New-York tribune., 1871-09-22
NURPHY'S CONTRACTS.
THE TRUTH ABOUT Ills slIODDY HAT OP-
ERATIONS.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS sllODDY HAT OP-
ERATIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT LOSS S55.291 68-CONCLusIvE
PROOF OF FRAUD IN TIE MANUFACTURE
AND INSPECTION.
In the fight now going on between the rob-
bers of the Tammany Ring and those citizens
who still believe in the possibility OF gov
erlmcnt based on honesty and economy, IL is
reearded as matter of course that the
Republican organization shall throw lts entire
weight against the thieves. But to 10 THIS
with any dignity and efficiency it ia necessary
that we should 20 into the contest with clean
hands. 1t would be painful absurdlty LOT
ms to enter upon a campaign lntenaeu !"
redeem the State and the City from the ois-
honest hands which now control them, whiie
the chief Federal Office in the State ID held py
a man of known and proved dishonesty.
While there is revival of the public con-
science which is powerful enough to break the
bands of party fealty among the hitherto indl-
visible Democracy, causing the honest men IN
that organization to cry out for the immediate
emulsion of the thieves, it would afford
melancholy and most incongruons spectacle
for the Republican party to throw the snleId
of its own high character over snch man as
Thomas Murphy. In the subjOined official
documents and sworn afiidavits the charges
we have made against his personal integrity
are clearly and conclusively proved. lie Is
shown to be man without mercantile honor
without the slightest spark of patriotism IN
those days when every man OF heart was
devoted to the service Of his country; solely
intent, by swindlipg contracts ana Dy INC
corruption of Government officers, On wrlnglng
out of the terrible necessities of the suffering
nation the djsgraceful fortune which he enjoys
TODAY. Let the citizens of New-York who
care for their country, and who hate mean
ness and fraud, read this dishonoring record!
CARD FROM THE OFFICER OF THE WAR DEPART
MENr WHO PROSECUTED HIM FOR FRAUD.
TO Ihe Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR do not know that should ever have opened
my mouth again to take sides pro or CON in the case
of Thomas Murphy's alleged frauds upon the United
States but for the fact that in his reonder to your
editorial of the 10th inst he asserts, fret: That the
investigation into his affairs consequence OF
the influence Of his enemies, and, second That the
case was fairly tried and his innocence proven This
is little too much for good nature, and ask space
for brief statement Of facts
Throughout the war / was, as you know, con-
stanly employed special counsel by the War De-
partment. My duties were somewhat more than
those simply of legal adviser attorney. for not
only collected testimony respecting the delnquences
of military and civil persons connected with the
equipment Of the military forces, but in addi-
ton, superintended inspections Of the depots
arsenals, and purchasing and disbursing agencies
subo rdinate to the Secretary Of War. was by
turns in fact an Inspector-General and Judge
Advocate, and as had continually to exercise
military power was given military rank and
a designatory title. bir. Stanton, desrous
at any time to learn tho condition Of affairs
in any Military Department. would issue to me
q general order to make thorough inspection Of
the Quartermaster's and COmmissary's Depart
ments Of say the Department of the East the Ohio,
or whatever it might be, at the same time command
ing all persons in the military service to afford me
any required assistance in carrying out this general
order got such order III the case Of the Depart
ment of the East Headquarters of which was In this
city. No names Of persons under suspicion were
mentioned, no contracts designated, no officers
pointed out. The real cause for the making Of the
order was tho connection which my inspection Of
the Schuylkill Arsenal indicated to exist between
the parties guilty of the terrible tent and haversack
swindles at that depot and their allies in this cty
and it was to this branch of the contract business
alone that my attention was first given
I soon found, however, that frauds OF
gross nature had been perpetrated in the
supply of hats and caps the Quartermasters
in the army complaining bitterly to the Department
that our brave fellows were going almost bare
headed in consequence OF these New-York SWIM
dlers. gave my attention then to tho hat branch,
and cursory inspection revealed the fact that the
lofts Of the Quartermaster's depot fairly groaned
under the weight of such lot of hats and caps as
certainly never saw on sale before. l then went to
the Mercantile Agency and got tho names OF the
most prominent, honorable, and wealthy merchants
in the hat trade, and after another, subpenaed
eleven of them-in four committees, all told-and
asked them, as q favor to the Government, to make
thorough inspection Of the deliveries at the Quar-
termaster's Office, in comparison with the Govern
ment sealed standard samples, which the several
contracts were based and which were in the custody
of the Quartermaster. These several committees
acted reluctantly OF my earnest solicitation as the
immediate representative Of Secretary Stanton and
without any knowledge OF what CONCLUSIONS
the others had reached. They all reported
that the Government had lost heavily on
the contracts, especially those Of Murphy & Girls
wold q firm in which tho present Collector OF the
Port was senior partner gathered, little by little
evidence which seemed conclusive enough 10 war
rant INV making up o brief and recommending the
prosecution of this firm for fraud. lhe papers were
sent to Washington. but to my surprise, no response
came. waited and waited, and finally wrote again,
calling attention to the importance OF the case, and
asking its speedy settlement. 1 selected fair aver
age samples Of the hats and caps and sent them to
tho Quartermaster-G General and the Secretary OF
War The former officer finally. on the 2sth of Feb.
rparv 1sG5 wrote Gen. VintOn q letter. and after my
going to Washington, and writing and waiting. the
order TO disLose Of the casenot the eustl mary
rd. IN try Il before either military civil tlibu-
N-NN- ~ II. I aiaht LIZ.