Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-02-22
THE GREW RoBBERY.

The report OF the Special Committee ap-
pointed by the House of Representatives to
investiga the fra ldulent abstraction of bonds
belonging to the Indian Trust Fund from the
Department Of the Interior, is document to
which, more perhaps than TO any other, the
philosophical historian will refer when seek
ing to explain the hidden origin Of our exist
ing national difficulties
As to the report itself, it is an admirably
clear and cogent exposition of yillainy mon
strous and audacous as to call blush to the
cheek of every intelligent citizen who may
read it. The disgrace can be little less than
national, when we find Cabinet officer in
league with clerks, contractors and the mis-
cellaueous harpies of the lobby, engaged in
the constant and deliberate plumber not only
of the National Treasury, but in fraudulently
obtaining advances Of money from all Banks,
commercial firms or other private parties, who
could be induced to assisent his official in
dorsements as security for Tpriyate loans. The
Committee report that Of unconditional accept
ances issued by John B. Floyd, the great Grim
inal of our Cabinet history, there are now
aioat and in the hands of innocent holders an
amount certainly not less than 81, ,339, 495--
while of acceptances. conditional on the per-
formance Of contract work by Messrs Russell
Majors and Waddeli, the total is not less than
$3.50 ,000-thus showing an aggregate Of So
1895, either to be assumed by the Nation
al Government or to fall as an unrelieved loss
on the private holders.
All the specious pleadngs heretofore ad-
vanced by Mr.. Russell in behalf of his own
innocence are swept to the winds by the testi-
mony taken before the Committee, his position
being now clearly revealed as the chief out
side agent employed by ex-Secretary Floyd in
the task Of putting spurious acceptances into
circulation, and tempting the clerk, GODDARD
Bailey, to the thft OF the bonds placed under
his charge. We find him in company with
one Luke Lea, formerly commissioner Of
Indiana Afiirs, proceeding to Washington
with the deliberate pnrp9sa Of enticing Bailey
to commit the thift I'VE find Lea opening
the proposition to Bailey-"a bankrupt ia
fortune, and political adsenturer," who had,
nevertheless. been placed in charge of more
than 50 900, 600 worth OF bonds, though only
having given s. 900 as security for his good
behavior we find Lea arranging an interview
between Bailey and RUSSELL which takes
place at the War Department, where they
introduced to each other for the first time, by
Col. w. r. Drinkard, Chief Clerk of the De-
partment, and "Secretaly Floyd's most init
mate friend;" and it is at this interview that
Col. Drinkard reafirms what Lea had before
represented to Bailey-to wit. that Floyd's
illegal acceptances we're in danger of going to
protest, and that by any such disgrace the
sensitive criminal "would be greatly agonized
and disturbed"
The preliminaries thus arranged between
Lea, Drinkard, Russell and Bailey. the two
latter as the parties now mainly in interest, re-
tire and hold "a private interview in a room
on the third story Of the War Department"
the result being that within few hours
thereafter Mr.. Bailey had stolen the bonds
to the amount Sl5O00O from the safe under
his charge, and with this amount of booty as
the product Of the first attempt, Mr.. Russell
returned to New York. Two subsequent
robberes were committed by Bailey at the
instigation Of Russell, acting as the represent
ative of John b. Floyd's necessities one Of
these in September, amounting to 1887 900,
and the third in December, amounting to $780,
0Oo-an aggregate Of $4,000 stolen by
Bailey, in order to save the sensitive Ex-Sec-
retary from being "agonzed and disturbed"
by the detection and exposure Of his infamies
For S735000 of the amounts so stolen, Mr.
Russell had deposited Mr.. Floyd's uncondi-