New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-26
New York CustOmk0u.e Inv esti9ation.

New YORK, January 22a-The investiga-
| ton of the CustOmhouse frauds was cOntin-
ued this morning. Mr.. Leet testified that he
came to this city in 1869 was then in the
| army at Washington; has been engaged IN
the general order business for the last nine
| teen months; had $4,000 yearly interest in
the business when BiXbv had charge, al
though during that time he took no active
part in it, as he was mostly absent from the
city Lindsay effected witness partnership
| with BiXby, and received the money from
Bixby as consideration. enabling Bixby to
secure portion of the general order bust
ness through Grinnel: witness worked
upon Grinnell through letter from the
President and offered the letter in evil
dence. This letter is dated March 10, 1869,
and introduces Leet to Grinnel as a bust
ness man of unquestioned integrity" and
whom President Grant said he commended
as possessing the qualities necessary to in
spire confidence. Witness first went as a
private, in 1862, in the Chicago Mercantile
battery.
Leet testified that the letter produced
from the President to Grinnell was the only
one he ever heard of on the subject He
never told the President when he obtained
the letter that he wished to become an ap-
plcant for the general order business. He
never threatened Grinnell that unless he
gave him the general order business he
would not be appointed collector. as he
would have no influence to Justify such
threat. Neither General Porter nor Gen
eral BabcOck was interested cents worth
in the business.
His arrangement lasted with Bixby about
ten months; did not belong to army mess in
Washington, and never told Lindsay the
receipts were insufficient to pay the expen-
SEES of any mess. The present firm of him
self and Stocking never pay inspectors to
hurry goods into stores. No one but his
partner and himself were interested in the
profits. One dollar is the usual charge per
package-sometimes as high as S25 were
charg d. The profits in one year were
$4,000 on bonded warehouse and $4,000
on the general order stores.
Ques ion-The money that Bixby gave
you was paid for the influence You ex-
erted i'll getting Grinnell to designate his
warehouse as general order store!
Answer don't know that it was.
Question-You concluded to remain in
the army and receive salary from Bixby!
Answer-I only remained in the army
until the records were completed.
Question-In February of this year you
instantly obtained leave of absence for
six months!
Answer did.
Questionable General Porter and Gen
eral Babcock, your associates, know of the
Bixby money!
Answer-NO; they knew nothing of it.
Question-Whiley you lived with them and
messed with them, this important matter
that was finally to take you from the army
was never mentioned to them!
Answer-They knew nothing of it. Short
ly after the removal of Grinnell, Murphy
gave me the remainder of the general order
business General Porter stated to me that
the President regretted had entered into
the arrangement with Bixby. NV impress
sion is that the reason of his disapprOval
was bringing his name and those around
him in connection with those New York
matters. l have no objection whatever to
submit my books to examination by any
expert the committee may appoint.
At the evening session the examination of
Leet was continued.
He remembered having written to Lind
say to come on to Washington in reference
to an investment in San Domingo. While
receiving about $4,000 from Bixby, his
salary from the army was about $500 or
$500. Mr.. Wakeman gave bonds in $4,000
and Mr. Shank in 100000 for him (witness).
The rents of the stores of Leet & Stocking
are $4,000. The profits of the concern
amount to S5SO00, of which ST. 900 were
invested. He could state by reference to his
books what became of the rest. In start
ing business witness put in $1,000 and Stock
ing 500.
Colonel Leet was then asked as to what
business Wakeman was expected to do.
and he said he was his counsel, but AT the
same time he did not know the nature of
Wakeman's suggestions to the members of
the committee.
Senator Pratt then resumed his examina-
ton, and requested Leet to furnish by to-
morrow the exact way in which the profits
were invested.
Colonel Leet said that no goods had been
lost since he took up the general order9bus
ness and explained the way in which goods
are stored and delivered.
Adjourned.
Tho committee will remain here another
week.