Daily national Republican., 1865-09-29

I.ouis-Compiicity Of Jon. Davis,
seddon, and BenJsnin. n
Tho testimony before the Military Com
mission At st. Louis on Monday, In tho case
of William Murphy, charged with burning
boats on Western rivers, and destroying
other Government property, was highly in
teresting. Edward Frazier, Of st. Louis,
who testified in the conspiracy trial at Wash
ington, gave evidence against Murphy and
the officers Of the late rebel government. Mr.
Frazier is by trade an engineer on the Mis-.
sissippi river, and was formerly in the rebel
service, but was pardoned by the President.
The substance of his evidence was as follows:
BOATS BURNBD.
A man named Minor Majors met me in
ST. Louis, and said TO me he had been sent
here by the confederate government-not
by the confederate government, but by Mr..
Tucker-as an agent to burn steamboats,.
Q. What propositions did Majors make to
you7 A. To 20 and burn steamboats,.
Q. What boats were burned during his stay
in St. Louisl A. The steamboats, Imperial,
Hiawatha, jesse X. Bell, and Post Boy. He
then left here and went to Illinois, as he
told me, to receive money.
Q. What do you know in regard to the
Robert Campbell being burned2 A. Ho told
me that man by the name Of Ayleshire
burned her. He told me that he received
SIS, 900 for the burning of her.
Q. Majors told you that Ayleshire received
IS, 900? A. Yes.
Q. What did he tell you in regard to the
burning Of tho Robert Campbell A. He
told me he had burnt tho Robert Campbell;
had blown up the city Of Madison at Vicks-
burg, and had burnt the Imperial in st.
Louis; that they had paid him IS, 900 on ac-
count, and that they would not pay him for
the others on account that they thought he
was claiming too much.
O. Did you go South in the Summer Of
| '64 A. did.
WHAT Seldom AND BENJAMIN SAID.
Q. Whom did you see in Richmond ? A.
I saw James A. Seldom, Judah P. Benjamin,
and Jefferson Davis.
Q. What business did you lay before Sed-
don A. laid none before him.
Q. What business did Clark lay before
him A. Some statements Of boat burning.
Q. What did he say in regard to those
statements' A. lie said he had nothing to
do with that business now. 1t was in the
hands Of Benjamin.
Q. Did he refer you to Benjamin. A.
Yes, sir.
Q. What did Benjamin say to you7 A..
He did not say much Of anything to me.
l
talked to Clark about settlement; offered
to settle with Clark for $50, 900 in green
backs at first; Clark wouldn't take 1t; then
Benjamin offered $500, 900 in greenbacks If
Clark would sign a receipt in full; Clark
would mt do 1t; then Benjamin said he would
| not settle anyhow: then Dillingham; claimed
| doing an affair in Louisville-the destruction
Of medical depot there.
$50, 900 IN GOLD PAID ny THE REBEL Gov
ERNMEST.
O. What did Benjamin say in regard to
that? A. Benjamin said for Dillingham; to
make out his statement. We returned to the
| Spottswood HOTEL, Clark, and Dillingham;.
There wrote statement out, and signed
Dillingham; name TO 1t. That was taken by
Clark to Benjamin, and he and Benjamin
made final settlement for $50, 900 in gold.
Q. Final settlement Of what claims? A.
All their claims-what claims they had that
were put in.
Q. Claims for WHAT A. That can't tell,
what it all was; Clark made it out himself.
Q. For burning steamboats,? A. For burn
ing steamboats, and other property destroyed.
Q. Do you know Of any Of the boats for
which claims were put in? A. do.
Q. What boats? A. The Imperial, the
Robert Campbell, and this affair in Louisville,
was put in. The Mound City wharf-boat
was put I'M that is all that can recollect
now.
| AN INTERVIEW WITH JRPY. DAVIS.
| Q. What interview did you have with JEFF
ferson Davis while at Richmond? A. saw
Mr.. Davis, and the conversation turned upon
the burning of steamboats,; he said he wanted
no steamboats, burned; told him didn't
think there was any use in burning steam
boats; he said he would like to have it
stopped; that he had been trying to stop il
for some time such work done no good he
said. l suggested to him then to take the
papers away from those men he had down
there, and there would'be no more of it done
O. Whom did you mean by the men down
there? A. meant in the South.
Q. How did you come to see Jefferson Da-
Wis? A. Mr.. Benjamin told me Mr.. Davis
wanted to sec me.
Q. Who introduced you to him?. A. Mr..
Benjamin.
Q. As WHAT A. As being from St. Louis
Q. What did Mr.. Davis wish you to do?
A. He wished me to burn a bridge back
of Nashville, somewhere between Nash
vile and Chattanooga-the Long Bridge they
| called it.
O. Was tho bridge then inside or outside
the military lines Of the United States forces'
A. Tint is more than / know, for l don't
know where 1t is myself.
Q. Why did he say he wanted that bridge
burned A. Because Sherman was in front
of Atlanta, and was doing more harm thar