The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-14
NEW YORK CITY.
THE COURTS.
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UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.

The Conspiracy Against Collector Bailey
Charge Against the Collector Dismissed and
the Ceinplainants Committed for Trial.
Before Commissioner Osborn.
The circumstances set forth in brief in the
HERALD's report in Sundays issue, under the head
OF alleged whiskey Frauds and which in its first
phase came up before Commissioner Stilwell, were
further developed yesterday morning In an nvestiga
tion before Commissioner Osborn. The case was the
United States against Joshua F. Bailey Collector
OF the Fourth district who was charged on
the anidayits OF several parties with having
accepted a sum of money $1,000 as bride to
permit the removal Of q quantity OF whiskey from
bonded warehouse without the tax having been paid
thereon or the parties having gwen sne proper oqnds
number OF persons who appears, had entered into
conspiracy against the Collector to erect his re-
moval from district over which he was exercising,
In the mind OF the chief conspirators, q too strict
surveillance. The principal party IN TINS alleged
conspiracy was DIR. Blaisdel whose extensive dis
ullery time ago fell prey to the Collectors
strict discharge Of duty The case, condensed from
the one witness examined yesterday, is as fOllows:-
. John Lammerty, alias Harrison Shaw, examined
by Mr. Courtney, United States District Attorney, who
testified that his proper name was Harrison Shaw,
but who had given his name on the proceedings to IN
produced, an affidavit sworn before Commissioner
John A. Osborne, and on which the warrant against
name as La,nmerty; the AFFIDAVIT was sworn on the
8th July last Some two or three years ago was In
auainted with Mr.. Bailey Collector Of the Fourth
collection district; never had any conversation
with him upon any subject never asked permission
Of Collector Bailey to remove whiskey without
a permit, and without paying the revenue on such
whiskey or giving bonds for the amount thereof;
never was introduced to Mr.. Bailey at any time, not
for the purpose of making arrangements with him
for the removal OF whskey without paying the proper
tax thereon never paid on any occasion or for any
mission to remove hundred barrels OF whiske
without the payment Of the tax thereon.
missioner Osborn on the sth of July, and on which
the warrant issued against Mr. Bailey and on which
the charge Of bribery ana corruption against him
paid to Mr. Bailey $1,000 for the removal Of one
hundred barrels Of whiskey:
similarly suborned by the three principal parties to
the alleged conspiracy, named Baisdell, Sauren and
Powelson and that Witness f0r ms nrst afdavit OF
receive $25, and for the second andavit like sum;
and also the inducement held fortN hat whichever
Of the party should first swear rna second aff-
davit against the Collector, before Commissioner
Osborn, would receive good position IN the Inter-
nal Revenue Department: witness testified that
between the rincipals-Blaisdel, Sauren and Powell
son-the removal Of Collector Bailey was the great
The witness was cross-examined by Mr.. Knox on
the part OF Mr.. Belknap, the special revenue agent
for the detection Of frauds In general In this district
Bailey. Witness sustained his direct testimony in
every little as TO his subonaton by the principal
charge OF corruption and bribery attempted to be
sadded on the collector.
THE GOVERNMENT RHcEDEs FROM THE PROSECUTION
AND ASKS FOR THE COMMITMENT OF THE WITNESS.
At the close OF the examination OF the witness,
Mr.. Courtney United states District Attorney, ad,
the testimony in the case, he had now to ask
the Court that the witness be committed for
wicked wilful and deliberate perjury, as
were all the other parties to this vile and
wicked conspiracy. This conspiracy was, to a GER
tain extent consummated on the sth OF July last, by
ho nrac tpf al an a N
by the witness the stand and other parties Upon
that false ardavit warrant had been issued against
Mr.. Bailey, who in ais turn had all the parties ar
rested for conspiracy and perjury. IL was notori
fact that most OF the parties who swore to these
ai,davs are known to the police as makers OF bogus
bonds, and are thieves and swinders generally.
Three Of the men taken before Major Belknap, the
government agent are known In The District Attor-
ney's Office as men who attempted time and again
to present themselves bail for countereitcrs and
other Offenders against law. Against two Others
of them there are lying at this moment IN the Mar
shas office processes for their arrest charges OF
making counterfeit bogus bonds, by which whlskey
was caused 10 be removed from bonded warehouses
without the payment OF the proper tax. lie hoped t
would be shown to the public the kind OF men VINO
prowl about the city OF New York; men who, for
paltry sum OF Sl5 will deliberately, wickedy ana
wilfully swear to faSeh0od for the purpose OF njur
Ing and destroying the reputation and character OF
respectable citizens and upright and faithful officers
In conclusion Mr.. Courtney also moved that the
charge against Mr.. Bailey be dismissed
Mr.. Knox. on the part OF Major Belknap, hoped the
Court would not accede to the request OF the Dis
trict Attorney far as to dismiss the and close
up further investigation. There was no man in the
community who would be better pleased at the
honorable discharge OF Collector Bailey than Major
Belknap; but there were other witnesses to be ex-
amined and other cases to be investigated, and the
pubic would look for rigid prosecution OF these
cases till the real offenders were detected and pun
ished.
Mr.. vanderp0o, on behalf OF Collector Bailey,
also addressed the court urging that with the proof
OF the conspiracy against Mr. Bailey and the admitted
perjury OF the consprators there was no charge rest
ing against his client.
The Commissioner said he had nothing to do with
other cases arising from this Two witnesses have
stated here the imposition they practsed on me by
false swearing. II the government has no further
testimony against Mr.. Bailey shall dispose OF the
forthwith. The witnesses swear that they per-
jured themselves IN trumping up charge against
Collector Bailey, and 1t would be great wrong II he
was subjected to O moments Inconvenience from
the charge against him. therefore honorably dis
charge Mr.. Bailey. Thus ended the whiskey ring
conspiracy case for the present
COURT cAleKDARs-Tnls DAY.