New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-15
THE CUSTOM-HOUSE INVESTIGATION
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE W. WHITE.

r..
We publish below verbatim report of mart
of the examination Of George W. White Of Neg.York
given on Tuesday and already briefly summarized in ON,
telepaphc dispatches. M White swore that he had
been intimately acquainted with Leet since 1884, and had
a great many conversations with him the General
Order business about the time OF the Inauguration Mr.
Leet showed him the Presidents letter OF Introduction
some time In May 1869:
O. Did he at that time say anything 70 Won about IA.
Encouragement by which he was 10 obtain That bid.
nessi A. From his first conversation win me / SUP
posed 1t was all arranged; 1t was al seted hlt 10 wa
10 have it, that it had been promised TO him BY the Col
lect0r.
.. Promised him before he went on 70 SewYork, or
after he got therel A. understood II had been Prom
iscd before he came to New-York; that H. before my
first interview with him In regard 10 it,
O. State, Sir, under what circumstances the promse
took place, and all about IL, according 10 Mr. Ieets
statements to yOul A. Well, as understood Dr.. Leet
he had had the business his mind for time prior
to Mr.. Grnnell's appointment as Collector before
the inauguration Of Cen Grant; would not state poa.
lively, but think II was Immediately after, IL might pD,
sbly have been before but think Immediately after
others OF the staff dned with him here in wa,hingtpn
and at that interview it was setted-5o Mr. Leet under
O. who were at that dinner; where did IT take pqcet
A. Well. only know from his statements 10 me; Gen.
Baocock and Gen. Porter and one or two New-YOrkors
were there at the time think Mr. Corbin ,on-nlaw.
Catherwood-is not that the name I'll think he wa at
q. Where did the dinner take placoi A. At wllarls
Hotel, ] understood
O. Was Grinnell there A. Yes, Sir.
Was that before Grinnel was e9 ,ll Cot
n.
after he was commissioned Collector at the timeI
O. Did Mr. Leet speak to you of that dinner AMI men
ton fact that had been arranged that tins bushes,
%e hs at my he
felt somewhat disappointed that he had not
keeper, and, perhaps. talked with litils
freely than he had at any time previous on mat
day was arranged meet General order storckeeper
that is to say CustOmhouse officer who was sorekeeper
in Bxbys Store, but had formerly been clerk Of my
own the object to bring them together and he was
take Col Leet TO Bixby and Introduce MIN be told
me that he desired information than be had
at that tme In regard to the General order business
and, this gentleman was then Stationed ~ BSIy Ny,
give him considerable information; at ali events BADy
could. as he had been General order sioreeeepff a
he told Of this dinner and showed me the lctcT AZ
@ The letter of the PRESIDENT A. The letter Of tho
Q. To Mr. Grnne' A. No. the letter of the President
to him; the letter that he brought on 10 M HrieH
he also spoke of interviews that he had had wI
Mr. Grinnell when he came to New-nork' ana Una. 10
O. Did he say anything about whether he had taken
confident that he remarked TO that he had brought
Mr.. Grnnell's commissions he first not,hed MN Oh MS
O. Did he ever tell you anything relation to his hay
ing had a difficulty with Mr.. Grinnel respecting ms
General order and disappointment about Grnnel ac-
toni A. Well yes Sir; he remarked to me at one inter
view that we had-it was think the second sunday
after-there were two Sundays that he came TO my
Q. This was in the City of New-York' A. This VAIN
the City Of New-York-that he had had an interview
with Grnnel, where he had expressed his oPlnon0
him in regard to his not having given him ts busnesS
understood it, there were political influences az
work TO give him but small portion OF the business
but he told me lie came for all of IT, and he was gong
have 1t all or not any; that he had had d oil %p PA
to this intervcw an interview VITA GrlnhcI aha
from him, he would have Collector that lie could gent
from; that he had told Mr. Grinnell that o..
O. That he had told Mr.. Grinnell thatl A. Yes, Sir;
and he also told Inc that they offered him very small
proportion which he did not propose TO accept al all
g. Did he say anything of the force Of the letter that
he brought A. When he showed me that letter he re-
required; az bs ep was at aent o"T
I'm fact that should have the business and he had
considered it so understood for some little tlne.
he wanted tt from Grinne he would have Collector
that he could and he told you that he ld tOd Elnho
thati A. lie gave me to understand that he had said
O. Did he say anything to then or any time srbse.
auently OF Grinnelps having offered him A sum II h0
would just go back to Washington and abandon thc pur
suit OF this busnessl A. He offered him $500 yearn
he would remain IN the army ana 30 PACK to Washing
ton and remain that he would give him 5000 year
' @ That is Grinneiis offer if he would abandon tho
search for this business A. Yes Sir for the whole bust
O. Are you distinct about that do you remember that,
sri A. l remember that conversation very well.
About When May d I'd tSst OF a. FSat was the
@ That he had this proposition from Grnnell thlt'he
would abandon this claim of getting all the GeneIs Or
der business and back to the army ana stay there A.
Keep his present position and return to Washington.
O. Didn't you think at the time II better for mint
have 5000 than nothing A. might have Thoughts 80.
O. You are about that a. think very
likely placing it on business point should, but
Thought the Colonel had his back enough To ge sone-
thing better than 5000. 49, ,,. ,
O. II you thought that why did YOU tel. him that they
would beat him out OF the whole A. Because knew tile
elements that he in
O. Then the elements stronger than what he haa
at his backl A.. That my impression OF what would
be the result of IT thought knew more ABOUT New
York politicians than he did . 80
O. You had mt much cont lence in Grnnells pTomlsesi
A. did mt know Mr.. GrinneI personally "t an
could mt say regards that
@. Did you doubt Let's statements that he had 4
promise from him A. No. Sir. ,
O. You did not have any dOuOt about thatf A. l thnk
Collectors very often make promises That they cannot
carry out
O. But Mr. Grnne could have q ven him the General
Order business A. Yes SIR OF course he could; put
probably would have had bees around bs ears than
Ieet could have brought TO bear If he had In fac'l
knew certain political elements were at work 70 get X
and | knew that IL Leet got 1t 1t would
lie really upon what there was at his back IN
Washington. and that GrnDel would not dare 10 - baeh
ouit the eli AlOnL LlAL nV