Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-11


the usual hour, and after some dplay proceeded
with the trial Of VIM Cullom late Clerk of the
house OF Representatives. Mr. Ould, for the
TN .icea Ssses opened the case to the jury stated
tns charge TO be embezzlement The first count
charges an embezZlement of 81 600; the second
with S32 $50, and the third charges false receipts
Mr.. U. then proceeded to read the law of Con-
gress relating to the charges pending. In Is56
and Y, Mr.. Cullom was Clerk of the Hons, Of
Representatives under the laws of the United
states, and empowered to discharge such dutit 5
as came under his office. Under resolution
passed by the House OF Representatives the Clerk
was authorized to purchase certain books for the
new members, similar to those purchased for the
members OF the preceding Congress. Gales &
Seaton were the publishers of three of the work
ordered to be purchased under this resolution II
was natural that they, as the publishers should
supply them. The evidence would show that
the defendant called on these gentlemen and had
conversation with them in respect to the purchase
OF those books. He did not know to what extent
he should order books from them but informed
tnem that Mr.. Hugh Tyler would call upon them
IN relation TO II In few days Mr. Ty Ter called
on tnem, and told them that he would buy 90 sets
OF these books If they would give him SD 600
They thought 1t piece of great extortion. and
hnally concluded not to accept the offer After
Una. Iyiet called again, and offered to purchase
w sets OF the books IL Mr.. Seaton would give him
S1,OO0. Mr.. =. was then in debt to parties who
We're clamorous; the books were already pub
lished, and under that pressure he concluded to
accept the proposition On the 2sth Of March
1857, "a check was drawn by MI. C. on the Treasury
Ior s52 $50, and with 1t a receipt from Gales
Seaton Tor that amount. On the I'd day of April
the draft was presented to the bank of Suter, Lea
d Co, by Tyler, for the 1872, $50, and with it
check from Gales Seaton for 81 zoo 1t would
be necessary for the jury to determine whether
that $1,000 was converted by Mr.. Cullom to his
own use not
Mr.. Chiffon followed with the opening of the
defense After recapitulating the manner I'm
which the defendant had transacted the duties of
MS charge, MIR. Z. went on to state that Mr. Gull
fol md tho
and Mayo, two publishers When this displeas
ure became known, Mr. Cullom went to Cong ress
and asked that a committee should be appointed
10 inquire into his whole official conduct That
committee was appointed, and were engaged for
nearly two sessions Of Congress in the investipa-
ton, and that committee reported that they found
no charge against the defendant Those inter-
es'ed In pursuing this matter-no doubt for thx
pQoIc good and for the preservation of the public
mOrals-went to the Grand Jury Three success
slve terms of the Grand Jury was this matter puY-
sued ana three grand Juries ignored these charges
until fourth Grand Jury finally succeeded i'm
hnding the four indictments the first one of which
the jury We're now empanelled to try
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Chilton's remarks
the District Attorney called to the stand
Cot w. W SedtoH, junior editor of the National
lnteIllSencer, testified that the firm of Gales
Seaton publish the Annals of Congress the Req
lister OF Debates, and the Public Land Laws After
t ,1 passage OF the act of Congress of March 3,
1877, authorizing the purchase of certain books
oy the Clerk OF the House of Representatives for
new members The firm of Gales & Seaton. AS
tne publishers OF certain works thus authorized to
De published, sent to MIR. CullOm in relation to
the order for said books which the firm expected
he would give them for the books required The
witness afterward called on Mr. Cullom at his
lodgings; this was in the following December
Sent to him first by Mr.. Decide or Mir Moore or
perhaps by both those gentlemen In answer to
the message sent by the firm TO him. Mr. G. said
tnat he would call on the witness, and be did call
after few days. 1t was after the adjournment
OF Congress. Mr.. Culom called and in relation
TO these books above mentioned said that he could
not give an order for the books himself as he did
not know how many would be wanted, He said
he would send Mr.. Hugh Tyler to witness, and
that as many books as Mr.. Tyler should think
proper to take he would order He gave witness
to understand that he had placed the whole mat
ter IN the hands of Mr.. Tyler. Mr.. Tyler did call
a few days after this, and when be did come he
made demand of 900 as a per csntage on 90
sets Of books, which he said were wanted He
stated that he would procure an order for 90 SITS
OF DOCKS II we would give him 20 Der cent " it.
