Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-24
UNION AND AMERICAN
PROSSER.S PREDICAMENT.
Another Carpet. Dagger in Trouble.
The Papers I'm which Col. PrOsser is
Charged with Prosecuting Claims
While n Member of Congress-
From the Washington Patriot, Nov: q.

While a Member of Congress-
From the Washington Patriot Nov. q.
William T. Prosser is a Pennsylvania,
native, we believe, of WilliamspOrt, in tina
State, The fortunes of the war threw hin
into the State of Tennessee along witt
other caTpet-baggers, and he came up from
that State as Radical member of Congress
AT the last election he was defeated, and
Democrat was sent TO occupy his place. HI
was rewarded for the want of confdenc,
expressed by his constituents, with the APP
poinment Of Postmaster at Nashville
Like all carpet-baggers, he was, of course
bound to make as much money as possible
out of his Congressional position, and I
4 few days ago the following paragraph wa
published in the Patriot:
Papers charging Prosser, postmaster a
Nashville, with presenting claims agains
the government while members Congress
and sharing the proceeds, have been laiC
before the President. The latter after eX
aiming them, sent them to the Postmaster
General, with directions that immediate
action be taken upon them.
The papers referred to are given below
First, we have letter from Hon, Jas. II
Embry, which fully explains itself:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. IL, ISL
Hon. Allen Rutherford, Third Auditor Of
the Treasury: Sir: A claim was settled
in February last in favor of Chas E. Wood
ruff, of Davidson county, Tenn, for $50.
| am the administrator of Il. j. Atkinson
deceased, and l understand he was attor
ney in said case, and was recognized as sucl
until his death, which occurred on the 25tt
day of February last.
l am also informed that, prior to thai
time, the claim had been reported to you
for settlement, by the Quartermaster Gen
eral, and that The settlement had been made
IN your Office, and that the draft was issued
on the stu of March.
l have called upon Mr.. Woodruff for the
fee due the estate of Mr.. Atkinson Cor his
services in said case. He informs me thai
he has no recollection of Mr.. AIS appoint.
ment, and that w. F. ProsSer, late member
of Congress, attended to the case for him
and had it settled.
VIII you please inform me who was the
recognized attorney in the case; by whom
the evidence was filed, and whether the
claim was reported for settlement by the
Quartermaster General, and settled by YOU
office prior to the death of Mr.. a?
Did W. F. Prosser claim to act as attor.
ney iR said case? and if so, did he have a
power of attorney, and what was the date
thereof?
win be obliged for any other informa
ton touching said case.
Very respectfully,
JAMES Ii. EMBRY,
Administrator Of r. ]. Atkinson, de,
ceased.
The following endorsement appears upon
the back of this letter:
(Copy.l
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, THIRD AUD.
IToR's OFFICE, Sept. IL, 187l.-Respect.
fully returned to Mr.. Embry, with reply as
follows:
The original application made by claim.
ant, setting forth his claim, was sworn to by
him on I'd May, 1867, and contained q
clause appointing RObt. j. atkinson his true
and lawful attorney. Mr.. a. was recognized
at the time Of his decease as said attorney
by this office.
The final settlement was made in this
office on 18th February, 1871, a few day:
before his death, and the draft was therein
directed to be sent to his care as attorney
But on information reaching this office o
his deceaSe, the settlement was changed
in this respect by directing the draft K
be sent in care of Hon. W. i. Prosser. Or
-ONAA raAlAAa4 1Ct l. lLN lldl O1l lhaobEl
General referred the claim to this Office, re
commencing an allowance of $3.50, and OF
9Th February, 1871, he referred to thi
office q power of attorney, executed by tbs
claimant to w. F. Prosser on 28th January
1871, which power Of attorney appears L
have been sent to him by Mr.. Prosser OF
Sd February, 1871. On the 18th February
1871, the change (before stated) was mad
in the settlement, and on the same day
wrote Mr.. PrOsser as follows:
The claim of G. +. Woodruff has beef
audited, and the draft directed to be sent il
care of Hon. Robert J. Atkinson, of thi
city. But on information this mOrnirj
reaching this Office of Mr.. AS death, tn
direction was changed, and the draft viii b.
sent % your care as soon as the neceSsar,
requisition has been made by the Secretar,
of War.
In consequence Of repeated complaint
" attorneys that their clients come for
ward at the last hour and revoke powers 0
attorney, thus leaving them without pro
lection for their fees and expenditures, Nh
Secretary McCulloch directed that no ap
poin,ment Of an attorney should be revoke
or superseded without the attorneys con
sent, unless upon affidavit, or other evi
dence, showing just cause; and the rule
still in force.
Mr. AtkinsOn's death has, of course, an
nullad his appointment. l deem it right u
inform you Of his having prosecuted tn
claim. in order that you may, if you con
slider it proper, afford to his estate som
protection for the compensation earned b.
him. ALLEN RUTHERFORD, Auditor.
The following letter from Mr.. c. L. Wood
ruff more fully explains ProSser's transaC
ton. 1t makes out a clear case agains
him:
[Copy.l
Before Col. w. F. PTosser went to Wash
ington, in December, 1870, requested hin
to look after my claims in the Department
against the United States. wrote to hin
in January, 1871, about the claims. II
wrote me d short letter in reply, saying h
had been busy, and had not had time t
attend TO it, but would in few days, an
write me. He requested me, in that letter, a
a ncighb0r, 20 look after some corn he hat
purchased, and to have it measured, etc.
replied TO thai letter about his corn. ii
wrote TO me again. and requested me Z
send him power of attorney, an
he would see what could be done
l cave him a power of attorney, and wTot
him ! would give lin ORe-half to colleC
the claim. He did not write to me afte
that. lie returned to Tennessee in Marcl
last. came TO my store, about a mile iron
his residence. in Davidson COunty,) an
told me he slad draft for me for $3.50, 70
a part Of my claim in the Quarter
masters Department. | asked hill
how much l must pay him out Of that
He replied one-half-what | proposed
that was my proposition. Col. Prosser wa
then indebted to me for goods purchase
at my store. l gaya him credit for tn
amount of mis- account, and a check on tn
bank at Nashville for something over $25C
making the sum Of $500 ! paid him for h
services in this case.
jS.gned,) {. Z. WOODRUFF.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct. p, 1871.
am the Postmaster at Madison Station
Davidson county, Tenn.
c. E. WOODRUFF.
Il is reportr that the Government b
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