisr oath when great nter-
ct at rtske br-- opiniun from his general cha
rteisrt / don't son,,oer hin . naa a honor: he
CiG Dot tsport hiussf Of Btrst honor snould
~ the hshis o gettins money iron the privstes
q the company vas complained to once or twtes
stCut it aud believe that man who ~0ali stoop to
that ccuid list be sn honorable msn. don't know
ths fect % knOsledge but the men conplaiaed
20 me the eek roll not tubmittei 70 Eie; there
was no nsrcssty Of reviewing spprovng of the sck
roll tte rick generally sent 70 tne hosrtt
Mr. MtrEthes remained in bis pu4rtsfs; " an o. bsr
tad Ne tick be could remain IN his quarters whs
ihtr he rick vel Merfihes may have been srs
stmtt,ts bat my impression is thes ~ ~s' not sie.
evrry ime he reported bimsefeo he eics 20 often
that applied tor eeeond liz sutsEsnt, aud got Nj
Blo,J aud he and sij all the duty. when u wa,