The Portland daily press., 1872-02-16
THE PRESS,
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 16, 1872.
Government Investigations.
HOW THEY ARE INFLUENCED, AND BY
WHOM.


The fallacy of conducting an impartial in
vestigation in city like New York, in the
nope OF arriving at any practical results, was
never better illustrated than in the operations
OF the Custom House investigating commit
tee that has just concluded its labors in that
city. Judging from the tone of the New York
press, the pressure brought to bear upon the
committee by parties interested in concealing
the truth-or, worse than this, in imposing
ments, with view to mislead them in their
labors-has been little less than wonderful.
The rooms occupied by the committee at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel have been crowded dur
ing the numerous sittings, and among the
throng were to be found some of the very
worst elements ofmetropolitan life politicians
without places, custom house cliques and
their various dependents, criminals who stand
indicted in the federal courts, accompanied
by their aiders and abettors and all interested
in breaking down or suppressing any testi-
mony likely to injure their respective inter-
ests.
As remarkable instance of the unscrupu-
lous efforts of these several rings, the New
York papers of Saturday contain some ac-
count of Abram c. Beatty, one of the wit
nesses who appeared before the committee as
the traducer of Col. Whitley, the Chief of the
U. S. Secret Service Division. Speaking of
Beatty, the New York Sun of the 10th inst
says:
A number of papers and affidavits were pre-
sented to the Senatorial Committee of Inyes-
tigation yesterday, showing the character and
reputation of Abram c. Beatty, Col. Whit
ley's accuser. Previous to 1865 Beatty was
policeman under Captain, now Inspector
Walling. He left the police force, and took
the lease Of a hotel at Stony Brook, in the
town of Brookhaven, Suffolk county, Long
Island. Beatty had in his hotel maid SER
want named Ellen Carroll, and the girl had
lover named Martin Foley. Martin went to
the hotel on the evening of September 5,
1865, to see her. At half-past ten at night
Martin started for home, somewhat the worse
for liquor. He was followed by Beatty, who
knocked him down, and kicked and bruised
him, fatally wounding him. Beatty was ar
rested, and found probably guilty of murder.
At the trial two surgeons went on the stand
caused by Beatty's blows. Beatty was found
guilty of assault, and sentenced to pay fine
of $3.50. a Iiaai1r.ra I1-, I'll
,1 BRIBING THE PHYSICIANS.
According to his own admission the trial
cost him every cent he was worth, as he paid
$1,000 to each of his physicians for their testi-
mony, which saved him from the gallows
Both physicians have since died. Beatty quit
Stony Brook in the night, carrying off large
quantity of articles which did not belong to
him. He became wellknown as a horse
jockey, pigeon-shooter and gambler.
Beatty was recommended to Colonel Whit
ley by Inspector Walling in the early part of
1870. He proved to be smart and capable
detective, and was well liked by Col. Whitley
until rumors reached that official that Beatty
was habituaily leYying blackmail. One of
his victims was Mr.. Nolan, fruit and grain
dealer of 34S Fourth avenue, whom he black
mailed to the extent of $40. He also put up
a job on the notorious counterfeter, Dutch
George, whom he shook out of a check for
$50OO Beatty, however, made only $500 or
$500 out of the operation. He also threaten
ed Mr.. Clymie, cigar manufacturer in Lis
penard street, and Clymie paid him $50. .as7
4 HOW THE SECRET LEAKED OUT. la
Beatty kept secret the fact from Whitley
of his having killed Foley, and it was not un-
til November, 1870, that the fact became
known to his fellow detectives. Beatty and
another officer were sent to Bushwick, l.. l.,
on the track OF case. They went into real
estate office to make some inquiries. The
real estate broker said in an astonished
tone.
1Is that you, Abe Beatty?'
Beatty replied angrily, "Never mind who l
am; first tell me what want to know"
The broker said, Saint you the Abe Beat
ty that killed man at Stony Brook ?"
In reply to his companions inquiries, Beat
ty said that he had killed the Irish (profane
expletive) t
Colonel Whitley questioned Beatty about
the case, and the latter said he got off by pay
ing the physicians $1,000 each. Beatty was
soon afterwards discharged for stealing about
seventy bottles of wine, portions of seizure
made by order of Colonel Whitley. Then he
swOre that he would injure the late chief, if
he had to move heaven and hell for the pur-
pose. He added that Whitley would not con-
vict any more counterfeiters or any one else,
for he beatty )w0uld go on the stand in every
case, and swear against him.
THE GREATEST OF THE CoUNTERFEITERs.
Beatty interested himself in the Miner trial,
and was paid $500 or 5000 to go to Boston and
get witnesses to testify against Whitley. He
also paid woman 800 to take up her quar-
tiers near Whitley's office, and endeavor to in
veige Whitley's men into indiscretion.
When Col Whitley was under examina-
ton by the Senatorial Committee, on We'd
nesday evening, at least six counterfeiters
were in the room. Joshua d. Miner was
there with about fifteen of his friends, and his
lawyer, Ketchell. The lawyer furnished SEN
ator Casserly with documents and papers on
which to examine Col. Whitley, and when
ever the witty Senator passed off joke at the
expense of the witness, the counterfeiters
shouted in derision. The Colonel was cool
and collected, however, in the presence of his
deadly enemies. He declared to Sun re-
porter yesterday that he was determined to
convict Miner, for he believed him to be the
greatest counterfeiter in the country. Miner
has thousands of dollars, however, and will
crush Whitley if he can. 1t is desperate
struggle ON both sides.
In the course of his peregrinations yester-
day the Sun reporter was shown a roulette,
which is used by Beatty and Doc. Sherman.
The roulette has secret spring, by means of
which the operator can make the ball fall in
below or above fifteen, at pleasure 1t is used
to swindle fools in the bar-rooms.
Fun in Court Room.
On Wednesday the County Court room at
White Plains, New York, was thrown into