The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-22

IHe M
FisIer the only person in the weghers office Who wa,
amned before the mayor Afterwards learned that M
money was from which no offered dc post 70 INV
credit II would do the same thing and did inquire
ber seven days alter. received the following iaoen,s
epsle from the surveyor OF the port
suRvsYoR's oFroK.
- Pniladelpha, October Il. 1850
smi am instr inform you that your connexioo
with the custom house, as deputy wegher will from
aud after this day
"wM. B. NORRIS, Surveyor
fAA. ".G i. s. SI Deputy Wegher'"
ssMr Lewis and his friends pretend that / wa,
turned out OF Office for signing the names 10 bis ma
ttions II had forged the names of Their eoweizens
~ doubt hat the srtos NJ Norris would have sa
spared the pains of nditing his letter OF dismissal aud
wonld now stand as high ia confidence of the collector
w. Co, Read the ws,ghmaster ,oho can nsitLsr read a
,ortte. or Mr.. Charles II. Fsler, his clerk
In order satisfy my friends that my duties while
held Office were properly performed. need only add the
following certificate, signed by some OF the most eminent
merchants Of Philadelphia, since my removal
- Pn.apELrHIA, Oct q, 1850
The unders gned merchants and importers of Phil.
sdelphia, having become acquainted with Francis L.
Bady in his official character as deputy wegher OF the
Philadelphia cnstom-hoase take pleasure "a stating that
and obiigna officer.
H. IA Cope Y Co. Morris. Tasker Il Morris
Rchardson, Watson, g. Co. Nathan Troter, d Co.
Geo McIienry " Go. M. b Mahony Y Co.
kobt. Taylor IL Co. Earps& Randall.
Stephen Baldwin IL Co. VIM +. Potts
S Il w Welsh. Morris 81 Jones &Co"
"The gentlemen who have thus honored me with
their appreciation in my capacity public officer will
pa rdon me for introducing their names in this state.
ment Their testimony is iol valuable 10 nle be with
held from the public, and present with feeling Of
pride and satisfaction which they wll excuse me ior
know that strong eor,s have been made by the col
ector by Mr.. Norris, Geo Read, and Charles FISHER to
obtain adavits protect themselves iom public condem
nation this mater. Blu, believe that my own word
viii have as much weight in Philadelphia theirs. Ii
any proof wanted OF the truth Of my statement
cali persons who employed IN The weighcrs Office
who able confirm 1t, and who dare not, as honest
0'' "FRANCIS E. BRADY"
ssThe foregoing publication elected the following letter
collector of tue from the Secretary OF the Treas
ury
"sWAsHlSeroS CITY, November :, 1850
81 Dean SIR In the Daily News. "a paper printed
Philadephia) which was sent to me few days since,
from place in the customs Philadelphia. which, in my
Judgment, deserves your immediate attention.
The facts there disclosed, coming IN form SO imposing
aad well calculated inspire beiief their truth,
der necessary for your sake a. vel as the cna'acsr
all that prompt aud i'l reiu'aon OF those
The disclosures Of the paper to which | refer are
character to shock the moral sense OF the pubic and
the charges be true. consideration protect the
petraors of such enoms from sach punishment as pub
lie or social law can lniltct ,
hope receive your convenience will permit.
have submitted the the President who directs
that an investigation Of the CHARGES IS ndlspensabe
case which. il satisfactory. may avoid the necessyo
further hearing. o.,
A'0''' '''' ".THos CoRwIN
"sWM d. LEwl.. esq Collector, Philadelphia, Pa ;"
.In reply this communication. Mr.; William D. Lewis
addressed letters the Secretary OF the Teasurythe
first dated November H. 1850, enclosing the aiBdavn
George Read, Chares FISHER, and John E. Murray and
the other dated the l4th OF the sans month. enclosing
the affidavit OF Joel Zane and other documents, all oil
The xplanaiion OF Mr. Lewis not being satisfactory
the President the department, Mr.. H Dauevy Of
Ohio, commissioned to proceed to Ph.iadelphia and
examine witnesses in tue case. He was instructed 10
fine the testimony TWO specifications as follows. to wit
"sl The collector OF the port OF Philadelphia guilty Of
want OF fidelity TO The government and 10 the character
office Of person whom he has always known
be & n lS s w zoe oyusa
the legislative records of Pennsylvaniaa FACT well known
the collector at the time that he appointed him 10 the iad
office
The collector and surveyor Of the port Of Phiade
phia instrumental la procuring fictitious senaaresu
printed letters addressed TO members of the Senate
Of the United Sale urging the confirmation Of the said
collector whose name was then before the Senate and
that said signatures obtained through the weigh
master acting In the with their knowledge and
sent and tina, said letters were forwarded as genunee
senators 10y the said collector and sureyod
| the port of Phil adephia'
IAN the testimony which taken in the has been
duly returned athe department by The commissioner; and
the remains be decided How far does ii sustain
| the charges against the officers namedl
"It will be observed much the foregoing testimony
and parts OF IL which most strongly support the chAs
| against Mr. Lewis. ca from his Witnesses, not be
they willing TO admit the truth but only because
they unable 10 conceal AID what does establish
That the weghmsster of the port of Philadelphia can
neither read nor write more than his own name; that
cannot spell the OF any vessel which may enter the
port he is unable estimate the annual expenses
hi. department at given rate per month thsl a .n &c
counts and abstracts IRON his Office which the law requires
TO be verified by his OATH 10 by him. although Dc
utterly incapable OF undertaking single item wh'ch
they contain that om six thousand Thousand
dollars OF the public moneys pass into his hands IN m
course OF every year. for the disbursement Of which the coz
lee tor requires voucher but simply and ony me
Unsupported oath OF Charles H. Fisher! What becomes
the declaration made by Mr. Lewis, through his couns
that the competency of this weghmaster Is 'abanda"v
uoped'
| .'.Upon his second appearance before the commhss
Read ad med what he had before denied that he knew
that he was employed for the bank OF the United Sas
that he had received 900 Tor his services and ns
claimed further pensation that his note io SiW
should ~ given ap He explained his letters by he pow
and unbushing assertion that they all mere abct
lions, intended for the purpose of extong money ron
the bank This nftress then, 10 se eonreitd Of frama"
psrgmv.'
The testimony OF Read, and the report OF the lesIsa
tive committee, have been before the OF Mr. Bewe
since year 1872 Ii is probable that man whohn
his wits about him the foregoing extracts iva
Reads testimony, and stcrw ards doubt the ,oi sap
rupiion and perjury Mr.. Brown says, II 10 rw hai
Ls1is kmsW Of the charges agairsf Read, as a"rfed
compairants some sir or sepew years ago, out Ne sn
hsped them This adrtsstow es'abishes the second
the first specification. Mr. Lewiss belief his dsoe!
has nothing do with the case, although he pobAoV
only person in Pennsylvania who would wofs" to en'oN
a doubt on the subject
"Mr Joel Zane, deputy her, IL stiles as bow''
/ "'Aftcr every excr,on had been made by hae
the office TO obtain signatures the plan OF oommJ1
the fictitious then adopted by MI ne.a
Some days would be enough papers in the othce M
tainng genuine signatures supply the number DC A
required TO take the house. Al other nms
would require one, sometimes two, and sometimes ny
mi IN ma he the del He