New-York tribune., 1871-09-23
MIR MURPHY'S DEFENSE.

..rsr PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEY AND DECLARE
ADo 1orI CANNOT GO BEHIND TECHNICAL DE-
-oIsIoN, NO MATTER WHAT THE swORg
FACTS.
=. tAs Edttor OF TAs Trtbxms.
SIR: / herewith inclose my reply to the ar
,le contained in THE TRIBUNE Of this morning reflect
,ne upon my character and ask that It may appear in
YOU, columns tomorrow morning Yours,
THOMAS MURPHY.
Custom, ,Hoass. Nee York. Collectors Oroe, Sept a.
1S1l.
NEwYoRK, Sept. a 1871.
HENRY 8. oLcorT: have word to say to you. in TO
ply to your communication In THE TRIBUNE Of this
ing.
In the year 1855 you were clothed with authority to in
vestgate frauds against the Government. Judging
your fitness for the position you held by the communities
ton above alluded TO- you could have better served the
State in another place. which will readily suggest itself
You attempted to implcste In . fraud against the
Government and to effect your purpose you sought and
obtained ex psrte and oneided a1davits, which you
had the inclination and opportunity to color to suit your
SELF Some Of these the persons who Intercepted
by you refused to sgn because the facts which they
stated distorted that they served the purpose OF
o falsehood
Armed with these you proceeded to Washington and
preferred charges against On learning OF this I'm
mediately demanded investigation, and deneo you 10
sustain your charges The Secretary Of War; from whom
you received your authority, and who, judging from
your letter. quite enamored with you, and who 1t Is
presumed would give you fair opportunity to sustain
your accusations, appointed commission to try me on
your indictment That commission was composed OF
Major-Gen. John A. Dix (whose judgment the oommu-
nifty will regard quite a. valuable as yours)
Henry IA.M Hurlbut, well known rs o member
Of the firm Of Swift, Hurlbut q Co., the
leading firm the hat business and Robert NJ strebeigh
once the publisher Of THE TRIBUNE. They held open
fha buildinQ this CITY,
and patiently listened to all the evidence you could pro-
duce tending sustain your accusations against me- In
that investigation you not without counsel, for
you were assisted by John sedgw3ck Of this CITY, than
whom there is not sber criminal lawyer. AT
close Of such trial. after had proved and said all
that interest and maligny could suggest. the oom-
mission and without hesitation acquitted me OF
all wrong Having refused to listen to propo
sttons to purchase your already refued afidavits,
which were offered to me- verify believe by your pro
curation you have played your last card by ex-
huming them from their hiding place. and placing them
the hands OF my enemies at critical period In the
history Of the Republican party Of this State, to
the end that they might NJ possible. destroy me and
injure Gen. Grants Administration, of which they are
avowed enemies 1t is to be presumed you received
the price which 1 refused to pay. You have emerged
from obscurity only to become Infamous just ana
discriminating public will not pass BY solemn trial and
triumphant acQua and second your attempt TO vitaze
atfdaV1t6 taken IN tno QRrk, VI eho
accused. and which proved false by the oral evil
depce which you failed 70 Let suggest to
an employment congenia to your tastes Seek out any
one who has been falsely indicted but after
ward vndicated by public trial, and,
II possible possess yourself Of the evidence on which
the false accusation was founded, and you will have
victim whom perhaps you frighten into
buying his peace, If you find weak guilty man. IT,
however you find strong in the consciousness Of
innocence you will have except to ally
yourself with newspaper whose editors goat over
the destruction Of private character and your victim
happens be political enemy, they will second all your
efforts b. destroy him In 30 doing yOa may crafty q
vindctfve editor but yen will also learn what measure
of pubic Indignation viii be meted ont to one who en-
cages in such dirty husiness. .-" THOMAS MURPHY
To he RspVblicans Of Cte State Of Neto- York: The
foregoing contains all have to say Henry g. Oloott
in reply his letter in THE TRIBUNE this morning But
ask your attention foz moment This OlcOtt has pre-
tended to be member Of the Republican party, and to
have Its Interests at heart He processes to regard
unit person to hold the important public office
which 4n AS evidence that he is either knave
in net lending his aid In opposing my oonfrma-
tion or q villain in accusing me or crime OF
which he believes me to be innocent, refer TO
the fact that during the warm contests over my Don
frmaton in the United States Senate this man held these
papers aoainst all solicitations Of those ho seeking
mr rejection. Then was the time, II eper when they
could have been properly used. Knowing however, that
they would then and there have been Immediately and
successfully answered, they were withheld. Now that
they can serve the purposes Of my enemies he places
them at disposal to enable them to impair my use
fulness member OF the Republican party, and pos
sible destroy my character.
cannot retry the here but submit to your
did consideration the following verdict Of the eminent
men who composed tribunal that passed upon Henry
s. Ocotts charges aud rely upon 1t for the present for
| my yindication THOMAS MURPHY.
|
| The Hon. E. NJ. STANTON. Secretary of Var.
SIR: Pursuant TO special orders Of the War Depart
onent date the undersigned have the honor to report
that they have investigated the after OF the two CON
Department the first dated the sst Of December 1883
ooeo army hats and the second dated the 18th Of
At tie commencement Of the examination Of witnesses
Of Se s Sa 5 e Sa
by whom they we're made. He also produced the in
spector Mr Wheeler, witness In behalf Of the Gov
nsSSy p16Seg o hi. SoSSsSt al
tracts had been executed the hats delivered inspected
for the only question before the was the
specifically submitted by the special orders Of the
the psr of the contractors On this point they took
al the testimony presented by Col oeott on the part OF
regard to the conformity Of the deliveries to the samples
There is good deal Of conflict b the testimony; but
the conclusions at which the undersigned have arrived
nO UT
failure the part Of the contractors has been shown
and that the contracts have been substantially complied
with.
may not be irrelepani 10 state that The rejection Of de-
etiUe hats by the Government Inspector not to
the contractors but 10 ne manufacturer, BY tohon they
furnished conformity 70 he samples Of he Quar-
terndster's Department
The testimony from which the conclusions Of the
dersigned drawn ia herewith submitted, together
with the arguments OF Col Oloott and Mr Evarts We
are, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
Signed JOHN A. DIX, MsOr-General.
ROBERT M. STRRBRIGH.
HENRY A. HURLBgT.
A true copy:
Signed: ALEX. ]. PERRY, Col, Q. NJ D.
frle copy of a copy.