Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-25
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

rotary of State, occupying nearly three COL
umhs of small type, respecting this island.
Mr.. Shelton claims it as being its first and
only posseasor, and the frs. discover Of the
guano thereon about year since. He was
driven of, by Venezuelan vessel. of war, by
force The Dutch have since taken it from tho
Venezueleans. The English claimed It also.
but they have since given up their claim,
seeking, however, 20 get participation in the
use OF It, ar. Shelton, who is, we learn, a
resi- ecfTEble merchant of Boston, claims indem-
nifty from the Venezuelan Government to the
a Mount of several hundred thousand dollars
for that t1rtuous dispo:session IN December
last of his agents, he having sent several
ships and some hundred hands to obtain the
guano on the island He also claims the
island and the guano as bis property, but
offers to transfer the island, reserying the
guano, to the United States without charge
lie demands that Mr.. Marcy shall send
VeSsel-of war to Venezuela to enforce this
claim he then asks for a vessel Of war TO
convoy his ships and men to repossess himself
of the island, now claimed by the Dutch, end
fiom which he was fOrcibly ousted in DeceIl
Der last. And lie also asks, if these requests
cannot be granted, that he be given leave to
fit out an armed expedition, on his own hook,
ts do the same. Mr.. says, English and
French merchants, in Northern Atlantic cities,
assured Of the protection of their Govern
nents," have of,red to buy his right and
lie asks if be shall dispose Of it, as be is 10
clined to do if his requests cannot lie granted
The guano on Shelton's island is reported to
be worth six or seven hundred thousand dol.
lars. His dispatch cites numerous autho tiles
on international law, and was manifeslly pre-
pared by some shrewd Yankee lawyer to lay
the foundation of big claim against the Gov.
eminent of the United States, aud perhars
also with the desire to make a case against the
powers that be, if any contingency mado it
plausible. That those in charge Of the Gov
eminent will do their duty is not to be doubted
and we presume they arc the proper persons
to Judge of the time, place, and manner. The
management of our foreign relations and
diplomacy has not generally been delegate
to claimants, or their lawyers, or newspaper
editors.
Another Dapredator upon the Pension OF
nee Convieted-A. B. Graham, of the State @ .
New York, has been convicted of the crime
Of forgery, in applications TO, bounty land
before the United States Distric. Court for the
Northern District of the State of New York, at
ITS present session in Rochester, in said State
and sentenced to seven years imprisonment in
the State prison. This man has been sort of
itinerant agent, and seldom appeared as such
IN his true name. He practiced prosecuting
applications in the names Of soldier, in tie
war OF 1872 who had deceased. and would fire.
quen'ly forge all the signatures necessary,
except the name of the county clerk, by whose
certificate the papers were authenticated
These applications he would send to the Pen
sion Office unde: various names, and from diff
terent places, and would require answers to
De sent to the various post-Cfices where the
applications we're mailed. The Pension Office
discovered something wrong many months
since, but could not, for some time, ascertain
the author Of these transactions At length,
sufficient discoveries were had to justify the
sending special messenger into the State 70
ferret out these various frauds Accordingly.
the Chief Clerk, S. Cole, Esq, formerly
resident IN the county from which many of
these suspicious claims were sent, went to New
York, and discovered tie perpetrator to DO
A. b Graham. whom he caused to be srrested
and indicted. The prosecutions have been
continued for some months, and came ND 70,
mai trial this week, and resulted as above
stated.
IL would seem that the gang of viliains " no
have besisged the Pension Office with those
fraacuient claims would soon be dispersed, as
we are Informed this is the eighteenth conyic
ton that has been had for these offences with.
IL the last two years. The Commissi 1per.
however, says theie are several of the same
sort still left" whose tracks, if We mistake
not, be has already discovered Their fate.
from the experience Of others under like cir
cumstsnces, may be easily foreto!d.
Work, &c, in the Washington HAYWARD.
lne large iron buOys which have bsen con-
stiucted Al the Washington navy yard, during
the last winter and spring, for the light house
service, are now in the course Of distribution
along our coasts, to take the places of the
smaller buoys hitherto ia general use
We learn that the buoysgs Of all the prin.
cipal harbors. sounds, bays, &C., on our coast.
Is now being thoroughly systsmatized by
Iiarking each danger and channel in such
manner shat the navigator, with the buoy list
in his hand, cannot fail, with ordinary care,
to avoid the one or follow the other.
In our immediate vicinity We note that the
chesapeake Bay has already been we'll
marked according to the general plan, and
that the Potomac river, from the head Of nav
igauon 70 Its mouth, is now being buoyed
nrO-S md - Il