New-York tribune., 1872-06-18


| The suit of Henry A. Tilden against Benia-
min f. Butler for the recovery 10000 damages for the
OF tho steamer NASSAU resumed in the United
States Circuit Court, before Judge shpman, yesterday
Most OF tho morning session occupied in tho reading
OF documentary evidence. The written statement OF
samuel p. Griffin, shipping merchant Of New Orleans,
which was ruled admissible, set forth among other
| things. the following:
know tho steamer Nassau, and was once sufficiently
interested In her TO hayo her Inspected with the lnten
ton Of purchasing her for my own use; when he was
made purchased her from Gen. Butler ultmatelyi ne
is no relation OF mine his brother Andrew Jackson BY
purchase there but few vessels Of sin class
In NewOrleans the General told me he dd not wan the
vessel he could not make her 1T for the puro es Tor
ExJedge Porter~I wish It to be understood thatA J.
Butler Informed his brother, Gen. Bntler tlat ne
wanted purchase the vessel but that the owner, Mr.
~ TSSa % S m beS sr bSd 20 NH Mr. 2 rnS
martialed and brought before hAm when he demanded
that he should deliver the Nassau over 70 Iae
| mont immediately, at whatever price Butter might
choose 10 give.
decidedly upon such matter.
Col WIN. II. weige testided: was one Of Cen Bqt, B
Iers adede camps during the war; and was with him
while he was stationed in Neworeans; two DAYS after
President Grant took his position In the WDlte house
lad am Interview view With W Gem Butter shortly after this lie
asked what my recollection OF the seizure OF
W then said that he expected get into trouble
about t. and, If 80, he should want what knew about
At this point several letters introduced written
by Gen Butler 10 the witness. AS the handwriting was
TO read them himself which he did. They sod con-
siderable amusement they referred chiefly 10 the pro
gress and development OF pup "hcn was sn' Hoin
George Hunuiwell testified purchased the Nassau
the 10th day of September. 1862 made Contract 70
convert her into towboat and 70 have her sides bulk
headed 50 that could her eag2f sss
soldier came 10 nay mouse, an0 asked me II my
6e said Cen. BtIer Wished to see him. went to him
Immediately, and was asked IL was the owner OF the
Nassau; when told him was, he said he wanted TO
not wish 10 sell her, replied ne then sad II dId
States Government l told him that rather than
sell her would charter her 70 the GISetnnsg & es he
lam going TO send her into perous position where she
may be lost - said in that would look 70 the
S t ss f Sf and g Re R You iS what think she worth
said thought that was rather hard, as ! had 1ust
been offered S25OO by his brother for half share ia
heri he replied, You he sir: know all about he
then instructed orderly TO goIareund to the custom
house with me the Nassau transferred over 70
him for consideration Of s25,0OO; the clerk whom
knew spoke to and asked what wanted told sim
Cen Butler; I said the sale was soompul-
sory my part. and showed him me me
Sjer was close to me- and could hear ali that said
went back with the soldier to the Generals office and
from there 10 my own Office with INSTRUCTIONS 70
come back the day and complete the papers which
did; Gen Butler instructed me to return the papers
were then finished, and l was sent TO tine Custom
house, under the charge OF one Wlegel VINO,
| believe, has testified; no went WIN me
To have the papers recorded; Gen. Butler
then gave check for s31 360I the Citizens Bank OF
NeWsreans; this money then at IL per cent DIS
count as compared with green-backsi told Butler IL
would not be the last he should hear from this matter
two or three days aferward the General sent an orderly
around and asked me if L would take my steamer
back, as he did not want her because she
get her back, but I had not the money
he remarked he would not give five minutes and was
about to say something else when Admiral FarTagut
and his staff entered then went to my Office to raise
the money: had been there about ten minutes when an
orderly again and said that the General wanted to
see me ON my way back to the Generals Office pro
cured check for 81 800 from barker whom knew;
when went into tine Office the General asked me what
conclusion had come to; SAID had the money and
wished to buy her back he said, You can't have her
the quartermaster has just been here and says ne
must have herr" at the time she was seized she was
worth from S50000 to 100000
| CrossexamiQed by Gen, Bqtler-I hal never bought
any steamer prior to 1892 The Nassau was Owned 0y Mr
Suflim and Mr. Buell. OF this city was Just about 10
nave her altered when you seized her. had received
INV bill OF sale few days before she was seized p
van had paid s4 500 her when she was seized the
| seizire prevented my making gOod my oDhgatloh at
thot time but have done so by various trahSaebohs
| siuce then. -, ,... -ts.h ho
A paper was then handed to the witness, which pc
dented as copy OF the transfer paper the original OF
Which was retained in the Custom-house IN heWoreans
l A.