New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-10
CustOmhOuse Investigation.

NEW YORK, February 6.-At the custom
house investigation to day, exWeigheI
Perkins testified as to the labors of weigh
ers, showing that they had very little to do.
Witness had paid his political assessment
of two per cent. Some of it went for the
New Hampshire election. He paid it on
constructive cOmpulslOn.
Other testimony was offered showing the
payment OF sums to inspectors for the usual
purposes.
A. C. Beatty. late detective, testified
that Colonel Whitley, who is inspector of
customs with duties as head of the secret
service, after Selling $4,000 worth of
diamonds Struggled, paid the duties of
them and sold them to his men, Beatty
himself purchasing eight small ones for
$35, and witness has them now. The case
came before Commissioner Osborn, and is
still undecided; but the records of the
court show up the whole case. When
cigars were seized by Whitley the police
and reporters were allowed to help them
selves some reporters supplying themselves
twice day. In one instance 10000 cigars
were seized ard taken to Whitely's office,
and were never heard of afterward. Two
casks of whisky Struggled by the purser of
an 1nman steamer, were seized and carried
to Whitely's office. They suddenly disap-
peared, and the smuggler never prose
cuted. Whitley sends large quantities of
seized cigars to the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington to Bantield and
his clerks. A short time ago Beatty was
sent to depot by Whitley, and got trunk
containing counterfeits on the Shoe and
Leather Bank. Whitley went to that bank
with Beatty, Whitley telling the cashier he
beatty had been three months working
up the case, spending his own money, which
the government would not refund. Next day
the newspapers contained bogus story of
a terrible fight, in which Beatty was repre-
scented as shooting man to get trunk.
Some time after this the bank gave Beatty
500. Beatty was two hours in getting that
trunk. Another case of the seizure of snug
gled cigars was settled by paying Whitley
500, and the cigars were used in Whitely's
Office. Whitley is now an inspector of the
and secret detective. Beatty
stated that detectives have been in the
habit of arrestng people without authority.
and took them before the commissioner
and got authority there. Settlement
of the case is made at the district
Office. He mentioned the case
of Oppenheimer. He was arrested and
taken before the commissioner for SNUG
Cling cigars. The commissioner held him
and he paid $500 in the district attorneys
office and went about his business. The at
tachment on his store was raised and there
never was an Indictment. This was in
1870. There were 10000 cigars seized in
his case. They were taken to Colonel
Whitely's office, and | never knew what
became of them.
William l.. FIagg, an attorney, testified
that the books and papers of II. G. Cooper.
IN Broadway, were seized on an affidavit
charging him with undertaking his in
voice, and Colonel Howe stated that in
voices to the amount of $4,000 were liable
% confscation.
Thomas j. Bigmire testified that he had
Deen appointed United States weigher by
Collector Murphy, with the understanding
hat he would not be required to do any
luty, but was merely wanted for political
purposes.