New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-18
NATURALIZATION FRAUDS.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
800 ~ r.. ~ TS1hrxA


RrADIsa, Pa, July IL 1867
Your readers may recollsct the testimony of Wilism
Harms prom inent Democrat Of this county, before
the Covode Investigating Committee, in regard to
fraudulent naturalization papers sent him In the Fall
of 1885, by Reuben F. Brown, now holding a place
under the United States Government in the Philade-
pbia Custom House. After the publication Of the tes
timony Brown came out in a card accusing Harms Of
false swearing Harms brings An action for libel and
yesterday witnesses were examined before Com
missioner.
The testimony Of George F. spsyd, one of the wit
nessss brings TO light some facts. and shows how
extensively the business of circulating these forged
papers was carried on in the campaign Of 1856, and the
agency of Brown in the matter. Spsyd, being exam
ned yesterday testified under oath that in the Fall Of
1856 he engaged in making speeches for the Dem
ocratc party in Berks and Schuylkiu Counties, Pa.
Shortly before the Governors election in October,
tlegrsphic dispatch sent 10 Bernard Reilly Of
Poitsville, Schuylkill County, signed Reuben Z.
Brown requiring him to send Spayd home immedi-
afely Spsyd forth with returned 10 Reading and at
the depot there was met by Brown, who informed him
that he woud find package at his (Spayds) house
Upon going 10 bis residence, Spayd found lot of blank
naturalization papers with the signature Of the Pro-
tbonotsry Of the Court Of Common Pleas Of Phiade.
phia County and the zeal of the Court attached. The
wrapper had been removed, and Spayd was informed
by his wife that she had received the package from the
Post Office some days before, and that Brown had
called and removed the wrapper. Upon counting the
certificates Spsyd found that there were four hundred
and fifty copies
Harms had at that time contract the Union Canal
in Berks County some eight ten miles from Reading,
and employed large number Of lrish iahorersi aud
Brown intimated to Spsyd that the papers wore for
their use and stated that he vas 10 address meeting
at tavern on the section the same evening, and thai
horse and buggy had been engaged for him. spayd
took the papers secured them safely under his
coat and called the livery stable, where he WAS In
formed that Brown had engaged horse for him.
Brown then came mp and told Spsyd that he expected
him to FIJI up all the papers that night. Next karps
came to the stable, and Spsyd informed him Of the
papers he had in his possession, when Harms advised
him TO keep his hands of, as il was penitentiary
offense. Spayd then went TO Brown, and asked him
to sssist in filing mp tho papers, as 1t would be impos
sible for him to I'LL up 10 many in one night Brown
excused hin self the ground that he wished TO hear
speech about TO be deveredin the public square, and
left. Some time afterwsrd, Brown came to Spayd, and
told him they thought they could get the Office of
lawyer in town mentioning hin for the purpose OF
filing up the blanks. in some way, which the wit.
pess did not exactly state the project fell through, and
he sdds that he took the papers home the came night
and burned them.
From this testimony, which no one here doubts, and
which will be corroborated by other witnesses well
20 by other testimony taken before the CovOde Com
uee, il appears that this Reuben +. Brown was ex-
tensvely engaged in the business of distributing fraudu-
lett naturalization papers in Penney lvanis in 1896.
How many thousand were distributed throughout the
State and will be voted upon this Fall and hereafter,
impossible TO ascertain. 1t is not doubted that many
prominent Democrats here and elsewhere in the
conspiracy.
That this Brown Ia q man after Buchanan's own
heart apparent from the fact that abous the time ne
was promoted from an inferior 10 highly responsible
Office in the Custom House at Philadelphia position
ukich he stiH holds. Such men suitJ. b. p.