The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
TIE unIted stntes Associate Lustiess


WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Mr. Trumbull reported
his bill, prepared by the Supreme Court, pro-
yiding for another Associate Justice with nine
United States District Judges. This bill will, 1t
Is thought, if passed, not only relieve the
present Judges. but bring up business which is
at least two years behind.
The New York Election Frauds.
The Sergeant alarms brought before the
House to-day two witnesses from New York
ordered to be arrested for refusing to answer
before the select committee on the New York
election frauds. Both witnesses sgnifed their
readiness to answer before the committee. They
were discharged from arrest Tor contempt, but
ordered to be kept in custody by the Sergeant
at-Arms until they appeared before the COM
mitee.
New Mode of swindIing the Government.
SOME TIME ago letter was received at the office
of the Treasurer of the United States from the Re-
ceiver of the United States Land Office at Bayfield,,
Wisconsin, announcing that in accordance with in
struCtons he had mailed to Richard V. Clinton,
banker of Washington, ID. Co. the sum of IS ,0I5 IS,
the writer inclosing certificate of the Register,
testifyng to the same. As no letter had been sent
from the department conveying any such instruC-
tons the matter at once excited careful attention.
for the purpose offrustratng any frauds intended.
package containing checks amounting to over
SGO00 which had not been called for, and addressed
stated in the Registers letters TO the Treasurer
was found at the post-Olice in this city, and mea-
sures taken which secured the government from
any loss in that case.
x few days later another letter was received here
from the same official, inclosng the Regsters GER
uhcate OF money no or m@ed ade TO hGnard " Onton
both letters were duly received at the pOst-oficc
here, but although not Immediately delivered to
the Treasury authorities, means were taken to pre-
vent any loss to the government.
An agent of the Department was made acquaint-
ed with all the facts of the case and dispatched to
Bayfield,, where, after an interview with the Re-
cever he obtained the pretended instructions to
which the Receiver alluded in his letter to the De-
partment and which he had accepted as genuine.
These were inclosed in white envelope, addressed
to the Register and Receiver at Bayfield,, on the
rght-hand corner Of which was printed Comp
trOers office-otfcial business" and tranked with
signature purporting to be that If II. w. Taylor,
the First Comptroller.
The forged instructions were written in a strag-
Cling hand on a sheet of foolscap paper, and says;
with view of reducing the expense of deposit
ing the public moneys, it has been ordered by the
honorable Secretary Of this Department that the
Receivers of public moneys, remotely situated from
the repositories be instructed to forward the funds
by mail Therefore it is directed that the Register
and Receiver will from time to time count the
funds in the latters possession and when the same
shall amount to $1,000 and upward they shall i'm
mediately be placed in a strong paper, wrapped
and mailed to the address of Richard V. Clinton
banker, Washington. The Receiver will pay the
postage on each package, and in his account as
the same. The Register will be present when the
package is mailed and give the Receiver certificates
in duplicate as per form herewith inclosed, on sim
| liar paper and in the same handwriting. The
above change in the present system of placing the
moneys in the hands of the United States Trea-
surer has been adopted for the reason that the gov
ernment is now paying over three per &C cent, on the
| distant from the repositories"
To this is appended the forged signature of the
FIRST Comptroller, while there is lndorsed upon the
| back of the letters what purports to be in the
| handwriting of General Spinner, ard a bungng
| attempt at copying his autograph, statement to
the effect that he had examined the within, APP
| proved the same, and also suggesting that the
| Register and Receiver be allowed compensation for
| their trouble.
| The whole matter bears evidence of having been
prepared by one familiar with the business of
| the Department though not sufficiently SO to ena-
BILE him to enter more fully into requisite details.
The checks which were recovered from the Post
| office Department, although indorsed payable to
| he Richard Clinton,
drawers at New York, the assurance of the Trea-
| surer that he would hold them harmless in the
transaction When the amounts, including United
| States notes and checks were recovered from the
Post-ofice here, they placed by the Treasurer
to the credit of the Receiver who had been imposed
| upon.
| About the time the above letters received in
| Washington party named Henry V. Clinton was
| arrested at Panama, on a charge Of passing forged
| bills of exchange The package of checks was in
the pOst-oice here some days, and IL was owing TO
the absence of Clinton from the city that they were
| recovered by the government.