New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-26
ANDREW j. BUTLER's INTEREST.

showing that Admiral tarragut was not
and could not have been in New Orleans in
September 1862
ANDREW J. BUTLER's INTEREST.
General Butler-I endeavored by every
means to sell the Nassau, and asked my
brother, Andrew j., if he could find me a
| purchaser, but did not succeed. Finally
Mr.. Griffin became the purchaser of the
| Nassau on the terms on which / had offered
her back to Mr.. HunnewelI The money
fused to purchase the Nassau with was
| public funds, and not my own pri-
| vate means. did not purchase the
| Nassau for any private purpose of my
| own or Of anybody else. / did not know
that my brother, Andrew j., became in
| terested IN the Nassau with Mr.. Griffin until
| the fact came out in the testimony on the
| present trial. My brother died insolvent.
| The testimony Of Mr.. Weigel in relation to
my brother having secret conference with
me, at which army officers were excluded,
is unqualifedly false Mr.. Weigel admit
ted to me that he had got drunk. and had
pounded some of JEFF ThOmpson's flag of
truce officers, and he was placed in close
arrest in his own room, and could not have
been at my Office at the time he swore that
he was at my office and heard my brother
Andrew j., tell me that he lmy brother
wanted the Nassau, and l must seize her
for him.
LIEUTENANT wIEGEL's FRENZY.
General Butler then read eorrespondepee
between himself and Mr.. Wiegel, in which
the latter threatened General Butler that
he would get even with him for not cOntin-
uing to get him official positions, saying
that he had information about General But
Ter that he could use against him, one of
the letters of Wiegel being to the effect that
the latter was preparing for publication
aria fNF Il n
Butler. A later letter from Wiegel asked
pardon of General Butler for all the offenses
previously committed by him against the
General, on the ground that they were COM
mitted in a state Of frenzy, and General
Butler replied to this by saying that the
frenzy presented too much method to be ex-
cusable.
General Butler then stated that Wiegel
was the author OF the stories published
about the General in relation to stealing
spoons, wearing armOr in New Orleans, and
OF other malignantsstOries.
THE ACTION WITHDRAWN.
Judge Porter here arose and stated that
he had conferred with his associate counsel
and the plaintiff, and they had heartily and
unanimously resolved to proceed no further
in the case, in view of the developments
made by the testimony for the defense,
which was conclusive IN their minds that
General Butler had acted solely in the in
terests of the government in what he did
about the Nassau, and for a praiseWOrthy
object. Counsel for plaintiff had been mis-
led by their own witnesses, and deemed it !
no more than an act of justice that the pro-
eeedings should be terminated by the with |
drawal of juror.
The statement was followed by applause |
from all parts of the court room
United States District Attorney Davis |
then stated that the government being sat |
isied that General Butler had acted in a |
proper manner in the proceeding relating |
to the Nassau, had resolved to defend him, |
and that was the reason why he (the Dis
trict Attorney appeared in the case. He /
was OF the opinion, however, notwithstand- |
ing the graceful manner in which opposing /
counsel had abandoned the case, that the /
true course would be, in Justice to General |
Butler, to continue the case to a conclusion
and have deliberate verdict of the jury.
THE TRIAL ENDED.
The court was of the opinion that such a
course would be of no practical value, and /
could not more clearly and satisfactorily
viEdicate General Butler than the action
suggested, which left nothing to wish for
on the part of the defense.
General Butler then whispered to the
District Attorney, who rose and announced
himself satisfied with the proposition of
Judge Porter, and the trial was ended amid |
renewed applause, by the withdrawal of a
Juror, General Butler being Immediately
and warmly congratulated by |
his friends, and, in fact, by all present who |
could get within handshaking distance of
him
The court then handsomely apOlogized to
Mr.. DOolittle of counsel for plaintiff, for
having spoken sharply to him during the
TuaaIau onH ba v1rOoaal- !
ings terminated.
A New York special to the Cincinnati
Enquirer says:
General Butler, after winning the suit
which he has been fighting here this week,
was interviewed. He said The first suit
relates to General Twiggs' swords, and is
brought by woman who claimed to be the
Generals niece, but who is not. The swords
are in the Treasury Department. Another
suit is about some sugar which was bought
Dy me for the purpose of ballasting several |
government vessels which were going to
New York, and which was consigned to the
government. Then there is a suit relating
20 draft which was taken from spy who ]
was captured within our lines. The money
rom this draft was collected and turned
)ver to the government. One other suit is
or the arrest and the trial by military
commission of an arms contractor of the
confederate government at Richmond, who
,ame through the lines having in his pocket
contracts for the manufacture of clothing
or the rebel navy. The Nassau is, as /
ave said, the first brought to trial.
RepOrter-DO you anticipate a like re-
ult for the other suits
General Butler-I hope to be as ready to
meet them all, and | trust that l shall be. /
RepOrter-DO you think that the same !
minus pervades all the suits
General Butler-I do.
RepOrter-Have you any belief that they
ire connected, or that the same person or
'arty engineers all the cases against you {
General Butler-NO; / think there is a
PERSONAL feeling in all of them. But | don't
hink that it is a combined effort against !
ne. Suits have never been brought against
ne except in New York and Baltimore.
hey don't come where live They take /
he suits to New York, where they think
here is prejudice against me Of which I
hey can take advantage, getting money, |
ratifying personal feeling, and making
themselves famous by carrying on an at
ack on Butler. I am perfectly willing to {
ave my official life examined, without the '
east fear of the result in the case. Ny l
Ounsel and myself forebOre on many points 1
7hich we might have used to quash the :
rial, because / wanted the case to be thor
ughly and openly tried, so as TO allow the T
Try and the country to get all the facts G
nd form Judgment on the actual merits. '
-zzal----------