Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-09
NEW YORK.
Testimony Of Whitelaw Reid
On CustOmhOuse Corruption.


NEW YORK, Jan. 8.-The Customhouse
Committee held its session in the Astor
House. Whitelaw Reid read a column ar
ticle from the Tribune containing charges
against the monopoly of the general order
system given by ex-Collector Murphy to
Leet and Stockings, at various points of the
article giving his authorities for the state
ments therein. He states the various facts
had been given him by parties employed in
the Customhouse, but under pledge of Sc
crecy, the 1informers being afraid of re-
moval. -..
Mr.. Reid averred that Messrs. Forbes and
Contont, who had been in the examiners
office, were discharged by order of Secre-
tary Boutwell,, as he was informed, at the
suggestion of higher parsonage for not
having voted in the Republican General
C0pVention as directed by Murphy. Mr..
Heyser and Mr.. Jas. Corrigan were also
discharged. Mr.. Murphy told Gen. Palmer
that he had seen the President at Long
Branch, and that Gen. Grant asked him to
Gen. Palmer that Corrigan had better be
notified TO take care how he behaved, as he
was only retained in office because he was
Murphy's friend. Corrigan was afterwards
discharged because he worked against the
Murphy interest.
Another case was that of Mr.. Reitmeyer.
Mr.. DeCamp was likewise decapitated.
Various other cases of victims were cited.
Reid gave list Of some seventy officials
who were at the Syracuse Convention. He
said 1t is generally supposed here that the
once OF collector was worth about $75, 900
to $lOO,OOO per annum. He then told how
a Customhouse officer who certainly was
poor before he got his office, could afford to
furnish a Tribune reporter with $1,000
wherewith to start a magazine. The
strange part of this was that Mr.. JAYNE,
the gentleman referred to, gave this money
without ever having asked for a note or any
acknowledgment thereof.
A communication of T. P. Penfew was
read by Reid, showing how claim of one
hundred thousand dollars was presented
against firm whose books had been seiz-
ed.
Mr.. Reid handed in long list of dis
charged parties from the Custom House as
parties who could give valuable informa
ton.
On affidavit one Capt. Grant detailing
the statement of ]. D. Terry, a clerk in the
Custom House, to the effect that he is in
possession of the list of names of parties
who voted early and often at the primary
election of the Republican association of
this city. He said Terry being Inspector
said election that gave the list of fraudu-
lent voters at said primary to VIM. Haw
under promise of promotion.
Thomas Hoyt, of the firm Of Naylor &
Co., read long affidavit showing how his
firm had been victimized by customhouse
officials. On the 7th of September last
their books were seized and an investigation
instituted into their affairs which extended
over five weeks. In one part of the affi-
davit it is stated that Col. Frank E. Howe
said to Mr.. Hoyt that his (Hoyt's) firm
owed the Government $4,000, but offered
to settle the whole thing for $4,000.
Connolly.
The ex-ComptrOIler is not in the city, but
his friends say he can return to New York
in four hours if he is wanted, but they re-
fuse to disclose the place of his retreat.