The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-05

cations for such contracts of made to and
n W. were strongly urged y Senators and
they awarded those whom eonsider be good
circulating some Of them are perhaps those who
% o s no word %
Ses0n made me which could sutnorIze
ss- % %
truly . your friend " ''' Executive NJ H. GRNSRLI '
The following letter from G. W. EmDree was also
read:-
DEAR GUsTom H ,s, NEW y ", sGsS Nav y.
day informed me Sss n an inter-
on wSss
Y % p ssa 5: q
tnis take this early occasion to say most emphat
Ss 1Sa' else Ssvs m xs S Sss
By
sion that knew more than cared 70 express Of Custom
times have been used in this connection who know
that my should have been mixed up 10 anv matter
which could ey any cause you u
done aaght that could throw shadow oboquy
piciOn upon you. Very sincerely yours q w rvpppp
To General HORACE PORTER.
Mr.. Porter said Mr.. Mudgett had come hither in
April, 1870, and wanted renewal OF the contract
for the aoor business, and, owing to his dsapp0lnt
ment, ne had made the charge, and, falling 70 prove
Porter sand Mr.. Leet was not q connection OF the
President or OF MS wife, and that General Raw
Inns asked the President TO give Mr. Leet letter to
Mr.. Grinnell. On the cross examination Mr. Porter
said Mr. Grinneil made him an individual present OF
FIVE GALLONS or SHERRY;
1t was used by the mess; he had no information
Whatever that any other persons were interested
partnership with either OF them; ne had never
solicited any business for them; never did anything
that would entse MN to Their grattpds they mad
ton; they never had the erontery TO oer II, know
ing him too well TO make such a ,proposlllon.
The following letters read at the instance Of
the witness:-
nc", y. July % @
lsSto OF Customs In New York Many person. In seeking
claim | e 81 s0S he
be- Ssy q 90 Sp Os %s to
you eters their behalf have perslstenty refused
Ss. me s y
and the cause OF the administration YSS yey P g1
To Hon. THOMAS MURPHY Collector Of Customs, New
EXECUTIVE MANSION wAsHI &c. e. , b a.
DrAR s,a-l am directed by the President to forward to
While the President doe. for moment suppose that
this
they particular hopes they
ans any h.
they may mo- be employed am sir
Hon. THOMAS MURPHY Collector Of Customs. New York
| city
| During the ross.examination by Senator Bayard
General Porter said he never sent messages by Leet
| TO Lindsay and had never mad transactions with
Mr.. Lindsay ne aid not see much OF him; Lindsay
| made perhaps six visits to washington during the
| time Mr.. Grlnnell was Collector, and ne was
| thought TO be Mr.. Grinnelrs secretary.
In reply TO the question what Of1ice he General
POrte held the General said, secretary to the Pres
| ident; 1t was Ofice partly civil and partly mill
| tary; he was still an officer In the army-was
colonel, with the brevet rank Of brlgader general;
he is assigned 70 duty at the Executive Mansion;
no other OH . pay p OF emolumenss. As to the
letter given BY the President to Lieutenant
that Lieutenant Leet stepped out Of the Presidents
room and showed 1t to him; It was understood
81 s a. New c4R Mr. gave Ss
hm the impression that ne was going into the
warehouse business. and wanted Mr.: Grinnell TO
the precise terms but nave mad reference to
the general order buslnessj soon after the inaugu:
ration OF the President, towards the close OF
March, Mr. Grlnnell was appointed Collector:
Senator Bayard inquired Of General Porter
WIZARDS Hotel with Mr.. Grinnell, when the general
order system was discussed before MIR. Grinnells
General Porter replied that he did not recollect.
| but 1t was possible; he, however, remembered ain
did not recoect whether Mr.. Catherwood and Gen.
eral BabcOck were there, did he recollect
Wilson, and N.Y. SHS Of
YORK, were presents he did not recOllect whether
did not know when Mr. Leet went to New York r
after receiving President Grants letter; Mr. Leet
did not tell him that he nad met with success
further than that Mr. Grinnell very polite to
him and promised to assist HIM in the business;
there was nothing subsequently to show that there
had been large accession to LeerS wealth; he mad
| only speaking acquaintance with him, having met
hun but two or three times; he did not know that
| Stocking had visited the Executive Mansion; he
did not know tnat stocking had an interest with
Leet IN bidding for the labor contract Having been
| asked whether in the summer OF 1871 there
was interview between MIR. A. T. Stew
| art and the PRESIDENT at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, General Porter replied. zoe recollected IT."
| Stewart complained OF the alleged abuses OF the
| general order system; he supposed the President
, haa the same knowledge OF these affairs as he
POrter) had, but did now know with certainty; he
had q conversation with Stewart on the same sub
| ject but could not say whether 1t was before or
| General Porter having been lnterrogated as to
correspondence between Leet and Lindsay touch
| Ing the acquisition or st. Domingo and specula-
lions Herewith, saiu, che had no knowledge OF sucn
| with Lindsay, and never spent an evening at his
house."
General Porter was Intercepted at great length
| In answer 10 question by Mr. Pratt he said the
! Presidents letter to Lieutenant Leet was general
letter Of INTRODUCTION, and was written before Mr.
| Grinnell's appointment to the COllectorsnIp.
| During the crOss-examlnatiOn by Senator Cas-
| sery General Porter mentioned several interviews
| with Lieutenant Leet while he was in Washington;
| they had spoken OF the amount OF lying by wit
nesses In New York. General Porter came TO tile
committee room 10 examine the testimony In which
MS name had been mentioned To see what MS
statements mad been made, IN order to reiute or
| correct them.
General Porter was under examination more than
| five hours.
| The committee adjourned to meet at ten O'Clock
tomorrow morning.