The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-09
TIE R0BEScSd INVESTIGATION.
The seS6rs on the stand-Thoy Did Not Divide
Psymaster Russell Did Not Send Bricks
Round Cape Horn-Chief Engineer
Wood Says the Torpedo Boat Iron
isNot Crystalline on Fracture.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 1872.
The Naval Investigation Committee met this
evening" al nalf-past seven O'Clock.
PAyMAsTRR BRADFORD
was sworn, and TESTIFIED that he ss paymas.cr at
New York. and has been there two years. Being
inerrogated by secretary Robson he said his sys-
tenn was the same as that OF Paymaster Russell ut
Philadelphia; he never received directions from the
secretary to favor anybody, either verbally or In
writing, nor directly or indirectly; nobody purchased
supplies for him. he did not employ middle men;
never Doughr bricks from Catte TO send TO Calilor-
MIA nor from any body else for that purpose.
BY Mr. ARcHER-Nobody came 10 the yard to soil
cit patronage processing from the Secretary
or from Mr. Cattell he had bought Hour 10 the
amount OF So 600 from the Cattells III the last two
years, ana also $1,000 worth oil slate, they
BEING THE LOWEST BIDDERS.
Peynasler Russell was recalled ana examined by
Secretary Robeson-Neyer bought brick IN Phla-
depnia from anybody to senc to California.
Chief Engineer w. w. Wood, examined by Secre-
iary Robeson testified he had the supervision Of
the torpedo boat building at Brooklyn Navy Yard,
designed by Admiral Porter; the other boat Is being
constructed at Boston: the machinery Tor the Bos-
Inc machinery for the Brooklyn boat "'i at
the Morgan Iron Works Ia New YORK; on these con-
tracts the interests OF the government were guaran-
teed and well protected ana all customary IN
such cases taken; the price was nothing more nan
a lair one; Admiral Porter desired the witness TO
see To the inspection or tue iron and wished his III.
structi0ns IN relation TO the tests TO be iuy carried
0nt; ne recently examined the iron tested at the
New York yard as testified 10 by MI. Hewitt; there
were
NO CRYSTALLINE FRACTURES,
AZ that gentleman asserted; The witness exhibited
the piece Of iron To the committee III proof OF
has assertion; his opinion was. the iron Is OF very
nnc quality ana he mad never seen any IRON better
suited Tor the purpose.
Witness then gave circumstanlial account of
the Secor contract or building the Iecnnlseh Ma
hOpao and Manhattan. lie concluded his testimony
on tais branch Q. Inc subject BY saying he was OF
opinion the
sECoRs WERE ENTITLED TO PAYMENT
Tor extru WORK ana rise IN the prioe Of labor, similar
The items did not Include any other bills PAID TO
The Secors.
the contract every respect.
Z by Mr.. ARoiIER-The Gregory board dd not re.
jecG the Secor ITEMS but lsd them ASIDE simply for
the reason that In many cases they naa no time to
consider the subject OF advance IN the price or
IN the future, OWING to The large amount involved
Inc witness thought the Dill snonld be paid, and
Ar, sewei, who was also on the board. was OF Inc
The amount allowed TO Miles Greenwood, he
thought, was between 100000 and S6o,0o0 aud he
beneved the allowance to the secors by the Boggs
board was rign., because the claims were SIMILAR
The witness was examined NJ length as to items
IN HecOr's bills by Secretary Robeson.
As to the Gregory board IL was understood that
the SecOr claims would be again taken UP and set.
lied. mat board did not act unay IN the case. but
would have done so II Admiral Gregory had not
died
JAMES +. SECOR,
OF the firm OF Perine, Secor il Co., was examined
Oy secretary Robeson testified THAT $v5, 900
was not paid before The Bosgs board decided III
their favor.
lie never gave secretary Robeson dollar, nor TO
anybody Tor him.
CrOss.exaMlned BY Mr.. ARcHER-He had no
knOwl edge that Simon Johnson was employed as
their attorney: they had nor PAID 10 any oIcer or
the Navy Department dolar directly midi
recty, and tney were always ahead With their work
on the monitors.
BY Mr.. RoBFsoN-Ihe witness considered that
the government now owes them 100000.
CHARLES A. sECoR
was sworn and examined by MIR. Robson. He said
nc nad Onethlrd Interest IN the Claims; he received
the $685. 000 the secretary never received any OF the
money; ne never had any transactions with The Sec
OF any promise, nor has any officer Or any person IN
the Navy Department ever received any vauapi Q
consideration from that firm; Colonel Simon was
witness attorney TO present the law IN 1867 or 1865
he did 30 before The secretary Of the Navy, and w.t.
ness pad him a fee vi $1,000; he SAID
THE GOVERNMENT JUSTLY OWED THE FIRM
between $500 600 and $780, 900 the three vessels.
on the general contract FOR damages sustained.
BY Mr.. ARcHER-Mr. Cattell was not employ ed,
either by himself his brother. In iurtnerancc Of
the payment OF The claim lie applied 10 Secretary
Bore, who turned the mater over 10 Admiral POr-
ter who appointed The Boggs noard he had previous.
~ applied TO Secretary Welles WAC sad the bill
ought to he passed, but, account OF the death OF
Admiral Gregory he, and also Mr.. Lentnall, could
not see any way 10 get AT IT. secretary WeiieS SAID
some Of the items ought to be paid.
Adjourned tlh tomorrow night.