New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-20
LIGHT ON A DARK SUBJECT.
-
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence of The N. Y. Tribune.
ALLEGASY COUNTY, June %, 1860.
In The TRIBUNE of the 9th inst. you copy from The
Syracuse Journal brief account of the suit of Bangs
against the estate of S. s. Whalon, deceased, aud
formerly Canal Commissioner in charge of the West
ern Division of the New-York State Canals
propose to ventilae a little more fully the system
of corruption established during the administration of
Mr. Wbalon not much for the purpose of rejecting
on the character of the deceased Commissioner to do
justice to few Of his living confederates who have as
yet no idea of relnqushng the profitable business of
filching money from the State Treasury.
1t became apparent soon after Mr.. Wha.lons aces.
sion to the Office of Canal Commissioner that he had
entered into general cOparnershp with Contractors
Engineers and superintendent of Repairs for div
sion of all the public plumber the ingenuity of these
officials could abstract from the treasury. The evidence
in this suit of Bangs, the Contractor against Whallon
the COmmtssoner, is proof positive OF such state OF
things II was proven that Bangs while contractor,
had paid Wbaon, who az Commissioner had given him
the contract for extraordinary repairs the &. V.
Canal something like three thousand dollars, which he
claimed 10 be money loaned and after Whalons death
this suit brought TO it back from the estate
The defence was, that Whallon was partner in the
contract and received the money as his porten OF the
profits.
The copartnershp was proved by several witnesses,
among whom was a of the deceased Commissioner,
who had been in the habit while his father living,
of drawing pay regularly Engineer under Hugh
NJ. Severance, while acting as clerk in a store in
.Chautauqua County. The tendency of his testimony
was to convict his father of crime and maeasance in
to punishment and lasting disgrace Now he is
Dead bis for the purpose of adding slightly to his
interest in the estate, makes his father illegal trnsac-
tons matter Of judicial record adding his own est
mOny to what he had industrousy collected in other
quarters.
Hugh NJ. Severance was another witness for the de-
Tense and testified knowledge of this transac
tiOn This Severance resident engineer on the
GeDesee Valley Canal appointed such by the assistance
of Whallon, and was one of his confidential friends
On his cross examination Severance acknowledged
having been suspended from his position for taking
bribe of contractor but that he took the money S40U
for another man. This was not 1t his defense
in the suit brought to the money! it 10 true but.
bis main witness 10 prove ia relative, and recipient
Of contracts from himeef and Whaon-was I'M
peached, and the Jury, under the charge of Judge
Grover to bring in special verdict and that under
the statute, "mOuey pad a bride could not be re-
covered back, brought in their verdict as follows:
1st We find that the defendant received the money
of the plaintiff"
sd No cause of action on the ground that plaintiff
paid def ndant The money as a hribe."
The verdict was in accordance with public sentiment
in this county, where the transaction occurred, and
where the parties were well known. They thought
Park the plaintiff who PAID the bride, was justly pun
hed by losing his money, and that Severance by his
virtual conviction Of receiving the bride, bad his pre-
viously shattered reputation completely demolished.
Another confederate, and member OF the lirm of
Whalon Il Co., WAS Ja>ob A Mead, clerk, ard
general man Friday for Severance in all these gouging
transactions upon the Genesee Valley Canal, as well
as clerk for the Superintendent OF Repairs on Section
No. 3. BY his salary of $40 per month from the Su-
perintendent, and - % per day from Severance ne
was enabled 10 emerge from total bankruptcy 10 a
property Of sight or ten thousand dollars in little
over two years, beside supporting his family IN q
liberal style, and paying not few old debts incurred
prior TO engaging in this profitable business.
If Lock tenders could speak of their - per month
contributions, and Liverz men Of the teamwork
vouchers they have signed for carriage hire &c the
mystery OF his success would be explained.
These two men, Severance and Mead, have been I'M
firing in their exeons for the past two years TO get re-
nstaed in the positions they have 80 shamelessly DIS
graced and what is the greatest mystery 49, that Au-
dior Bentop who hae been all the time cOgnizant of
these pecuations and frauds should still be engaged
in irving 10 fOist them again upon the treasury lie
has thus far been unsuccessful IN rensatlng Severance,
but Mead has lately through his influence got an APP
pOintment as Superintendent on the Genesee valley
Canal from Rochester TO Oramel.
Commissioner Gardner who recommended the APP
pOintmebt, may not know the true character OF inc
man be has appOinted but his attention has been re-
peatedly called 10 the OF the Canal trlnsachons
In this section and the certain connection OF these men
with the whole system OF plumber 30 avlBbly carried
on under Whallon, Severance, Mead ~ 20. cannot
think but Mr.. Gardner will yet retrace his steps, ana
consign Mead 10 the retiracy he so richly adorns
AT all events ~ must soon be made apparent to him. II
II is not already, that he has made a grave mistake IN
helping this man 70 a position where the Republican
party viii be held directly responsible for the manner
in which he discharges his duties at the same time that
they are in this section nearly unanimously opposed
10 the appointment on almost every score You can
imagine but more especially on the ground of integ-
rty and honesty. In the whole history Of the admin
istraton 81 The Canals heretofore, my observation