Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-02
FRAUDS UPON THE POST OFFICE DE.
PARTMENT,

PARTMENT.
A Quarter Of q Million Transaction-Ar.
rests In this City-The Washinytonians
Discharged BY Judge Wylie.
On the 21st ult. an item was pu blished in the
STAR to the effect that frauds to the amount OF
x25000O upon the Post Once Department had
been discovered IN BuffAlo II was alleged that
by the collusion of A. F. Lee, chief clerk of the
post ONCE in that city-whioh il also one of the
agencies for post ofEice blanks and supplies
vouchers had been given to the Contractors for
blanks-Messrs- Thomas, Ho ward and john
son-for quantity OF blanks which were
never furnished. II appears that the contract
for furnishing these blanks had been held by
these parties for several years, and that some
years ago Congress by law provided that the Su.
perintendent Of Public Printing should furnish
the blanks. When the contract expired it was
found thatthe Government Printing Office had
so much work on hand that the printing could
not be done there, and the consent Of the De-
Partment being first obtained, the Superinten.
dent OF Printing continued the contract with
the nrm above named, who agreed to furnish
tne blanks at the old rates. Some months since,
Mr.. Carlisle, Of the Treasury secret service,
wrote to the Department that he believed he
bad struck on the trail of some parties engaged
in frauds upon the Post Office Department, and
be was requested to follow the matter up and
from time to time the Department was kept
posted by him-but few Of the officials could
believe that the frauds were as extensive as he
ment was informed tina: a number of parties
had been arrested in Buffalo on the charge of
being concerned In the frauds; also that an
on Ss as s,os Ssen BY the grand Jury
uict Of Michigan, at Detroit, against twenty
persons, in different sections Of the country,
charging them with conspiracy In this city to
detraud the Government
On Monday afternoon a Deputy Marshal of
Michigan arrived here with q certified CODY of
the Indictment, and proceeding to the residence
u he MI do natl hot
ties here were parties in the indictment, and
Judge Wylie issued warrant under the iu-
diciary act OF 1875, which was placed in the
hands ct Deputy Marshal Phillips, who with
Bailif w. L. Ross, arrested the following par.
ties w. y. Reddlne, recently superintendent
OF the Blank agency here; q. A. Tavenner,
lately OF the Sixth Auditors office, (by whom
accounts for blanks are settled,) and VIM H.
Towers, chief clerk Of the Government Print.
ing Office. The arrests were made very quiet.
ly, and but few persons Were aware that there
was any trouble until after the case had been
disposed Of
Yesterday, Mr.. s. L. Phillips appeared for
Messrs. Tayenner and Reddlng. and Mr.. j. N
Oliver for Mr. Oliver. Without going into the
merits OF the case Judge Wylie discharged the
parties. on the ground that an indictment in
Detroit. charging conspiracy here was alb.
here to be taken to another jurisdiction to be
tried for an offence committed in this city.
Mr.. Towers is a well.known resident OF the
Northern Liberties, and has filed his present
position at the Government Office since its es.
tablshment with such ability that he has been
retained by the successive Superintendent of
Public Printing. Mr.. Redding, until a few
months ago, was the Superintendent of the
blank agency here-a position now filled by
Mr.. Cady. He halls from Delaware, and has
hitherto been above suspicion. MIR. Tavenner
up 10 about year ago was prominent clerk
OF the Sixth Auditors Office, and for some
time published the Loudon (va.) Standard
Although the case has been dismissed here,
these gentlemen considering their reputation
at stake express their willingness to abide the
results OF an investigation here or elsewhere.
COMMISSIONER RoLLINs,-There has been
considerable stir to-day over the notice re.
ceived by telegraph last night by Commissioner
Rollins that warrant had been issued tor his
arrest for conspiring to defraud the revenue
As the parties with whom he is charged with
conspiring are men whose distilleries have
been closed by Rollins orders. or disgraced
officers who have been turned out on his recon.
meEdation, the charge looks upon its face like
one trumped up to serve a purpose.
The President and Secretary McCulloch
seem TO be really annoyed at the occurrence
and the President sent his Private Secretary
this afternoon to Mr.. Rollins to explain that
the affair was not Of his rhe President's) insti-
CATION, and that he regretted its occurrence 1t
appears that person went to the President
with statements about certain frauds on the
revenue. and was told by him to take the
information to Solicitor Buckley, as the
proper cficer to investigate the subject
Brinkley we Mt 10 New York for that purpose
and, it appears, brought himself into discredit
with those he wished to serve
PERsoNAL.-General Price. United States
Army, and Charles Z. Mallam, Mayor of
Fredericksburg, Va, are at the owen House
BREvHT MAJ. GEN. A. Il. EATON, Commits.
sary General OF Subsistence, has beer granted
leave CT absence for fifteen days, and General