New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-07
MODERN ORFfCE HOLDERS.
REMARKABLE INvEsTIGArIoN IN SALEM.


In an article ia last evenings edition. alluded Il
certain curious political Developments 10 regard TO th'
sction Of several prominent Democrats 10 Salem, anC
We nov prepared to furnish the details Of the In
yestgaiiOn there mentioned.
L. will be remem. bereo that in the Spring Of 1876:
strong efforts made by Dr. George II. LOring
Salem to obtain the appointment of Collector of the
Port oil Salem from President Pierce, who had JUS
been inaugurated. Epbram +. Miller then filed that
cAice abd beside his Other qualifications for the posi-
ton, was a sOD Of Gen. Miller, q friend and relative
by maIrisge, Of Gen Pierce.
The Leading Democrats Of the city opposed TO
bis appointment aud sent long remoustrance against
il TO Washington, soon as they became aware that
be seeking the office in earnest Soon after this
remonsrarce received at the seat OF government
Dr. IOriuc arrived there bearing formidable petition
purpOrtng TO be signed by nearly six hundred Demo
cratic voters of Salem and vicinity recommending his
appointment. He gained prompt interview with tho
President. Mr.. Pierce had at been indicted into the
mysteries Of National Executive responsibility. and
supporting IL imperative upon bin 10 obey this v0x
Joyu he gave all due credebce 10 the asserted claims
OfDr. LOrng, and took the matter into consideration.
The result Of this was that Mr. Pierce gave Dr. Lorng.
his final answer that he could not the
Lis relative and friend, but that he would give him
(Dr LOrnel 10 view Of the great number of Influential
names attached TO his p"titiOn the next best office,
that Of Postmaster Of Salem. And he accordingly
spponteo 10 that Office, and served in that capacity
four year,, when he succeeded by j. s. Perkins,
.he present incumbent.
Al the Cincinnati Convention, in 1885, DIR. Lorug
was OtNghIt fOH SdltlH dbu NWhru ndiu lOI luo
RECONCILIATION If Mr. Pierce. Some Of DR.. LoriDg $
opponents at Salem couple Significantly with this,
as an iusTa alton Of the rule Of aid effect, the
fact that President Pierce ju,t ut the close Of his
Presidential term, removed Mr.. Miller from the Col.
ieclOIrlip Of Salem and appointed in hi place WIN.
y. Pike, weigher and gauger in the Custom House,
who had been a warm supporter of Mr. Lorrg in hs
claims TO the COllectOrship, aud who had been an
active member VI the Loring wing Of the Salem De
mGcraey.
Another Of the prominent CONDUCTORS OF DIR. Lorng
at that time George W. Muet. THIS gentle nan
had been appointed inspector IN 1915 or 1916, but
was removed from the portion in 1919, when Presi
cent Taylor was elected. shortly after Perces cleo
ton no again appointed Inspector but after Mr..
Fixes accession to the Colec'Orship, he Of
the victims to the retrenchment and reform fever Of
about year ago. when several Custom House offices
were abOiished
DIR. Loring, il will be remembered received the
Democratic nomination for Congress IL his District
last Fall and bis opponent for that nomination vas eI
Mayor Messervey of Salem.
short tue since several Of DIR. Lorings opponents
in the Democratic party at Salem, preferred certain
charges aganst him at ashiI tOn, and pre- sscd them
with much zeal that an investigation was intr lsted
to Mr.. benjamin Wggin the successor of Ex-Governor
Hubbard Of Maine, agent of the Treasury Depart.
ment Of the Northern District Of New-Ebgland, and a
MIR. GothIie also au agent Of thai department. The
statements made at Washington to the effect
that the signatures to the petition used by DR. orng,
in 1856, were forged by the doctor and MIR. Pike and
Mr. Mullet, who is now opposed to Mr.. Long, and is
Of the adherents Of the Messervey party, set
forth as the most important witness in the case.
Fl Messrs. Wiggn and Guthrie had business in this
section and Monday morning they arrived at Salem
1t seems that their visit was wholly unexpected TO all
at that time. DIR. Lorng was at Dahvers, on the oc
castor Of market day. and Mr. Pike was sitting quietly
in bis Office when the two gentlemen entered and an
nouncod their business Mr. Pike made most al
nirabe exhibition Of nerve at this abrupt announce
Inch. One Of the Custom-ilouse officials was dis
patched TO seek NJ. Muet. lie found Mr. NJ, to use
lis own words, Gin agrave-yard, sitting on tomb
stone with dressing gown on, Illuminating Mr..
Mulet cheerfuy complied with the request of the
mttee Of investigation 10 repair to the Custom House,
and on h- arriving there he examined by them at
length on the subject of the alleged forgery and his
affidavit taken.
In this affidavit he testified that Of the $40 odd names
40 the petition nearly all were signed by Dr. George
INring aud George w. Pike; that he was present at
Mr. Pixies house the evening that ii was done; that
n few had been sgned to the petition AMI that
he signed his own name, (and, according to
count several others) that In order to give 1t the
appearances Of genuine document they used several
different kinds of ink and several styles Of pens that
they went 10 the trouble to spill lux of different
.CulOrs upon the paper, as II done by awkward sub
,crhcr, when afxing their signatures that the doc
,nent was last by him in DIR. L0ring's possession;
chat the were selected mostly from the Dlrec'
tory that tie petition received at Washington (which
WAS shown bnnl WAS tue one ~ manufactured and
,nost of the signatures IN their handwriting. lie
was not able to swear that Mr.. Pike had signed any
particular name, but tO the best Of his knowledge, he
md Dr. Loriug signed the most ui tle ndincs
Several other responsible Democrats of Salem,
whose on the petition, were called, and de-
tIrcd the signatures fUrgeries
Among the names a large number OF deceased
Persons, and curious fact Is. that among them Is
11mce Farmer, NEGRO, who has btcR dead ten
scarsi aud who, Of course, not a Democrat at
that time. Several names Of living Republicans were
sAO the list, but the posthu,nUus signatures were
examined with the greatest curiosity aud regarded 10y
kOne " ith a suIt oi supernatural awe.
The exam inatiUn over, the agents departed Gs ab
,upt, as they had arrived aud Salem is still in doubt
as to the result of all this hue aud cry.
Whether or not Mr.. Pike is To be removed for his
completely in the affair." since DIR. LOrng himself can
Dot lie punished except prospectivey, the most
sapent wiseacres at Salem seem ignorant.
But the circumstances Of tSe Investigations have
BAKED nut, aud have served delicate morse, for the
political gossips of the city. But they have generally
impaired their information gingery and the street
salk On the subject has been conducted with much
GecOium aud reserve, that there many politicians
q Salem and vicinity who do not know that Mr.. Mulet
has t. stied that Dr. LOrng aud Mr.. Pike forged sew
era hundred names TO petition.
Both gentlemen deny the statement Of Mr.. Mullet,
end impute the forgery, which the document itself
Shows, to their But, not the arbierS
between them this question Of veracity and they
bust settle il for themselves.
REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE.