The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-22
The CUBAN BOND SCANDAL.
Some Interesting Revelations from
Colonel Pickett.
His Connection with Tsylor-An Offer to Obtain
the Recognition Of Cuban Belligerency-B
Butler to Do the Job for $500, 900
Tsylor's Character ventilated-Let-
ter Of Pickett to the Commit
toe ON the Judiciary.

A explained In my dispatches the day after the
Cuban bond lobby canard got into print that the whole
thing was fraud and invention OF the enemy, am
only repeating the same thing now when state that
each day proves more and more clearly the sound
ness OF my views at that time. Taylor, the great
chief lobbyist, turns out to be worse than mytna
nrst class Munchausen n not fellow under Spanish
Day. The following letter from General Pickett,
whom Taylor declared he employed as his attorney
In the business, viii be found complete clinchsr-
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1870
Once upon q time photographer or natural
historian, no matter which, defined the crab to be "a
small fsh, Of red color. which runs backward"
whereupon malicious wretch said that the dennl'
ton was an excellent except In three small par
ticulars. namey:-First, the crap isn't nsh; Sec
0nd It 10 not OF red color and third II does not run
Now, it is very unamiable thing to spoil a good
story whether ash story OF crap st1ry; Snt me
poie0n Bonaparte Taylors wonderful developments
with regard to Cuban affairs have scarcely more
foundation In fact than the philosophers descrlp
tlon Of the aforesaid crustacean. There are some
grains OF truth In 1t, mingled with vast amount OF
hcti0n, besides matters which now hear OF for the
first time aud with regard TO which cannot express
an opinion. say, therefore, first that never made
contract with Mr. RUIZ on behalf OF Mr.. Taylor,
nor on behalf OF any one else; second, that never
authorized or instructed Mr.. Taylor TO oner Cuban
bonds or money TO any member OF Congress, nor TO
any other official, and third that all he says about
the $50, 600 cash Is a fabrication pure and simple.
Thus dispose OF his crab story.
NY acquaintance WIN Mr.. Taylor IL not partlcu-
larry interesting germane TO this subject, but II
came about In regular business way. He had
claim In the Treasury upon which speedy decision
was expected. friend OF twenty years standing
introduced him TO me and was employed by him to
SETTLE business with his attorneys OF record and
to negotiate a loan for him; did both. He paid my
fees ana there those relations ended. never knew
anything as to the merits OF his claim; had nothing
to do with it.
When returned from the mountains in the au
tumn he beseiged and surrounded me about Cuban
affairs. told him finally, to get rid OF hlm las the
ned him) that II he could bring about the accom-
Dshment OF that which he said he could do for the
cause OF Cuba ne should be munihcently rewarded Il
telling me how and through whom he was to bring
about the recognition OF belligerant rights and
though OF rather gushing disposition he never did,
that can now recall, mention the names Of more
than two officals in connection with the subject.
one member or COngress-a distinguished gentle
man nom Massachusetts, the initials OF whose
name are Benjamin Franklin Butler. He said this
through Congress for $3O0,00O cash, and that If we
didn't employ him the other side would. replied
that my opinion OF General Buffers lofty and I'M
spotted character and unimpeaceable integrity was
such that was sure he (Tayl0r) was mistaken, and
80 declined to negotiate. Besides, the Cubans had
ought not to omit saying that, hearing Of Sena.
tor MOrtOn's noble efforts IN behalf Of Cuba asked
paids TO which I must give Taylor the credit Of
saying he gave most emphatic negative, and re-
cord the fact as an act Of Justice TO that Senator
there is no accord politically.
