The New York herald., 1871-01-11

~, 1861 by President Lincon's secretary, w.
o. Stoddard, who was authorized to sign land
patents Tor the President, and also that II was
sealed. This record has escaped observation for
several years, and not until last summer was II
examined or known to McGarrahen's counsel. As
soon as discovered McGarrahan demanded an au-
thcntcated copy OF this record or the patent from
Mr.. Cox, then Secretary OF the Interiors but the
Secretary refused TO make such copy
until the record had been de.aced ny
writing across the attesting claim a state
ment going to show that It possessed
value as a record Of q patent. This was done by
the written order OF secretary Cox and signed by
Joseph s. Wilson, the Commissioner OF the Land
Onlce, and Judge Granger, Recorder. Judge Gran
ger was examined to-day respecting this delace-
ment or cancellation lie testified that he was re-
corder for signing land patents for seventeen
years; that ho could not say whether he
sgned the patent In question or not
for the reason that It was customary
for the Commissioner OF the Land once 10 send
letter with tpe patent requesting II shoud be signed
and that all such letters from January iss3 to june
1853, had been abstracted from his 0iiice. He was
therefore unable to say positively whether or not he
signed the patent Ia question: Recently tho lock OF
the case where the witness kept these letters
got out OF Order and upon examining the
drawer OF his desk he found strange
Key, which did not belong to HIM, and which
mad been used TO open the case. He exhibited
the key to the committee lie also testified that he
was compelled by written order OF the late Secre
tary OF Interior J. D. Cox, and positive verbal order
OF Joseph s. Wilson, Commissioner OF the Land
ONCE, on 25th OF july 1870, to sign his name to
certificate written the atesting clause OF tho
executed patent recorded In volume four
OF California land records, having for Its
object the destruction or said patent that
he did not then aud does not now believe
said order to be lawful, and that he did 1t against
his Judgment From this testimony, and more OF
the same kind, the impression left upon the commit
tee Is that somebody has tampered with the official
records in the Land ONCE for the purpose Of de-
str0ying McGarrahan's patent signed by Order Of
President Lincoln Mr. w. o. Stoddard, who was
President Lincoln's private secretary to sign land
PATENTS was also examined ana cross-exammed
at great length, and testified that he remembered
having signed President Lincons name to the
patent as his Secretary. He also identified parch-
ment writing found In the Office OF tbs Land CON-
missioner, purpOrting TO be the engr0ssed copy Of
patent but which is not signed, as similar TO the
one he signed, differing from 1t only in this respect
the attesting clause and signatures are wanting
this parchment as produced. This parchment
bears every evidence OF having been mutt
lated by tearing or the last sheet,
which should contain the attesting clause If
the patent was executed, aud substituting another
which leaves that clause in blank and without seal
or signature. This mutilation ~ manifest by mere
inspection, which shows the sheets TO nave been
bound and rebound with new last sheet. On this
point Mr. SOddard testified that the ribbon and
various other marks on the patent now before the
committee show that 1t has been altered. He
SAID that President Lincon's name and hts
own name in the patent recorded IN volume
four Of California land patents Is similar
in all respects to the executed parchment patent
which he signed, but 1t cannot row be found ut the
Land Onlce The clerk or The Land ONCE, VINO
had charge OF the record, volume four also testified
that ceriam penci! MARKS drawn across the attest
ing clause as II aDpears on tine record, ana across
tie signature OF the President, and also the words
written on the record In pencil mot slgncd,'
were placed there by Mr. Lawerie, for
merly clerk In the Land Once and now
an attorney or agent OF the New Ilra
Company, which is opposing McGaIrahan's claim.
This shows that 1t was compared with the original
engrossed parchment patent after II was signed by
the President and after IL had been sealed with the
sal OF the Land ONCE, because It is marked in red
Ink at the beginning Of the record .'Exd.n This
marx, Judge Granger testified, shows that the
original and record were compared and fonnd TO
agree. The whole AFFAIR creates much interest, and
been guilty of mutilatlng the records VIII be pun.
ished.
The BrOcks-Hustsoas DiGi nifty.
James Brooks of New YORK, occupied the attan-
tion OF the House for nearly an hour to-day, on a
personal explanation about some charges made
against him IN a New YORK afternoon papcr by Hugh
Hastings. Brooks, after reading the article asked
for special committee to investigate HIM. In the
meantime lie got even with Hastings by
having sent to the Clerks desk and read
an affidavit wherein Hastings confesses TO |
being common llbeiler. The House was at FIRST |
not disposed to appoint a committee but Brooks !
insisted, and finally committee was ordered.
some OF the New York members, especially Bennett,
from the Buffalo district rather severe upon
Hastings, and gave him anything but good
character.
Internal Revenue ONicers Entitled tO Rewards
as tnsormcrs.
Since the organization OF the Internal Revenue
Bureau the law eiiiceis OF the government have
never been able TO decide who were Justly entitled
to infOrmers shares In where the revenue was
benefited by the Information given. Opinion after
opinion has been given by the Attorney Generals,
yet there were always certain points left untouched
which made it impossible for the Treasury Depart
meDt to equitably apporon The amounts due as |
moleties. Tne Solicitor General, in the absence OF
the Attorney General, was recently requested |
to give his opinion upon the questions whether |
detectives, employed in the internal revenue |
service, and assessors who gained their information
or frauds in the due course OF examining the books
OF delinquent parties, were entitled to share in !,
the moleies prescribed BY the revenue laws. Solic-
tor General Brstow is OF the opinion that all officials
arc entitled, first informers to one.half OF the
amount awarded for the detection OF frauds. Ac
cordingly the Treasury Department has commenced
paying this class OF claims, some OF which are Of
long Standing ana 1t Is expected that all
Of them will be settled within Two months
party named Prime Is here, and claims o
moiety Of about 5000 on penalty imposed on Ad-
ler Rosenburg Co. for frauds practlsed as recti-
lers. Under the opinion OF Solicitor General Brs-
tow the Treasury Department has notified Secretary
Eouinnry Cnllectax