New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-16
THE DRAWBACK FRAUDS.
EXAMINATION OF FRANCIS A. HOWARD

EXAMINATION OF FRANCIS A. HOWARD
The case of Francis A. Howard, who Is
charged with completely in the drawback frauds came
on for examination before Commissioner Osborn, yester'
day afternoon DisrctAttorney PerTepont ana ASsst-
ant DisricAttorney Purdy appeared for the Govern
mept and Leander Buck for the defendant MT Perre-
pont desired to put in the papers introduced IN the NULL
gan case without having prove their authenc
ty Mr. Buck objected but finally consented reservng the
right TO raise new objections If he IT. the papers
were severaly introduced. William j. korn testlneu
Of sGGT9 MI Pespon said The defendant
had during the greater part Of 1866 and up TO January l.
1867 engaged in passing these claims at
and had then come this city and engaged with b.
Caldwell Co.. in perpetrating these frauds MT Pierre'
dence They were dated as follows; March 3; 1857
April TO- 1857 wol April H. 1877 May 1877 ana neI
with r. b. Caldwell Coz went with them In the Fall OF
1865 and left them in the Spring OF 1861 first saw Howard
part Of 1885, he in and conversed with r. b. Cald
welf saw him several times afterward during 1865;
understood that he the Chief Clerk in the Internal
Revenue Department at Washington; no came on 1nom
Washington several times ne came on no particular
and others; saw him direct Caldwell how to draw up
drawback claims he often went INTO the private ONCE 70
drawback shown witness the initials on the margin are
In his handwriting tWo checks dated Ma ani6
Howard for passing claim lain IN made mac S,n
Ing business in Walst, in Howes Macey's office, next
TO the SubTreasury these checks were In payment OF
per cent for passing drawback claims In Washington
three checks dated April TO- 1861 dated May /, 1867
and another dated April H. 1851 were shown witness)
these checks were given to Howard for passing draw
back claims sent 10 him by the firm Of 4. Wildwood
Co.; all these checks signed by me Wildwood was
partner OF mine at that time were engaged In the
drawback claim business Howard given ton per
cent for passing these claims In Washington (check
dated March 1867 shown wness) that Is part OF ten
per cent paid on the Fisher claim first gave
Howard a check for $500, and he said that was
right, that his percentage amounted TO more ad
him these claims were all fraudulent; Howard once
asked me who the was who claimed TO be the ex-
myth; he asked me II it was o down town, and
replied no." and he shook his head knowingly have
favor Of Howard and sent to Washington; they were
sent to private Posto ONCE box the checks were for
ssa aRS sssS
myself pSR; WIN balances were made al the bank,
S CsSS o. all the drawback claims sent
3. q .Ss RsSSa iaSy SGsSSS e on
amounting TO some st0 or t25OO0 Mr. PIerrepont said
3s S rsGSTd q ,sssS pa
Canada witness resumed In are the anounts
gwen shares Of proceeds to Blachford Howard ana
Ohers the person presenting the certificate OF the COL
ecor Of Internal Revenue that the had been paid
the goods alleged TO be exported gwen onehalf the
profits OF the claim the profits we're what remained after
Blachford and Howard had each received ten per cent
these prohts-eighty per centwere evenly divided De-
ing the certificate OF the Collector OF Internal Revenue
certificates OF Collectors OF Internal Revenue were pre-
Caldwell Coz and myself; Biatchiord nIed matters in
the House. and Howard attended 10 passing the
claims Washington have frequently seen checks made
ont and sent TO Howard and also Blatchford paid
his share in Caldwell Co.'s office; tho man who pro
duced the tax certificate received 40 per cent OF the claim
Caldwell Co 40 per cent, and Blatchford and Howard
each 10 per cent. The witness was crossehamlned AT
The force of his evidence against Howard shaken
in the least and finally Mr. Buck requested an adjourn
w9G1 was Of e the
same day. al 2 p IN.