Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-23
And the COIOred Troops Fought
CUSTOlIHOUSE CORRUPTION.
LGet on the Stand.
Grants letter of Endorsement


! New YORK, Jan. 22.-The investigation
| OF the CustOmhOUse frauds was continued
/ this morning.
/ Leet testified that he came to this city in
! 1869. Was then in the army at Washing
! ton. Been engaged in the general order
! business during the last nineteen months.
| Had s., 900 yearly interest in the business
when Bixby had charge, although during
that time he took no active part in it, as he
was mostly absent from the city. Lindsey
effected witness partnership with Bixby.
! Received the money from Bixby, as a con-
sideratiOn for enabling Bixby to secure a
portion of the general order through Grin
mel. Witness worked upon Grinnell through
letter from the President, and offered the
letter in evidence. This letter is dated
March 10, 1869, and introduces Leet to
Grinnell as business man of unquestiOned
integrity, and whom, President Grant said,
he commended as possessing the qualities
necessary to inspire confidence. Witness
first went as private in 1862 in the Chica-
60 Mercantile Battery,
Mr.. Leet testified that the letter produced
from the President to Grinnell was the only
one he ever heard on the subject. Never
told the President when he obtained the
letter that he wished to become an appli-
cant for the general order business. Never
threatened Grinnell that unless he give him
the general order business he would not be
appointed Collector. His firm never pay
inspectors to hurry goods into the stores.
No one but his partner and himself were
interested i'll the profits. One dollar is the
usual charge per package. Sometimes as
high as S25 is charged. The profits in one
year were Sl2, 600 on the bonded warehouse
and S42, 900 on the general order stores.
QuestiOn-The money that Bixby gave.
you was paid for the influence you exerted
in getting Grinneu to designate his ware
house as general order store?
Al don't know that it was.
Q.-IOu concluded to remain in
the army and receive a salary from Bixby?
Al only remained in the army
until the records We're completed.
Oh February Of this wear
you instantly obtained leave of absence for
six mOnths2
Al did.
Q;-Dld Gen. Porter and Gen. Babcock.
your associates, know of the Bixby money?
A.-NO, Ihey knew nothing about it.
Q.-While you lived with them and
messed with them, this important matter
that hnally took you from the army was
never mentioned to them2
A.-They knew nothing Of Il. Shortly
after the removal of Grinnell, Murphy cave
me the remainder of the general order bust
ness. l have 10 objection whatever to sub
init my books to examination by any ex-
pert
At the evening session the examination
Uf LcCt was continued. He remembers
favIng written to Lindsay to come on to !
Washington in reference to an investment
in San Domingo. While receiving about !
5000 from BNby, Wakeman gave bonds |
in $4,000 and Shank in 100000 for him, |
(witness.) The rents for the stores |
of Leet * Stocking are $4,000. |
The profits of the concern amount
TO $4,000, Of which $1,000 were !
invested. He could state, by reference to |
his books, what became of the rest. In |
starting the business, witness put in 81, 900 |
and stocking $500. Col. Leet was then |
asked as to what business Wakeman ex- |
pccted to do, and said he was his Counsel, !
but at the same time, he did not know the |
nature Of Wakeman's suggestions to the |
Of the committee.
Senator Pratt then resumed examination |
and requested Sect to furnish by tO-mOr- |
row the exact way in which the profits
were invested.
Adjourned.
The CustOmhOuse Committee decided to |
remain here another week.