Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-03
TRIAL OF JUDGE j. w. WRIGHT.
The ALLEGED Indian ForxerfeS

for the government against Judge Wright; Al
never SAID here in the city that II he hal j dge
wright cOnvt;ted be would get an office; had
received no promise of reward for the part he
took in this trial; had never discussed with DIR.
nay a. 10 whether he should prefer a clerkship
or messengers position; never was paid a ceBt
for going 70 St Louis 10 testify before the grand
jury. A letter TO the President OF the United
States, written by Judge Wright, and copied by
witness in lsoJ, was shown and identified. Ger
tain portions. wherein Judge Wright IL relieved
OF all blame, were shown, and witness said that
the letter did not reflect his own opinions, but
was dictated by Judge Wright himself; had
never said 10 a man named Behrens, In a beer
saloon in this city, that If Judge Wright had
paid him $50 or more IL would have been better
for him.
Letter here produced, written by witness
from st. Louis 10 Judge Wright, wherein he
states that his character and reputation are
gone, and that he should send him (witness) an
order for 500 worth of groceries, Witness
said the letter was correct, as his views az that
time.
Another letter shown, wherein witness de-
manded of Judge Wright S5D in order to paw
Tor bis horse, written from Fort Scott in 1869
witness said this letter WAS correct went
through great many accounts of the second
bounty, ana found that some OF them had not
been paid.
II. E. Mis- sworn:-Is an attorney and no
taTy public, living in st. Louis; was shown and
identified receipt, a. having been given TO
him by Judge wright's son a. part OF the eN-
Wright.
Mr.. Harrington claimed that the testimony
was admissible, when the court admitted the
testimony temporarily, subject to future a1uis-
sion or exclusion, and adjourned till this morn
ing.
In consequence of the protracted illness of
Judge Fisher. he has not been able 20 give MS
personal attention to the Wright case, as he
purpOsed 20 have dOneI
SECOND DAY.
The trial was resumed this N Oruing. when
Nelsm5ai Haydn was sworn.-witnsss identi-
Il rhn ErNTt ali
James Sapp as in his b. ndwriting. Judge
Wright told him the receipt was legal, but the
department. required a witness to such receipts.
Mr.. Harrington proposed to show that witness
placed names on from POO to 800 others.
The Court ruled adversely.
Cross examined.-The name was written by
him in 1859.
". n. Champion sworn.-witness produced
the records of the Interior department and
turned TO page 3tS,yolUms 6, where the appoint
ment OF Judge Wright July 11ch, in 1856, APP
pears.
The defence objected to its reading as il was
before the bill authorizing the second bounty
was passed. ana they are not charged with any
thing under the first bounty.
w. J J. Camp assistant clerk) testified that
the vouchers zone of which was the receipt 10
question: was received from st. LOUIS, aui filed
IN the arbitration case October 18th, 1872.
JoSeib a nutdmSoH, sworn.-Wltness was a
clerk in the Interior department.
QueStiOn.-DO you know the custom of the
department in requiring the filing of receipts?
The defence objected, and Mr.. stanton read a
letter from Secretary Browning, dated in $50,
TO the Secretary OF War in relation to the pay
ment OF bOunties 10 the Indian regiments, stating
that the law contemplated that they should be
paid as soldiers and not as Indians, and the law
does net give authority to that departm5 ut in
the matter.
MIR. Harrlngton.-Ihat decision was reversed
by Secretary Cox and the vouchers filed in that
department.
Dir. 1. Wright.-NO, sir; not these vouchers.
Mr.. Stanton also read a decision on The sane
Second nj Ia
ceeded to argue that the Interior department
mad nothing to DO with the bOdnties.
The court said the custom OF the department
could be proved, and he would rule on the qIes-
ton in their prayers.
Mr.. Williamson resumed the stand and stated
that the department in its instructions req uired
them TO hle receipts in the department.
The government here rested.
NE CLAPPERrOS WAS RECALLED.
and identified two letters and telegram sent
by him TO Mr. Stanton.
Odd you not say in the grand iury room
mat the receipts were made IN sir. Stanton's
Mr. Harrington objected. on the ground that
what transpires IN the grand jury Is secret, aad
there is no way TO contradict 1t. Mr. II. read
the oath administered to the grand jury.
answered.
Mr.. Clapperton said he did not state in the
grand jury room that the receipts were made
here; but he had said the signatures were at
tested IN Washington. Witness admitted that
in Il he told j. ID. Wright that he had furnished
his father with seventeen receipts.
Mr.. stanton proposed 20 submit a motion to
ant, on the ground that no Otfense was com
nitted.
The Judge stated that he was not n the habit
OH hearing part of a case, and would not take
II away from the jury at this time.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE.
A recess was taken, and on reassembliny
the grand jury which returned the indictments
against Wright; recOllects that Clappert0n was
before them; TO the best of his knowledge Clan
portion said some of the receipts were made in
W ashingtOn and some in st. Louis. and were
signed here some where in or about this neigh
bOrhOCd.
CrOss-examined:-Don' recollect that Clap
pertOn said the attestatiOn was placed on the
receipts in this city. He did not mention par
ticulaTly the receipt in the Hawkins case.
Re-direct--Fhe receipts on which the indtct-
ments were found were the ones that he re-
ross-examination.-witne knows tbere
were several hundred drafts in the room. anI
- indictments were found as a matter OF con-
venence.
Joshua Ross, sworn.-witness resides at Mus
CO gee, Creek nation, and was a Cherokee by
birth and Creek by marriage; was at Fort
GtbsOn in May, 1863; recOllects that Judge
Wright came out to pay the second bonntsS
knows Lacey Hawkins, was a friend OF his; wa;
az Fort Gibson in 1850, when Judy e Wright diss
blrsed the first bounty; witness was presen-
at the tine when Lacy Hawkins ret
eeiVed bis money, that Is, his first bOunty)
identified the receipt, the signature to which he
witnessed. Witness produced the books of
Ross, Gunther & Co., and referred 70 a ciafge
against Lacey Hawkins, of SO; also, on Decem-
Der Sth, 1865, two years after he had witnessed
The receipt,) and February 18th, 1869; produced
a note OF F. II. Nash to r., G.. 81 Co., that he
had advanced goods on Lacey Hawkins second
bounty, dated February, 1863. Witness ex-
planned the manner in which Judge Wright
paid the Indians, stating that on receiving their
traits they would get the merchants to cash
them. Identified the signatures of y ash and II.
Z. Meigs, endorsed on the draft, as genuine.
James E. HileF.-WItness was a member of
the grand jury who found the indictments;
could not state what ClappertOn said in relation
10 the receipt IN question; don't recolect
whether he (ClappertOn) said the receipts were
made here, in the Indian country, or st. Louis
but knows he said that some were witnessed in
this city.
Henry q. KsiGs sworn;-Witness has resided at
Fort Gibson since 1856; has been clerking for ID.
H Ross & Co., Ross, Gunther & Co., and VIM.
Purcell.
BURNS CLUB-ElectiOR Of OH-ers.-At the
annual meeting OF the Burns Club. held at
Gardeners gallery, Pennsylvania avenue, the
officer were elected w. II. Smith,
president; Colonel George COwie, first vice
president; Andrew McCallIm, second vice
president; Lawrence Gardaer, secretary, AMI
IN traa DiraPrnrz-E