ness at once decided not to consent to any such
extortion, but not wishing to state SO to him in SO
maay words, he told Tyler that he would consult
with Mr.. Gales upon il. A day or two afterward
witness wrote to Mr. Tyler that he could not accent
his proposition. In few days Tyler called again
and proposed his ultimatum, which was that he
would procure the order for the 90 sets of books
II we would give him 81 ,UO0 nor would he give
any order at all without the payment of that sum
as per centage. As necessity knows no law this
proposition was accepted and submitted to. The
4.
1857. On the I'd day Of April the treasury war,
rant for Sc}2 $50 was issue and deposited in the
bank of Suter, Lea Co, and on the same day
S7,OCO otit went to pay this check of Tyler's
The remainder of the $50 $50 was at the use of
Gales x Seaton in that bank The receipt OF the
hfm for the S32 $50 was sent to the clerk Of the
House of Representatives. Mr. Cullom)
1IT. A Is Clarion, clerk in the Treasury De-
partment, was placed on the stand. and exhibited
the original requisition of the Clerk of the Hous4
on the United states retsurer for the so, $50
A. the request of counsel he read the requisition
The receipt OF Messrs Gales Il SeatOn was re-
turned to MIR Culloin, bnt witness had 4 copv of
II which he read to the jury, and then stated the
manner in which the Transactions of the depart
Inent are Effected. The requisition was received
and referred to clerk in the Secretary's Office
by Cul:om. The warrant was drawn which
went through the usual forms till il reached the
Treasurer, who drew the draft for the amount re-
quired, and had ii sent to Mr.. Cullom.
Mr. Ingram, former chief Clerk of the House
Of Representatives, under Mr.. Cullom testified
that he had seen the draft alluded to- that he
had signed it and submitted II to Mr. CuIlom
After he endorsed it, he placed IL TO the credit of
Mr.. Cullom, in account with the Treasurer Of the
United States. The amount of ii was drawn out
on check by the Clerk of the House, drawn by
witness, who gave it to the party who presented
the voucher. Witness don't remember who that
party was, but thinks 1t was Tyler Don't think
it was Mr.. SeatOn. Witness has not that check
in his possession, but thinks he can find it. IL
was drawn on the Treasurer of the United States
knows there was contract in writing between
Messrs. Cullom and Tyler, in which power of at
tOrney was given to Tyler TO purchase the books
required under tire act of Congress. Witness
don't know what became Of ii Witness saw Mr.
Cullom produce II in the presence of the House
Committee and give it to them, and on the same
day, after the committee adjourned witness had
occasion to 20 into the committee room to write
a letter, and saw this contract lying by itself on
desk. Witness took IL and gave it to Mr.. Cullom
he thinks. Has not seen it since. Has looked
FIR ii diligently since, at the request Of Mr. Gull
lon but was unable 10 find il
Mr.. Bradley for defense, here proposed to ex-
anime Gen Cullom, for the purpose of showing
that such written contract was made and ex-
ecuted between MIR. Cullcm and Mr. TYLER and
that Mr.. Cullom had given il to the House Com
mittee, and that II had been mislaid, and he was
unable to lind it, though anxious inquiry had
been made for 1t, both by the defendant and Mr..
Ingram.
To this the District Attorney made no obiec-
ton, and Mr.. c. stated TO the Court and Jury that
such contract had been made between himself
and Tyler; that he produced ii to the House In
vestigating Committee for the purpose Of having
1t spread upon the record; and that he left IL in
the custody of the clerk of that committee and
that he had never seen 1t since, though he had
made every effort to find it.
The court then adjourned.
To-idy.-The court met at the usual hour and