Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-06
NEW YORK.
The CustOmh0use Investigation.
,slaIyl,5I Ylh HUN ,
Gen. POrter'S Army Mess.
A Lucky stOching-Trfcks On Travel.

l. 0~~O-O
this morning He denied the testimony OF
| VIM. Haw; that Haw had never stated that
! he (Haw) knew Of officials going ND town
to obtain perquisites for passing goods.
Mr.. Lindsay offered copy of the agree
ment between Col. Leet, Grants protige.
and Bkby, by which the former was I'd
have s., 600 year for his influence in send
| ing the general order business to Bixby's
store. Leet often threatened to have Grin
nell removed if be was not given more
| money. .e ss&-s - o -.---s- 80
Lindsay here stated he was reluctant to
make further disclosures, as he was challeng-
ed last night at his hotel, but could not saw
who challenged, or whether the chaIlengers
were officials. Lindsay fnrther testified
| that he wished not to be understood as
| stating that Gems. Porter and Babcock were
interested in the general order business
with Leet. They were in some army mess
In Washington, and Leet complained of
his share of the profits not being sufficient
| TO pay bis share Of expense in the mess, It
was understood that fifteen thousand would
not pay the expenses of that mess. 1t was
understood that the purposes of the mess
were eating and drinking.
Lindsay in reply to a question said Leet's
TO say that was not enough along with his
$1,000 from the general order of business.
Leet's letters to witness were generally
dated at the White House. Witness stated
that Grinnell paid him 81, 600 or $1,000 for
his services from his own pocket.
Being further examined by Senator Casser-
y,he stated that Mr.. Grinnell and himselffre-
quently talked together about the system of
leading men In the community using their
influence to get men appointed to the GUS
tOm-house, and then making the appointees
pay them for such influence. He had no
reason to doubt that such practice exists.
He had heard there was collusion between
the general order interest and the shopping
interest, to hurry the goods into the general
order stores, so as to subject them to
charges.
Lindsay said Stocking came here from
Washington with letters from Senators
Morton, Spencer and others to Collector
Grinnel, who, in consequence, gave the
lucky Stocking the position of Superintend-
ent of the Carriage Bureau, at a salary of
$500. :
Examined by Senator Pratt, Lindsay said
he believed practice existed of the ware
house men paying Government Inspectors
who draw regular salaries from the Gov
ernment. He had this information from
Grinnell, Left, Stocking and others. He
didn't know why these payments were
made, unless it was that the Inspectors
might hurry the goods to their stores.
Lindsay didn't think it wrong for him
and collector Grinnell 10 draw up Leet's ap-
pointment signirg his (Lindsay's) name in
instead of Leet's, and forwarding the
profits to Leet.
In answering the query, Which is the |
guiltiest, he who commits fraud or he who |
helps the fraud and then covers it up? |
Lindsay said he saw no fraud in such pro- |
ceeding. He thought the public might have |
a right to complain. He admitted that the |
object of himself and Grinnell was to cover
the matter up in case it was oVerhauled by |
the politicians. Still he considered Grin |
nell good officer who would do nothing
improper. Naughter). .-- z-....
other Witnesses.
P. c. Collins, importer of teas, knew of
no irregularities.
w. Redmond, importer, testified to the
seizure of his books and demand for nine
hundred dollars alleged to be due, but he
never paid it. s-.- --- --.r Il
S. G. Eastman, member Of the Assembly,
denied the statement of Greeley that he
was influenced by customhouse officials to
vote for Smith for Speaker, or that he
,Eastman) had been told by Mr.. Ketchum
hat he must vote as the customhouse mag
mates directed and never told any one so.
A. Lewis, managing editor of the E1ening
Post, testified that he was aware of personal
Misconduct by CuStomhouse officials. The
surveyor has under him a number of In
of -I,,Do |
1abit of exacting and receiving bribes from
gentlemen bringing luggage to this port. A
gentleman told him that five hundred
ons Of luggage came on Cunard
steamer recently and nearly every
passenger paid to get his luggage passed.
lie was informed of an inspector receiving
S5O from gentleman who brought furni-
ure over. The witness recollects in 1867
When he brought some invalid ladies to the
the officials were shameless
n asking bribes. An inspector passed all
luggage through for him without examina-
ion, and then demanded present. Not a
comes to this port who can
scape similar treatment. The number of
in which the Government has been
efrauded in the Appraisers Office shows
orruption to be the rule, as would be |
AOFSN " St1oOo OAA AOSO4o III bl1O O1oblICL ,
Attorneys office. .-...... .
The Sergeant-at-Arms was instructed to
rOcure suitable rooms for the committee.
PIebisctte Centralfsm.
1t is reported that bill will be presented
4 Congress, next week, providing for a
overnment election of Inspectors of the
anvass Of Presidential and Congressional
otes. /
"BeVare of Vidders"
Mrs. Chauncy, widow of Commodore :
!hauncy, it appears, dressed herself in male
tire to watch man named Snowhill, an '
dmirer, who discovered her disguise and
to tear her clothes off, She fired !
revolver at him and his companions to
care them from stripping her, and they (
ed. No one was hurt. Mrs. Chauncy is
lightly injured, and under nominal arrest I
1r murderous assault.
Still Running.
Immense crowds of depositors, mostly
oor people, are at Third Avenue Savings
'ank. The run is being fully met by the
ank.
The Outraged Florida.
The steamer Florida is reported to have
rrived yesterday off Charleston. An ac-
Ount of her treatment will be sent at once
} the Secretary of the Navy.
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