New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-08
CustOmhOuse InvesligatiOn.

New YORK, February Sat the Custom
| house investigation last night, William S.
Hillyer testified that Leet's special friend
was the late General Rawlins. He knew
nothing of an arrangement beteen Leet and
BiXby, and was satisfied the President
knew nothing Of it. The President, he
stated, did not want Leet to come to New
York at all, and wanted no one in connec-
ton with him to have anything to do with
the Customheuse, but did not think he
ought to control the Colonel's actions
Witness recollected having heard and so
told General Cochrane that General Horter
had received money from the New York
Customhouse, and that he thought it was in
connection with the general order business
Leets services were entirely clerical.
Does it occur to you that it was very
improper thing that man in the military
service should be engaged i'll civil employ
ment under government F,
1t does so occur to me.
Do you recollect the tenor of the charges
by MIDGET against Porter!
after considerable hesitation.) | be-
ieve the charge was that Porter got
money from the Customhouse. | suppose
it must have been through Leet. He sub
sequently said he had spoken of it to Por
ter. who then desired an interview with
Mudgett Witness also stated that he
had expected to give testimony in Wash
ington, and week ago went to see the
President thinking it due him that all the
acts connected with the business should be
made known.
At the investigation this morning Sena-
tor Casserly complained of the slOwness
with which the information called for from
the customhouse comes in.
General Hillyer corrected some of his
Yesterdays testimony, saying that General
COchrane told him that Mudgett made
statement that Porter was receiving money
from the general order business of New
York. He mentioned this to Leet.
Witness admitted having informed per-
sons in Washington that he had important
evidence which he desired to offer show
ing that the President was not connected
with the general order jobbery. Although
the President was at first anxious that
Leet should not 90 tosthe CustOmhouSe, but
take superintendency in Pennsylvania, he
subsequently consented to have Leet take
the labor contract. The contract was to be
in the name of Howe, New York poll
tician.
Q. When did the President first become
aware of Colonel Leet's connection with
the general order business under the name
of Bixby! A. My impression is that he did
not know anything about 1t until it came
out on the testimony before the committee
last February.
@. Did the President ever, in converse
ton with you, give you to understand that
such was the case! A. Yes, he did.
@. When? A. In our conversation two
weeks ago; | was pretty sure he told me so.
Senator Casserly here read a long extract
from the stenographic notes of Colonel
Leets testimony, in which Colonel Leet
admitted that he had conversations with
General Grant about the general order bust
ness before he came to New York TO get it.
Senator Pratt interrupted here with a
motion that the stenOgrapher be instructed
not to incorporate in the testimony the eX-
tract just read.
iject to General IIillyer's testimony being
taken down.
Senator Pratt-AlIow me; you don't I'M
derstand.
Senator Casserly-Allow me, if you please.
| have every reason to complain of the man
ner in which you interrupt me. | think if |
can not examine witness on the case we
might as well abandon the investigation, so
far as | am concerned.
On the poll being called, all the members
present voted against Senator Pratt's mo-
ton, except Pratt himself.
Witness examination was continued a
short time further, but no testimony of i'm
portance elected.
Charles ID. Monlin, assistant weiglrer.
testified that no one approached Mr.. Rogers
and asked to have some coal sent to their
houses, as stated in the testimony of for
mer witness.
The affidavit Of w H. Benedict was read
to the effect that Inspector Cloyes wanted
a carload of COAL promising to serve hinif
he did SO.
Jayne, special treasury agent, related
how, shortly after he reported for duty in
1869, he discovered that the weighers were |
in the habit of defrauding the revenue by |
and swearing to false rolls of Ia |
borers and by returning short weights in |
COLLISION with importers. He had number
Of them arrested, and the books and papers
Of thirty-two were seized During his ex-
animation he stated that he believed the |
New York importers or commission mer-
chants would defraud the revenue, though
gaining no profit FROM the fraud, but for
he sake of increasing their business.
This morning Senator Pratt gave notice