Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
THE TENNESSEE BOUNTY FRAUDS.
Further Particulars - How Old
Flint Boosted Of his Ability TO Get
the Claim ThrOugh-POwelI I'm jail
More Startling Developments Ex-
pected.

The Secretary of War is after dishonest Office
holders with sharp stick, and some more start
ing developments it is said will soon be made.
The Csc against eS-Repre sentative Stokes and
Victor G. Powell was worked up by the War
Department, and all the facts as to the Tennes-
sSe bounty frauds were known to the Secretary
before the papers were turned over TO the De-
paItment o. Justice. Secretary Belknap in
formed the President o. the matter sever al
weeks ago, and President Grant was then going
TO remove Stokes from the Office OF Supervisor
OF internal Revenue, but upon the request OF
Secretary Belknap the removal was delayed
until after the arrest. Stokes was an applicant
Tor the position OF United States Marshal in
tennessee few weeks ago, ana at that
time came to this city and had interviews with
tie President and Attorney General urging
his appointment Both the President and At
torney General then knew of his dishonesty, but
said nothing. The War Department oficals
have obtained letters written by both Stokes and
Powell which go lar to establish the guilt of the
pair. Stokes, in Que of these letters, speaks OF
himself as 'Old Flint" and boasts Of his ability
10 get the claim Though.
VICTOR c. POWELL,
the clerk Of the Second Auditors Office whose
arrest on the charge OF being concerned in these
FRAUDS has been noticed in The STAR, is con-
hned in the center room of the transfer depart-
ment at the jail, with Capt. Davenport who was
formerly a clelk in the same buseau, and who is
ssWaltlng trlai on the charge Of an ASSAULT and
Is comfortably fixed, his many friends outside
seeing that he is well fed. He his in good spirits
To-day number of his fellOw-clerks were adj
United 10 see him, and he greeted them quite
eheerfLlly but very carefully avoided saving
anything in relation II the charges against iiim,
except IN general terms that he will be able 70
estabilsh his innocence when any examination is
had.
THE FIRST ARREST.
1t appears now that some of the government
ofieia's have known of the frauds for some time,
and hat the arrCst of Powell was not the FIST
made. On Tuesday an officer of the Dep9-,-
ment OF Ju 1 ce called on Judge Fisher, and
alter a conference. a warrant was issued for The
arrest OF Cbas. II. Moulto On, who was formerly a
clerk OF division of the bureau, and at one
tlme the d'sbprsing clerk, but who resigned on
the LIST inst He was arrested by the marshal,
ard an examination was had, which resulted in
Mr. Moulton giving bail for his appearance as a
witness. Mr.. Powell was then sent for. Mr.. p.
inpOcently walked to the Office of Judge Fisher,
when he was placed under arrest, and by Com
missioner johnson committed to Jail, in defauls
OF $4,000 bail. He has retained Hon. A. G.
riddle as his counsel, and it is probable that he
Will ask an early day for preliminary hearing,
as Mr.. Stokes waived an examination, and he
his counsel, and friends are anxious TO see the
"hand OF the government, so they may prepare
10 meet the charge.
Many of Powefls friends regard him as en-
tnely innocent and are cOnfcent that he will
prove that he has had no part in the fraud as he
mas never been engaged in cettling the claims OF
lei ne. ee soldiers. While the fellow clerks of
Powell generally believe his innocence some of
them hint that other frauds have been commit
ted in that Office IEand that numbers of claims
nave been passed which have the eaTmarks OF
fraud, but finding that the names of the parties
were on the roll they could not go behind it,
Hon. T.. Il. French, the Second Auditor, had a
long interview with Judge Fisher to-day in
reference to the case, and il is likely thar a.
soon as another party charged with being party
70 the fraud is arrested that The government will
be ready to give the accused a hearing.