Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-08-27
TIKI CASH OF CLINTON RICE.
statement Of Mr.. 4. W. Hate.
we. taT,,s n n Aasr,.t ~ tas

WASH. .'uroN, D. o August -. is'2
Eilor Of he HaiioHai Republican,
Permit me TO lntTudo upon your columns 10 an.
swer an article 10 the Capital Of yesterday, en-
titled illegal Arrests, and Mr.. Rlce's card 10
this mornings REPuBLICAN, so far as they re-
nect upon my action taken in Obedience to the
orders Of my superior OficeT, and by the advice
the case.
sented to me for payment a Treasury dtaft,
Issued that day, In Satisfaction OF claim for q
horse lost In tho service by Col. J. Il. Lewis, a
retired ofheeT Of the army, and payable 70 the
order Of said Lewis, bearing what puTpOTted to
be the genuine Endorsement Of Lewis, as also
Mr. Rlco's own name NOT as attorney, tn which
case should have dema nded evidence Of his Ru.
thority) but simply as yOuchlng TO me for the
cOrreotness OF the previous indOTsemenL HAv-
Ing no knowledge Of Mr.. lewis handwriting,
Aod consequently having no right to refuse pay.
mont, although 1 did not like appearance Of the
Inducements, paid tho dram,
Five days later my attention was called 10
the matter again by gentleman In one OF the
other Otlces Of the Department, who expressed
the opinion that the enforcement Of LSEis was
forged, aud gave mo reasons why he thought
so; whoreupon l proceed to Investigate tho
matter, as was my duty.
self, by comparison Of It with his genuine sigma
ture, that Lewis did not write the Endorsement,
nor could md any authority on ile for Rice,
or any one else, to do 50 Tor hun. | also learned
that tho draft hal been delivered TO MIR. Rico
ouly an hour before payment, and that Colonel
Lewis was probably not IN the city that day.
l called at Mr. Rice's residence Tor the pur-
pose Of having the matter explained, II possible,
and was informed that he was not at home.
learned subsequently,, and previous TO his ar
rest, that he was At home; but, secretlng him.
self In his room, instructed n servant to tell me
he was not.
The next stop, by the orders Of my superior,
was TO consult the District Attorney, who, after
an examination Of the matter as II stood, told
me to ascertain WHERE Colonel LOWS resided, aud
Il possible learn from him whore ho was on tho
10th OF August learned at the War Depart
ment that he resided In Buffalo, and at my re-
quest tho Secretary Of War telegTAphed him,
asking the question, and received reply sta.
Ing that he was "hshing on tho Niagara Tlyor,"
In which case he could not Of course have In
dorsed a drnft In Washington, Upon submit
ting this additional evidence 10 tho District At
torney he Instructed his assistant 10 take my
hthdayit Of the facts In the case and have war.
rant issued for the arrest Of Mr.. Rice, which,
having been accomplished, he produced power
Of attorney, dated two years ago, authorizing
him TO prosecute the claim, which he must have
knoNh was insufficient to warrant me In pay.
Ing on bis Endorsement as attorney (oT by did he
not present n.y. but which II seems " sufficient
TO shield him from the criminal charge VI
BY act Of Congress IT February 20, 1888, It Is
provided THAT all powers N attorney for TecelT.
Ing payment VI claims upon the United states
shall be dbg0lufeiy null and void unless the
presence Of at least two attestng Witnesses alter
the allowance Of such claim, the ascerl ainm ut
OF the amount que ana the Issuing OF warrant
for the payment thereof" lie knew that, and
no one but himself, up to that time, know he
had any power at all.
Fsstl arc stubborn things" can substRn.
tlate all have said by documents 10 my pos.
session and tho evidence Of citizens as we'll
known and OF rs " fair reputon as MT. Rice.
Very truly yours, J.. W. HALE
Paying Teller u. S. Treasury.
MI. Hale also has In his possession n state.
ment from the United States district attorney
to the effect that all the action taken In THIS
matter was upon his advice, and that there was
no malice eylnced by hin.