Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22

however, that be did not want il, and / never
paid anything 1t was pretty hard any
way to take the job at S22 IS. but
l thought man at Evansville could
make them for that | could. After this
believed met Vajen in Cincinnati. | think he
was trying to get them made there. l told him
he could not get il done. After the contract was
made. and was in Cincinnati buying stock, my
impression is that Vajen spoke 70 me about the
half dollar upon making the articles. / only
agreed to make six hundred at that time (when
the contract made.) There were two hun
dred more to let and Vajen was in Cincinnati
trying to get them made. / saw him and told
him that l had commenced the job and that
would take the other two hundred. This was
few days after Frank Murphy made the halt dol
lar suggestion. | suppose Vajen understood all
about Il. That was nv settled conviction. l
tod him that could make the whole number
and he said l should make them think il was
then he remarked that he thought that they
ought to have six bits on a saddle-ab0ut seventy
five cents. do not know whether it was at this
time or not that he spoke about the fifty cents
My impression was that Vajen understood the
proposition of Murphy perfectly, and he thought
1t should be seventy five cents, instead of fifty.
We never paid anything aud We never
intend to NJ understanding was that /
to pay Frank Murphy a half dol
lar on each saddle. FIom the conversation
had with Vajen. have no doubt he thought
that there was some understanding between me
and Frank Murphy Ny understanding was that
Vajen had nothing to do with letting that con-
tract. In fact, told Vajen, perhaps him, but
Murphy, that would pay him for his trouble if
got the contract The conversation with Vajen
amounted to this-that instead of fifty cents il
ought TO be seventy-five. | suggested that my
understanding with Murphy was, that should
pay only fifty cents. Previous to that had told
Murphy-an1 l do not know but told Vaien,
hnfl hf.r hat Ho..,. 81.
ing here; that the work was all going to Cincin-
matt; that we made better work than was made
there: and that ii this contract was TO be let by
Wood for the United States. there WAS no harm
in getting us the contract if they could. did
not say anything about the price. but said that
would do it as low as anybody. My understand
ing WAS fifty cents was TO apply TO the whole lot,
both the six hundred and the two hundred If
there is any blame to attach 10 any one, perhaps
little attaches TO myself for told Frank Muir
ply if he would get me the contract would pay
him for his trouble Do not know that said
this to Vajen. Frank Murphy was in the Office
with Vajen. Governor Morton got word of this,
and he came to me and wanted to know whether
this thing he had heard was so, and gave him u
statement of facts just as have to you that
had told these men if they got the contract /
would pay them for their trouble. This is what
| meant by saying Governor Morton got me in
a tight place.
Morton seemed to be a little disturbed about it,
He said had got to tell or he would have the
matter investigated | told him Of course |
won!d tell him everything | knew about it, that
il | told him anything would tell him the truth.
And did That is all there is of that
When Virgins and / got together l told him
what was expected: that they expected fifty cents
on each saddle Virgins said he did not like to
pay it. If they had been the men who let the
contract, should have thought they ought not
:.
far AS this contract was concerned, did not feel
so. Bet hdUe not paid IL. Ii was SAID that the
Evansville men had agreed 10 paw their fifty
cents. Frank Murphy told that Virgins
told me after he got the contract that he
intended to pay it, and zoe necer haze Yes, Wig
gins was disposed to adopt sharp practice l can
not account for the fact that SO large portion
OF the work went to Cincinnati but eUery man has
bis eonUictions.
JoHS REYNOLDS, son law and partner of
JANIS SULGRovE, and a saddler by trade, being
duly sworn. thus responded:
DO not know that / have had any conversa-
ton with any officer of the State or National
Government, in reference to the subject of com
missions or brokerage for giving or obtain
ing contracts for furnishing Government
supplies since the breIkng out of our
present difficulties. Sulgrove generally made
all the bargains | have had some talk
with the parties after the bargains we're made
We made a lot OF Sl4 saddles and there was
some bargain about them between Sulgrove and
Frank Murphy He was not the man that gave
out the job Wood gave ont the job The job
was obtained through Murphy and Vajen. There
was a contract, some way or another, to allow
them fifty cents on each saddle, for obtaining the
contract | talked with Frank Murphy about it.
He came into storeafterward and was talking
about the fity cents He said there was some
IL al. hat ha Al.
money, and would not take it. and would have
nothing 10 do with it. ] spoke to Vajen on the
subject. He spoke once about getting the mOney
and sending it TO Frank Murphy after the job
was all done This was two or three months
afterward. Frank Murphy out in Middle
town Vajen said Frank was in the butchering
business and wsnie1 some money, and he wanted
to get that and send il TO him He said il was
the money for obtaining the saddle contract.
This was after the conversation with Frank
Murphy. Did not tell him what Frank had said
about il. because was going to see the latter
again and see what he said about il. | told Vajen
We had no money TO spare at the time. Vajen
came TO our store and wanted me to let
him have it, hand it TO of his
men, (Hilderbrand,) so that he could send it out.
Vajen did not want it paId to himself, but wanted
it directed TO Frank Murphy, and handed to bill.
derbrand, to be sent to Middletown. He said the
money was wanted for fifty cents on each of those
saddles. | think Vajen and Murphy acted to
gether. 1t through Flank Murphy the con-
tract got | remember Governor Morton
coming to our store and having conversation
with Sulgrove. That visit was after Frank Muir
phy told me be would not take the fifty cents.
cannot tell how it happened he came in and said
he would not take the fifty cents, unless il was
that he had heard some rumors around He spoke
to me about there being rumor of the transac-
ton around town. 1t was some time in January
that had the conversation with Vajen about Civ
ing the money to his clerk. (The contract WAS
let in September)
ANDREW j. HINEsLEY, saddle and harness
maker, of this city. gave the following testimony
in reference to the letting of contracts:
made an effort to get a contract for harness.
By tho advertisement the contract was TO be let
On the third of the month"; and when put my
bid on the record ,Vajen told me the contract had
already been let for the equipment of the entire
battery; that Bridgland and Captain Wood had
takep the responsibility off the Quartermaster,
and had let the contract. The letting actually
before the day mentioned in the advertisement.
Mr.. Vajen did not give me any reason at all for
the act. the authority of those gentlemen to
supersede the Quartermaster.
TALBuT BuLLARD. well known citizen of this
CITY, practitioner of medicine for nineteen years.
testified as follows:
think know of one instance in which have
crcumstantial evidence that the Government did
not have the full advantage of offers which we're
made to it through it's Quartermaster. Some
time about the close of the services OF the three
months men, received letter from Bigelow &
Co.. of Boston, accompanied by one from Gov.
Andrew, vouching for the ample responsibility OF