New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-04
NETWORK. THURSDAY, APRIL a, 1872.
THE INVESTIGATION
THE FRENCH ARMS SALES.
COMMODORE GARRIsoN's TEsTIMoNY-THE MYs-

| COMMODORE GARRIsoN's TEsTIMONY-THE MYs-
| FERROUS BRAND ON THE CAsEs-FRENCH
| OFFICERS SENT OVER TO HASTEN SHIPMENTS.
| iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNBl
| WASHINGTON, April 3.-The French Arms
Inquiry, to-day, directed to the circumstances at
tending the sales Of batteries, etc. to c. X. Garrison
The witnesses examined were Chas. II. Pond. an arms
merchant Of NewYork, employed by c. X. Garrison,
and A. b. seinberger of the original contractors to
furnish the French Government with batteries and En-
field rifles, and c. K Garrison. seinbergcr entered into
an arrangement with an English firm valentine & Bill
ling and French chant to furnish rs batteries,
10000 stand OF arms, and some ammunition. The con-
tract set forth that these goods should be delivered In
Dec mber 1870 but the contractors being unable make
deposit with the French Government as guarantee
to carry out tho contract and falling to get the goods
the arrangement fell through In January, 1871, about
month after the time of the contract expired, the
contractors went to Garrison and asked him to back them
in the undertaking. This he consented to do on cOnd
ton that the deposit Of francs made with the Bank
France pay for the goods be transferred to
banking house in England the United States and that
the French Government accept him guarantor. For
this service furnishing the money and shipping tho
goods, Garrison to receive 100000 profit. After
twothrds threeourths OF the goods were on board
the Ontario, telegram was received saying That the
French Government did not want the batteries or guns
Those already shpb0ard remained there Tor several
months until when, in June, the French Government
renewed the contract Tor the batteries WDn WeIe tne
reshipped on sailing vessels to France.
This is outline Of the testimony as given by the
three witnesses to-day. Incidentally, they testified to
important facts bearing directly ON the subject or
inquiry. Pond and steinberger each saw the marks X
T." the boxes Of ordnance stores and on the mbers
OF the guns. Pond thought the marks meant "rege-
menaire fusil" which he translated regulation gun"
The absurdty Of this Interpretation Is apparent az the
word fus is used in French to denote cannon
steinberger said that he caused the mark to be
placed goods by direction of the French inspect
ing officers, and that it meant "Repubqqe Franchise"
AS the Remngtons had connection with these goods
fiIs.S ~ ' w 49,.
Tire next important point discovered to-day was that
Framed SENT out to the United States at least three
French officers to inspect the batteries and stores anu
th at those inspections made on the wharf, Wheie
the goods delivered by the Ordnance Bureau on
the vessels and the lighters These French officers
were seen both by Senberger and Garrison The latter
saw one at Capt Crspns Office, and thinks that Gznan
asked Crspn IL there In the arenas OF the United
States shells with certain kind Of fuse stipulated or
wharf when the goods were brought thorc IN charge OF
the officers and received from officer oi the
Ordnance Bureau certificates that the goods were al ~
serviceable Garrison also testified that ne supposed ~
the time he was shipping the goods that Crlspn anu
ybody else knew that the ordnance was gong 10
France On the Enfield rides, Garrison paid to the Ora
nance Bureau margin Of 10 per cent Alter france
refused to take the rides that margin was returned 70
Garrison. - ,, u. .,,oa
At one stage Of the investigation questions were asked
TO prove the War Department had IL IN ls poWe
when the Secretary discovered bennington as fr S
done had there been sincere desire 10 pteseiao
neutrality. The ordnance officers hed that taey ,, i i'm
such power and when they reminded tna margin
was returned to Garrison they said that that CONTRACT
fell through ON account OF delays IN delivering ts
on the part OF the Government. Garrsons testimony
to-day shows that this not the cause OF the failure
of the contract but that 1t was because OF change IN
the French Government On tle 23d Of January ISL,
the secretary OF War ordered the sales OF arms ana
oTsnafi1e stores 10 he SUSPENDED. Garrison testl-
| fed to-day, that he made his contract Jan.
"a ISL am. that that day he paid $1,000 as a
,,ryin on tic batteries IT that money had not been
Maid on that day, batteries could not have been
ponght IL was some days after January -, tnat ne
po, The Insgin on the En1elds and 1t was within 80
80. cider canceling the contract came IRON,
France. After the contract fell through Garrison asked
Zen Rufus lpgas TO speak to the French Minister 10
induce min TO nave the contract carried out. He went
10 GEN Iugalls because he acquainted with him, but
he never offered to pay him dollar Tor his services
Garrison desired to say in reply to the testimony o.
| some former witness. that he was not one OF Wn NJ
Iveed's DondsIen, and had 40 connection with him.