The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-13
TIE CUSTOM HOUSE INQUIRY.
General Hillyer's Letter on Porter or Parker
and Leers Detail-How the New York Con-
vention Was Managed-Paving for Their
Honors-Lset's Threat to Grinnell-
That Dinner at Wizards

WASHINGTON, D. c., Marcn IL, 1872.
The Senate Custom House Committee resumed
their examination this afternoon
letter from General Hilyer, dated March 0, was
read IN which he says he regards it as utterly i'm.
material to the issues under the consideration
OF the committee how long he remained In
the service or when Mr.. Leet was at.
tached to General Grants headquarters as
clerk, as OF General Porter's special request
the committee permitted that gentleman to testify
concerning certain records on these subjects and
make his comments thereon. General Hillyer re.
garded IT due to himself. as well as to the Just
bearing OF sucn testimony. that the committee
should be in possession OF the exact facts in the
case. He then proceeds 10 give them at length,
stating that he General Hnlyer) LETT vicksburg
week or two before the surrender OF that place,
owing to the fact that he disabled from service
by severe attacks OF rheumatism, and did SO under
direction OF the medical director. Although he was
not literally at the fall OF vicksburs, he was there
during all the offensive operations Of the slege He
knew nothing OF
THE DATE OF LEETs DETAIL.
but knew 1t was not customary at headquarters to
made permanent detail Of clerks until their fitness
was tested by trial. For reasons stated by Hilyer
the date OF the detail cited by Porter no EVIL
dence to Hnlyer's mind that that was the time Leet
joined headquarters; on the contrary, 1t is evidence
he was ut headquarters on trial for some time be-
FORE He concluded as folows:-
wa. the 81
Fos ns %s -
heard q Ssnsrsi Porter until b Joined tn. Gems
RAJ Ssss: aSps ss latte; I'D & son.s hs w
ID. h.ss Porter vnsn
se became clerk a; but he would have
p asn
positive testimony that s The and
was that
TOwNLEY's TESTIMONY.
The examination Of william H. Townley, assist ant
appraiser at New YORK, was resumed. He testified
coee The witness. in answer to Question: ns said
wosd H se s aaws to amsa me Damage
came into General Paimer's ONCE to seek
patronage; witness did not hear all the conversations
Immediately after Mt. Thompson left General
that he wanted place, but would not be likely to
get 1t or any other because he General Palmer did
further informed witness that Thompson had said
he could make arrangements with merchants BY
which both he and General Palmer
COULD MAKE GREAT DEAL OF MONEY
II Palmer would allow higher rates OF tonnage than
contents Of memorandam Of between
gan, . Dacker ii tfae Appraisement once which
Palmer ant a pss as Murphy request saa that
trlct Republican Association made q speech, In
which ne took ground against printing the roll OF
cured the place Tor Corrigan, took OFFENCE OF tnis
and was anxious to have him removed. Murphy
was s sD s
Murphy SO long as
coRRlGAN WAS GOOD RErr BLIcAN
and performed his duties faithfully he would not
New York Convention, MI Murphy said p the eA Pres
partments should work as unit and exercise the
same influence IN the Convention, and that some
% en
eral Palmers statement to be that Murphy said that
rich men ought to be kicked out so that they might
PAY SOMETHING FOR THE HONOR
ness was that Murphy said that Governor Woodford
coming in said that Horace Greeley
woull be good candidate; having been asked II
70 sss s sa Msnsd
bis RECOLLECTION was that Murphy said the President
not, however be certain, but General Palmer some
time ago had the memoir andum, which General
the '0u Witness would witness
testified as to the manner . Of examining
o9 roDD. sssse @
small. The cordIng and sealing Of packages, how.
ever did not AFFORD protection against theft as goods
ance OF the cords and seal small articles are most
likely to be plundered, such Is scarfs handkercnefs
anu gloves; but when sucn things occur IL IL very
difficult to discover the Offenders.
COMMISSION MERCHANT swEARS.
George W. WHITE a commission merchant or New
YORK, swore that he became acquainted with
Colonel Leet In September, 1854. some time In the
month OF May, 1862 Leet showed him o letter from
President Grant. From mis- first conversation with
Leet In April 1869, he supposed Leet was get the
general Or Ter business, and that 1t had been prom.
ised by Collector Gnnnell. Leet also informed him
m, DINEp WITH COLLECTOR oRINNELL
anu GENERALS Porter aud Babcock and several New
n n1insrs at Wiliard's HOTEL Leet subsequently
Sa a upon him az his house In New YORK, the
OBJECT being to meet o gentleman Mr. JennlnGs
s VINO c ,sa give him practical Information
him 10 MT Bixby; Leei nrst Informed Collector
0rlnneu OF his appointment and brought him his