Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-02

make, II must be TO me; that mad control OF
him, and would require him to pay over the
contributions to me as he had always done. This
took place in presence of witness. On that
same afternoon he came over to me in the city,
and handed me letter, of which the following
is copy, written in the hand writing Of Mr..
Joseph H. Bradley:
WAsmNcroN N. M. OFFICE,
March I, 1855.
Mr. VIM. DoUGHERTY, Superintendent:
SIR-Until further directions from the board Of
managers, who organizing their plan of
agents of the society will be paid directly to the
treasurer. You will, therefore, forbear to call
on Mr. Hilton for collections made by him until
that plan shall have been adopted, Of which due
notice will be given.
Your obedient servants,
JOS. H. BRADLEY, N. McCALLA,
GEORGE Ii. PLANT, s. G. BUsEY.
SAMUEL 8. BRIGGs, Committee.
What the plan Of operations, mentioned in the
above, that they were organizing, !, at that time,
did not know, but subsequent events show that
it was to obtain possession by mob law. On the
next day, after receiving the above letter, sent
an answer through the post Office, directed to
Mr.. Bradley. The following is copy:
WAsHINGroN NATIONAL MONUMENT
March 8, 1855.
JOSEPH III. BRADLEY, Esq.
SIR-I have received communication signed
by yourself and four others, representing your
selves as committee of tie board of managers
of the Washington National Monument Society,
directing me to forbear calling on the Waterman
for the collections made by him, you had or
dered that all monies received by any officer or
agent should be paid directly to the treasurer.
In answer, would state that | am, and always
have been, the only authorized agent to collect
monies at the monument, and am alone respon-
IL H. tNax afcIrt alxv
ing contributions from visitors, and paying them
over TO me whenever think proper to demand it.
As do not recognise the existence Of any board
of managers, except the one under whose orders
| have been acting, and yet continue to act,
shall decline receiving any instructions from any
person persons, except the members of that
board, and consequently shall pursue the same
course in relation to the contributions as have
heretofore done, and will require the Waterman
to account to me alone for the monies received
by him.
Respectfully yours,
VIM. DoUGHERTY,
Superintendent of the w. Nat. Mon.
On this day learnt that they had placed
person on the ground the evening before, as
night watch. / enquired Of Hilton whether he
had suffered him TO 90 into my office, or any of
the other buildings Of which he, Hilton, had the
keys; he replied that he had not. gave him
positive instructions not to allow him to enter any
Of them, and also directed the night watch, Mr..
Barrow Frere, TO allow him TO remain on the
grounds, so long as he did not interfere with any
thing, but If he attempted TO exercise any author
ity, TO put him off. On Friday morning / re-
ceved an order from the building committee to
advertise the two horses belonging to the monu-
ment for sale at public auction, in order that, il
these persons believed that they had any Just
claim on the property Of the monument, they
might have an opportunity to test the matter le-
IL - u
gally, by trying to prevent the SALE Immediately
on receiving the order, went 10 the monument
and removed the horses to a public stable, as
was fearful that if they remained there, they
might share the fate of the three that belonged to
the monument last June, who were poisoned and
died. On Saturday morning early, Mr.. Frere,
the night watch, came TO my house, and inform
ed me that Hilton had the evening before, given
up to Mr.. Bradley the keys OF the various work
shops and other buildings on the ground, includ-
ing the key Of my Office. Immediately consulted
n member Of the board, who is a lawyer by pro-
fessien, who instructed me that the fact OF their
having obtained possession of the keys suuepti-
tously by the treachery of the miserable tool
they made use Of, did not, in the least, interfere
with my just and legal right of possession, and
directed me TO 90 to the building, and exercise
the same authority as had heretofore done, and
retain possession until force was used to remove
me, but on no account to make such resistance
as would create a riot or cause difficulty, as the
board did not wish 10 do anything but retain
peaceable possession of their property. | went
directly to the monument, accompanied by Frere,
the night-watch, and found my Office open, and
no person in il; standing some fifty sixty yards
off against the stable, ] saw FIVE or six persons,
amongst them Hilton. ! entered the Office and
sat down. Shortly after Hilton started over the
field in the direction of Briggs blacksmith shop,
who had Just understood had been appointed
superintendent in my stead. After remaining
probably an hour, Hilton returned, and with and
behind him some three or four more Of the same
sort as those stationed against the stable wall;
presently Mr.. Briggs came also and entered the
Office; he then informed me that he had a COM
munication for me, and handed me letter; the
following is copy;
orrIcE on rue w. N. M. SocnTr,
March 9th, 1855.
Sin. At meeting Of the board Of managers Of
the Washington National Monument Society
held this day, you icas removed from the posi-
ton Of superintendent Of the Washington Ma
tonal Monument, and Mr.. Samuel s. Briggs
elected in your place.
You are instructed to deliver TO your successor
on receipt Of this, the books, documents, and
property Of all kinds belonging to the society thai
may be in your possession.
YFspAsrsr ELLIS, LIST Vice President.
CHAs. C. TUCKER, Secretary w. N. M. Society
After reading the above, | told Mr.. Briggs tina
I did not recognise the right Of these parties Il
remove me; that | believed the board, unde
whom was acting, to be the only legal board
that those claiming TO be the new board bad re
cornised me as the superintendent, and my legs
right TO the possession Of the property; that !
was sufficient for me to know that il was dis
puted matter which Of the two boards was tn
legal one, and until that dispute was settled, Q
the board under whose authority was ACTIN
should think proper to dismiss me, that shoui
retain possession, and tho only way he could ge
clear Of me was either by producing some an
thority known to the law, or taking possession b
brute force. After remaining until IL O'Clock
Mr.. Briggs took his departure. A short tim
after ! stepped ost and called Hilton, and dc
manded OF him the keys; he told me that he ha
not them. / asked him what he had done wit
them; his answer was that the new board ha
cont for him. and he gnve them to MIR. Bradley