New-York tribune., 1874-03-06

sTATEMENr OF WILLIAM r. DODGE

the Committee concerning what ho called
duplicate and fraudulent invoices. in Justice
TO himself aud to his firm. Ho had oecu-
pied the position of merchant for fifty years, but had
not, until lately, been assaed and matreated by the
officers of our own Government. Of whom had made
statements for the purpose OF satisfying the Committee
that great wrong had been committed by his firm.
Mr. Dodge said that after their had been before the
public some time they had paid the money The press,
Notwithstanding all the circumstances, mado unfdyor
able comments Rather than subject themselves to n
suit for 100000 they paid the s2OOO demanded. He
said then and that great injustice had been done
them.
Mr. Dodge then showed the Committee the working OF
the law, saying that at the present tmc and without
any agency the part of his firm. attempt made
again to parade their before the public, OF
the most terrible that had occurred under tho
Customs service, and attempts also made to show
that there evidence beyond all question that there
had been premedated fraud for series Of years. Such
efforts to inure the firm traced to those who
tcpated in the division OF tao money and ID was said
the 70 be brought 10 the attention OF Congress-
where u would be shown that the firm was com
posed Of men who had deliberately undertaken to
defraud the Government All this was done To
strengthen the system which had placed money IN the
hands OF the This firm had imported goods TO
the value Of from $4OOOO0O to s5OOOO0O00. and paid
more than ESQ 100000 in duties. Their good namo had
assaed untilit was asslied by Government
officers II errors oven frauds were suspected the
persons suspected should have opportunity to ex-
plain before legal proceedings instituted As the
Custon.house managed a fourth Of century ago,
the Chief Executive officer would have sent for mem
Der OF the firm and asked him 10 go before attorney
or solicitor hear statement himself before deciding
on judicial course.
The knowledge hint that crossed his mind
that he accused OF any fraud or commission OF
business wrong when he sitting at the board Of
to Custom-house There, for the first time no con-
fronted this Jayne. The then Dstrct-Atoruey Judge
Davis. was also present. Mr.. DOdge's junior partner
accompanied him. He had no idea what he WAS called
there for, and he never thought that anything was
wrong MIR. Jayne, opening the conversation IN his
usual bland way, said he was sorry that tho
Government was in pos iession or facts to show
that the hrm engaged a. deliberate
attempt to defraud the by 81 stematic series
Of fOrgeries; and secondly by importing goods with
false and duplicate invoices, and that he iIr. Jaync
supposed that he (Mr. Dodge knew very well what
were the penalties involved under these Circumstances
giving him understand that every act OF perjury "
which he sht be guilty subjected him to fine OF $500
and Imprisonment for not less than two years. Jayne
also SAID that under such false invoices ana under
valuation according to the law OF 1853 the lm had for
feed s7JOOO to tho Government, and now" no con
tiuued, 81 have warrant from the District Court
take possession OF your books and papers" This
came TO him like thunderb0lt. He kncwiJudge Davis
10 be honorable and upright man. and said 10 him:
This strange proceeding. 1t is entirely to
I deny the whole oft defy this man JAYNE Ia pro-
duce snile duplicate invoice ever used by Phelps,
Dodge & Co." Jayne said; 81 have the afldavits 10
show that you tampered with officers of tho Govern
meEt," Mr.. Dodge said 70 Jadge Davis: II there are
any books papers to establish such they
your service" Judge DAVIS remarked to jayne that
nothing could be falr. and that there
To iSgu then
said that he would so 10 the store and
get what books he wanted Going to his office and en-
tering the back room, Mr. Dodge said TO those present
There is fearful charge against us OF derauding the
revenue and of perjury, and here is United States od
Ger to take possession Of our booss" Mr. Jayne had
or two officers with him. The fifty men in the store
were at their desks atonished the proceedings.
Mr. Jayne took what books he wanted. and cart
backed up at the door TO take them away. Mr.. jayne
looking his paper, said he wanted red book with
clasp. Neither he Mr. Dodge nor his partners or
clerks had ever such book but JAYNE sad
there and he must have it, Although there was such
book, the DistTictAttorney said il was kept back.
Mr. Dodge wanted the Committee to understand how
the Government deals with merchants under the law.
Mr.. Jayne sald he wac industrious, and watchfd aud
faithful. II submitted to the Committee whether
any engaged IN such business must not be lnddstr
ous to extraordinary sums OF money as the emo
umeuts OF labor. The members Of the Committee re-
"a
ought not have But tns gentleman tMr. Jaynel
received four times than the salary OF the
President OF the United States, twenty
times than any member Of Congress-
The alleged sfslse and duplicate invoices are
a great bugDear. 1t was much that he tIr
Dodge feared the ail aud the accusation OF PERJURY
but the payment OF sl75OOOO Ike pistol held
10 his ear It was money ruin. The effort male
20 impress upon the victim that this one OF the
most wonderful OF fraud on record Judge Davis
said he was called on to examine so terrific
as this one. The firm did not know, nor could they
ascertain what the Government claimed could be under
valued. All they could learn was that the amount
large and further, that IL n very terrible
Mr. Dodge then examined the matter of invoices,
tntipQ the statements OF Mr.. Jayne, who YESTERDAY
read only one but the other oath required and Mr.
Dodge said that Messrs Phelps. Dodge Co. could not
20 into market at Liverpool and buy at any time,
ready manufactured, oneelghth part OF the tin they
keen constantly in stock. They make their
with ten twenty thirty forty parties for tin plate,
taking 90 many boxes month OF week.
They fix the price on Jan. for supplies
throughout the year or quarter. I'm plate
was at first small 10 by IA inches
IA by 2o and 20 by 4O Formerly, 500 boxes
OF lin was the limit imported but the importation
is between million and half and two million boxes.
There regular manufacturers OF the largest sizes
Of tin They not OF merchantsbe sizes and weight
An the immense sizes arc made 10 order Vessels are
made OF such without seams, the manufacture being
By stamping into sbapes Ihe hrm make contracts
with manufacturers in Chicago, Philadelphia, and all
over the country. There 10 hurry in dong
the business pn Liverpool six or eight vessels
leaving per day, at o'clock, and 1t being
necessary 10 have the papers board at once In no
case were there duplicate invoices ana ne dcfed that
man Jayne 10 say there were In order' however TO
save labor copies taken with press from the billie
ot m. manufacturers These copies made to facii
tate the business and 10 instruct the young man in