Now am not man TO rush into print without
provOcatiOn. Having had poverty, Obscurity, insig
nlhcance, results OF the ''Iate onpeasantness i'm.
posed upon me, have accepted my destiny and
sought to lead retired liie That still struggle for
who may know that l was her earliest
friend in this country. l gave my ser.
on o mission for him to the ever faithful island !;
assisted in organizing three expeditions from this
country in 40. $50 and 81; accompanied that Of 81
where we defeated the Spaniards under General
Lemery, May 10. Il am not proposing to write my
own biography, but mention the foregoing so as to
be able to add that In all this time have never re-
ceived cent Of Cuban money; nor am now pre-.
pared to accept OF Spanish god. The appended
afdavir Of Colonel Ferry disposes Of the late Mr. N
b. Taylor as credible witness. call attention to
my odd % b a. INV
clients from any Obligations as counsellor, am
ready to testify
With regard to members OF Congress my acquaint-
ance with them can be counted on my fingers, in
GLIDING those whom knew In ancient days. am
ashamed TO- say that am unacquainted win nall OF
am stigmatized as lobbyist. AS to the newspaper
gentlemen, DO not know halfdozen Of them even
by sight. never spoke to any OF them that can re-
collect about Cuban bonds never was in the ''r0w''
on Fourteenth street but twice In my life, and then
on SV syor Ane as 70 Sne b hem b
sight even until learning who they were when walt
ing on the committee.
Now, what are we to think of those who suborn
the testimony OF such men as Taylor and the eX-
PEELED peddler OF cadetships in order to aid them
Of CUBAN 0u' 'De 'eS " JOHN p III EfT
FERRY's AFFIDAVIT
city and County or Washington, District Of Column
OtG s.-BefOre me- n Callan notary public for the
city aud county Of Washington. d. Co. duly authorized
to administer oaths personally came and appeared
SELF to be- who being duly sW orn ACCORDING to law,
did depose and say that he was captain and assist
ant quartermaster United STATES volunteers, In
charge OF railroad and steamboat transportation at
Louisville, KY, during part OF the year 1862 the
whole Of the year 1863 and part OF the year 1864;
that he knows one N. B. Taylor who has lately been
figuring in Cuban AFFAIRS; that IN the year 1868 the
said Taylor entered into conspiracy with Captain
Samuel Black, assistant quarermaster United States
Volunteers and one Benson, to delraud the govern
ment Of the United States in forage contract, Tay
lor and Benson being the contractors. Black and
Black was cashiered and imprisoned by sen tence OF
court martial. Benson was also Imprisoned. Tay-
lOr fed to Canada thus eluding arrest by the United
STATES officers and civil authorities, an Indictment
having been found against him in the United States
District Court Tor the State OF Kentucky. Taylor
was considered the chief cOnspirator and concoctOr
Of the entire scheme Of fraud. He remained
In Canada during the remainder OF the war. Tay.
IOr,s character where he is well known Is that OF
man in whom no confidence whatever can be placed
would not believe his statements under oath
JOHN Ii. FERRY,
formerly captain and A. Q. M. Vols u. s. A.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2otn day
June, A. ID. 1870 n. CALLAN,
Notary Public.
MR. PICKETT TO HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM.
WASHINGTON, ,422 F street, April ~, 1870.
Hon. JOHN A. BINGHAM, Chairman judiciary Com
mittee House of Representatives.
SIR-An entire month has elapsed since was hrs
summoned before the committee or the House o
Representatives appointed on the judiciary, OF which
the Hon. Benjamin F. Butler is acting chairman, 7.
testify touching matters committed To said commit
tee and not to depart without leave Of said commit
tee. The summons was obeyed and have been be
fore the committee not less than six times, namely
March % and 80, April !, 4, 10 and 10, with the un
varying result OF declensiOn on my part to testify
as to matters entrusted to me In the exercise Of In
legitimate functions as attorney and counsellor a
law, which has been my profession for twenty-sll
years,
have not been authortatively informed OF the
precise object OF the Equiry engaging the attention
OF the committee; but II correct in the conjecture
that it has reference to an alleged attempt to inhu
ence by the use Of Cuban bonds the votes OF mem
bers Of Congress- with regard to the desired recog
milton Of the begerent rights OF the patriots OF III
island beg leave here to repeat what assured tn
committee Of--namely, that know absolutely moth
ing OF any such scheme, and that never heard eye
the name OF more than one member OF COnzrea
mentioned in connection with any such alleged cor
rupt transactlons had /, up to the time OF To
raising Of the committee ever spoken to him or ha'
him spoken to ON that or upon any other subjec
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