New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-22

went to the CustOmhOuse and Costanzi, the
clerk, whom | knew, asked me what /
wanted; this was IN the presence Of the
orderly, and in his hearing.
General Butler wished to say, for the in
formation of the court, that an orderly was
merely a messenger sent on errands.
The court decided to admit the testi-
mOny.
Witness-I told him came to transfer
the steamer Nassau from myself to General
Butler; Costanzi replied, ''What General
Butler buying steamship 2" l then called
him to witness that | was acting under com
pulsiOn, and / referred him TO the soldier
who had me in charge.
The court directed that COstanzi's remark
be stricken out.
Witness-The transaction was not then
completed l went to General Buffers
Office and had instructions from General
Butler to come back the next day and CON-
plete the papers; next day the papers were
perfected at the office, and then | was sent
to the CustOmhOUse to finish tine matter;
General Butler handed the papers to the
Colonel, and told me to go with him to have
the papers recorded; I went, and then went
back to General Buffers office, when he
gave a check for 1871, 1860. which was paid in
notes of the Citizens Bank of New Orleans,
which were at seventeen per cent discount
as compared with greenbacks; the Colonel
who went with me was called Wegel
by CONSTANT; l told General Butler,
as | was leaving his Office, that was not
the last time he would hear from it; two or
three days afterward General Butler sent
an officer demanding my presence; l went,
and the General said, "You want your
steamer back; don't want her, she draws
too much water" / told him I would like
her back, but had not the money just then;
he remarked, 81 won't give you five min
utes;" Just then Admiral Farragut came in
and the conversation was interrupted; l
went to my office; in few moments an Or
derry came again and said the General de-
manded my presence; | went to Jacob Bar
ker and got a check for S3i 1860, aud then
went to General Butler; that check was not
certified; it was bankers check; went
into the Office and General Butler asked
what l was going to do; | said, II want the
vessel and here is your money" he said,
"YOu can't have her; the guartermaster has
just been here and says he must have her."
VALUE OF THE VESSEL.
QuestiOn-What was the value of the
steamer at the time she was seized. An
swer-FrOm $4,000 to 100000
CrOss-examined by General Butler-I
went to New Orleans in July, 1862 l didn't
own any vessels myself at that time l was
in the commission business; the Nassau,
when she came to New Orleans, was owned
by Mr.. Sutphin and Mr. Buell.; the former
owned twO-thirds and the latter one-third;
got my men to alter her into towbOat
the very day you had seized her; had no men
working on her before; my purchase of her
was recorded, think, on the tenth of Sep-
TENDER; the bill of sale is on file az the
CustOmhOuse; they gave me copy Of it
paid $l4,S00 of the purchase money to Mr..
VanWinkle; it was before l recorded the
bill of sale at the CustOmhOuse l gave my
obligation for the rest, but the seizure pre-
vented me from paying.
After an extended rOss-examination as
to the relations between the witness and
Messrs. Sutphin and Buell., and in reference
to his title to the vessel, the court adjourned
to this morning.