New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-25
THE CLERKS ACCUSATIONS.


ment of the firm for several years. and has kept du
plicate set of their books from which he has been
enabled to give citations Of alleged frauds Of which
there COO or 700 instances. These, it is alleged
by bim are not only against the Government, in de-
priyng ii of its revenue but also against a large
number Of merchants, who, according to the story
of Hayes hayo been actually robbed of large amounts
of goods. The process Of the alleged frauds is de-
scribed by Hayes in his affidavit TO be something
like the following: Woodruff & Robinson have large
houses for the storage of all sorts of merchandise
az the Atlantic Docks Brooklyn. CaTgoes consigned
| 10 them taken in the vessels TO the docks aud
| transferred Immediately to the warehouses. OF
course the services of a United States weigber
necessary to the transfer. upon the welghers
report the il paid at the Custom house, and
the receipt is given to the conslgnor for the
amount Of the cargo stored. The informant
alleges that through the bribery of United
| States weighers, whom he names, Woodruff
| g. Robinson frequently received cargoes and re-
ceipted for them at very large percentage be-
| low their actual value Thus for instance bribed
weigber would return 5000 where 10000 bushels Of
salt were received by vessel In the same way
| other cargues were uudeT-weighed. The Govern
inent, according to Hayes, deprived of about
One-ifth OF its revenue and the consgnOr would
! lost 20 per cent Of his cargo.
The allegations of Hayes were so remarkable that
| Special Agent Jayne declared them to be more
extraordinary than any he had heard Of while in
the Government service. He placed little confidence
in Ilayess story al the outset, aud. rs will appear
below is still skcptica None OF the charges have
far known, been confirmed, and many if not all
the allegations may fall to the ground when an ex-
! animation is completed. The number Of merchants
of this city who are named by Hayes as having
been defraudcd IN the manner above stated is put
down ut 30; bGt their names have not yet been
made public, with the exception of VIM. Nelson, IT..
who is said TO be prepared to sue the firm.
Another series of charges against the firm, made
upon the same authority, is the shipment of stored
goods without permit. In each case where n mer-
chant takes goods from warehouse and ships them
without permit from the Custom-hOuse the penalty
il 5000. According to the charges made, Wood
ruff 81 Robinson have violated this regulation many
hundreds of times. Hayess statement is that 1t
was their custom to get permit to ship few
hundred bushels of salt, whatever articles they
wished 10 send away, and this permit ship an
entire cargo of several thousand bushels. After
the cargo had been sold and the money
received, the firm would settle Mt the CustOm-h0use
the duty for the remainder of the cargo, thus
gaining the interest the amoant due for che reye-
nue.. Hayes states in explanation of his leaving
the hooks showing the payment of brides
to United States weiehers The discovery of
this by Frank MoutOn, one of the members
of the firm led to remonstrances on tue laters part
and HAYES was directed 10 charge such amounts to
"incIdental expenses.n When he replied that that
would be no defense for him in case the tirm Were
TO charge him with appropriating the money lie was
told that there would DO no trouble on that score
and instructed to go ahead and attend to his
business as before He declined to make entries
which might compromise himself, and was removed
from Commercial Wharf where he had been, to
'Schenck's" stores, where he had nothing to do but
draw his pay. Finally on Sept IS he resigned, and
the next day he filed his charges in the Custom
house. But before he left the firm he made for
his own protection, duplicate set OF the
books ~ far "a the fraudulent entries appeared.
The total penalties iii the case as charged by Hayes
if proved will amount, it is said to over S2,coO0OO
Ex-Judge Fullerton and Col A. c. Davis of Brook
lyn who have been retained to look after Hayess
interess. were applied to for information concern
ing the They politely but firmly declined TO
mpart any details for publication
Mr. HAYES DEPENDS HIMSELF.
The following conversation took place yesterday
between TRIBUNE reporter aud Mr.. Hayes
O. Mr.. Hayes. what are the differences between
Won and the firm of Woodruff & Robinson A. Not
any: all differences which exist are between that
firm aud the Government, or The merchants doing
business through their bonded warehouses.
Q. Do you know why tue Government has de-
layed for over a month the investigation of the
charges which YOU made A. don't know That
tbe Government has delayed at all do not
think IL proper for me at the present time to say
ANYTHING about the action of the Government
O. But your letter to The Brooklyn Eagle Of Wednes-
day evening speaks very openly on this matter. A.
The Eagle had published libel on me, and L de-
Inanded its retractoD, and thought II only proper
ia my letter to cay enough to satisfy the editors In
regard to my position. ] have been 80 vlliheh ana
abused for doing what believe to be my duty that
bs we determined 10 submit to 1t no longer There
is not now. and never has been, hparlcle OF ground
10 accuse OF Matchmaking am very willing that
every word and act of mine with reference TO this
whole matter should be known and scrutlnlEed. and
need the advice of no lawyer TO tell me my rights
in repeliug the vile assaults which have been msde
upon me.
O. VIII you state the nature Of the charges against
the firm of Woodruff a. RobinsOnf A. So far rs !
am ne rsouslly concerned should have no objection
10 dong so bu, It might be improper for Inc to say
anything pending the investigation by the Govern
ment. Lad intended TO say nothing on the subject
st ALL aud would not have done 50 had there not
been apparently studied effoct 70 brand me as
backmsiler. When sm held up to public odium
feel that | have o night 10 say as much as deem
necessary Ia viudicate my character; farther than
that prefer to let this matter take its due
without any word from me-
O. But are you not willing 10 give at least an out
line OF the points involvedi A. No; shall say
nothing whatever upon those points at present. /
am fully prepared to indicate myself in the course
/ have taken. aud the sequel will show that my