The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-10

SiiueI Vi tuem' (See page oSl1 AeSSrS.
DIX, Opdyke and Blatchford were dist ingulshed
! citizens of New York, and prominent mem
| bers of the Union Defence Committee.
singular. enough, while these 81, poo are
apparently placed under the safeguafdeof these
well-Gnown Citizens of New York, 1t was in ef-
feet placed at the entire disposal of Messers.
Morgan and Cummings or OF either of them,
by the Secretary Of Var.
Within few days after Cummings was in-
vested with this authority, he drew from the
Committee, through the Sub-Tteasurer, MIR.
Cisco, at New York, $250,000, 100000 of
which, as Mr. Cummings insists, were applied
to pay for the purchases made by the Commit
| lee itself, or by Mr.. Blatchford, member OF it,
and the residue, 100000, he placed 10 his
o0n credit IN the PARK Bank IN .Few York
city, and he states, in his evidence, that he
made purchases for The Govefnment to The
amount of $l60,000.
Mr.. Cummings employed a clerk, Mr.. James
| Humphrey, and exhibited 10 that, as in most
other transactions. a confding disposition hard
| ly consistent with thorough business man en-
gagod IN public duty.
Mr.. Cummings appears TO have known moth
ing whatever about this Humphrey, except that
Thnrlow Weed said he was 0fellable.''
This clerk was authorized to make pur-
chaSeS
MF. Cummings acted in this extraordinary
character for about fifteen days. The $780,
600 was paid to Mr.. Blatchford, or to the COM
mlttee with which he was acting, by NJ.
Cummings, without any examining into the
character of the expenditures, either by him
sell or anybody else
THE WAY CUMMINGS BUYS CLOTHING.
MIR. { ('umUoinrC In, haVa oynapHaI the
100000 placed to his own credit 10 the Park
Bank according to his own fancy. He says he
expended about $25, 900 in clothing, and on
that point says:
Q. 0fwhom did you purchase clothinge
A. | connot recall ;he names now. They
were nearly all strangers to me. will pro-
| duce The vouchers.
Q. DID you purchase the clothing in the
| market!
A. Yes, sir. ] called to my assistance
| clerk, through whom purchased what could.
Z. What were the cloths, full suits?
A. No, sir. There were two Items which
covered The largest part OF the purchase-pant-
ss-al-===ss sf4si
Q. On what requlsiton did you purchase
hats and pantaloonsa
A. No requisItion.
Q. How came you to purchase has and
pantaloons rather than anything else?
A. Because I thought they would be need
ed. as hot weather was coming on. had seen
the soldiers pass through here with warm Won
ter clothing, which believed they could no
endure when warm weather should come on.
@. Then YOU were guided by our own in
formation and judgment as to what would be
needed at Washington!
A. YeSsir.
Q. Had you any other guide?
A. No, sir.
Q. Had you any limits imposed upon your
actions except such as were imposed by your
own discretion?
A. No, sir.
Q. You purchased such kind, quality, and
amount, as was dictated by your own judg-
ment solelya
A. Yes, sir.
The clothing was linen pantaloons and
straD hats to the amount ot oUer S24, 1000
Again, on this subject, Mr., Cummings says;
@. Did you consult with any authority as to
the propriety OF introducing linen pantaloons
into the army?
A. Not until after it was done. After it
was done talked with Major Sbley, and he
said that it was not in accordance with the
army regulation; but then had ceased to pur-
chase.
THE WAY CUMMINGS BUYS PROVISIONS AND GRO
CERIES OF ALBANY HARDWARE MERCHANTS.
Mr.. Cummings purchased provisions and
groceries. On this subject he says:
Q. Can you give me the name OF any firm
of whom you purchased any of those groceries
or provisions?
A. think some supplies were purchased Of
Corning s Co., Albany.
@. Do you know what they were?
A. | think they were provisions.
Q. Did you go to Albany TO see the frm2
A. No, sir.
A. With whom did you do the buslnes!
A. With Mr.. Davidson, a member OF the |
firm.
Q. Where did you see him7
A. At the Astor House.
@. What was the nature of the supplies you |
purchased OF that firm?
A. They were provisions.
q. Did you ascertain from him beforehand
as to his !amIiarityFwIth that branch Of busi-
ness?
A. I supposed he knew all about it.
Q. The provisions were of the kind in which
be deat2
A. l supposed so.
Q, Did you seek him out?
A. met him at :ha Astor House.
~ Q. Did you seek hun out for this purpose!
A. No, sir; he came to me.
O.. Then Davidson came to You and propo-
sed to sell you something which you now think
was some kind of provisions.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What was the amount OF the ollll
A. do not remember. The vouchers will
show.