New-York tribune., 1871-09-22
Murray, in New-York. and Mr.. E. D. Webster, in
Washington, were resorting To all sorts OF devices to

Murray, in Eew-York, and Mr.. E. d. Webster, in
Washington, were resortng TO all sorts OF devices to
save their particular friends and cr0nies One wit
ness man named Burr, who had the most exten-
sive felthat factory in this country, and who bad
first taken me all over bis establishment,
and shown me the whole mnutiS on the
manufacture being examined under oath, made
full and candid statement respecting the frauds on
tho Government which my stenogTaphic secretary
took down from his lips. He agreed to como the
next day and sign the affidavit but failed to return.
Other witnesses had mysteriOusfy disappeared, and
altogether the case was in condition that required
the undivided attention and management Of special
counsel. Represented all this to the Department,
but was denied counsel 30 went before this special
and unusual tribunal, and was cut into thin slices
by Mr.. Evarts The Commission, / was informed,
reported that Murphy and Griswold had substan-
TALLY complied with their contracts" but never
saw the document; nor did want to. Afterward
the Quarter master General sent me the papers in
relation TO some alleged blanket swindles of the
same firm, bat had neither time to fool away nor
heart to inv yestigate that concern any more, and 30
did nothing.
Ibaye been told since how Murphy raised large
anna for political expenses how he paid ono or moro
of nv employees to betray me; how the standard
sample hats of the Government were exchanged for
others of poorer quality; how some OF nv Com
mitteemen were approached In the vain attempt to
make them alter their report But when was once
satisfied that and with me the cause OF justice, had
becn sold out, felt no further interest, and de-
termined that, come what might, would wash my
hands of the thing forever. Thomas Murphy rich
then, became richer; he gained position ana lnnu-
ence in the Republican party; was quoted as onest
Tom Murphy - had his portrait engraved for the
daily papers, and his biography scattered oil over
the land (of course omitting the hat business ;
became State Senator, and, finally, Col
lector. can't tell you how many good fellows
some his competitors for Office and some not, have
been to me from time to time to get copies OF the
Murphy papers. how have been patted on the back,
and asked If would MT accept Office again, and Alto
sether made to feel what frstrate and every way
capital thing it would be If would only take
hand In this free fight of The Field against Murphy
Ibave wished thousand times that fire would acci-
dentaly destroy those internal papers, and all the
others of the chestfuls upon ehesfus OF duplicates
that accumulated in tho course OF the war; and are
burden to me. When Murphy's confirmation hung
in the Senate, special messengers were sent on to
me, and kilograms from the War Department and
elsewhere asking me to produce those papers, but 1T
was MT my funeral" and 80 not only telegraphed
my REFUSAL, DuU pluCcu Cdiu Ill A"o 1's" ~"'~
Times, giving notice that should not meddle with
Mr.. Murphys case, nor anybody's else. So Senator
Fenton was obliged to let the thing 90, and the Col
lector was confirmed. Perhaps he would have been
any how, and perhaps the papers carry no weight,
but it did MT matter to me. ] had nothing to ask
from either side, and chose to keep silent 1
choose to speak now because l can't tolerate
this bumbug any longer. If Murphy Is q
bleached saint let him prove 1t. will enable you
to give him the chance. I send you the famous
Murphy papers," and you can do what you like
with them. If you want any explanation why some
of the afdavits are not signed, will have to ask
somebody beside me. All know is that every word
contained in either one Of them was spoken under
oath by the attestant in my presence taken down by
q stenographer, written ont from the notes. and
was promised that the affidavit should be signed the
following day. The original stenographie notes Of
every word that passed between any witness and
myself and that was spoken at the investsation be-
fore the Special Commission, are In my possession.
and II anybody chooses to go, TO- the expense and
trouble the stenographers can be found That is all
for to-day Sir, aud remain your obedient servant,
HENRY s. OLCorr.