The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-14
POST OFFICE FRAUDS.
INVESTIGATION OF THE CASE OF FALSE BIDS
CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENT CLERKS

INVESTIGATION OF TIE CASE OF FALSE BIDS
CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1875.
This morning United states Commissioner In
gersoIl held an examination In tae case OF James
Van Week. who Is charged with Offering or CIV
ing or causing TO he offered or given, $500 10
Chester NJ. Colt 10 influence his action and cause
MIN to do an act In violation OF mis- lawful duties
in order TO assist William G. Iddngs ana Patrick
Laughlin TO procure an award OF the contracts for
carrying the mails, through fraudulent bids.
Colt was made a witness IN this case
as States evidence. lie said that .sev-
erai months ago Van Week came 10 him
aud told him he wanted TO introduce him to Kct-
tie. and desired him TO give TO Ketrlc Information
OF the lowest bids for carrying the mails on certain
routes IN Texas, saying 10 him that there were
$4,000 90 be made in the transaction; The witness
received $500 from Kettle and furnished TO Kettle
wnar be believed 20 be the lowest nids, and Kettle
from TINS information put in lower bids in the
name OF William q. Iddings and Patrick Laughlin;
he was not positive that he slipped in the fraudu-
lent bids, but he knew that two or three such bid
were mixed with the genuine bids TO be con-
sidered BIZ the Postmaster General as bona ude
bids; he asked Kettle for the $500 as loan, in
tending to return IL some future time.
MONEY WAS SECONDARY CONSIDERATION
with him in furnishing the information TO Kettle
and his main object was TO obligc his friend Van
Week, VINO introduced him to Kettle. Van Week
had asked witness If he could furnish certain In
formation TO Kettle, and witness told him he
would do the best ne could.
William D. Kettle having been sworn. said that
about the 10th OF February he was introduced 10
Colt by Van Week; he made arrangements with
Colt and Van Week to take four or five vine din
ners with him az restaurant; 1t was alter the
second dinner that witness approached Colt on
business; Colt afterward brought to him book
from the Post ONCE Department, and showed him
the amounts or the lowest bids on inc margin I:
witness thought from the figures that he could slip
IN two or three bids, and therefore, he gave Colt
first 5000 and paid him $3.50 afterward; the wit
ness said he put In these Texas bids in the name
OF Patrick Laughlin he handed them to Chan.
nell, clerk in the department, who slipped
them IN
AMONG THE GENUINE BIDS;
he did not regard the money given to Colt az a
loan; 1t was gwen to him Tor furnishing inlorma.
ton; witness had said to Van Week that hewould
the lowest bids; Van Week remarked that Colt was
peasant boy; he never authorZedVan Week TO
s SGs n n s OF Pack adue
District Attorney Fisher showed TO the witness
the bids for routes In Iexas-nine or ten In num-
ber-tnree 81 which the witness SAID were gem
uine, the remainder being iraU1uent. and on
these he obtained awards; witness let Van Week
have $50 Is loan, $50 or which ne returned.
WHAT COLT WANTED
He did not say anything about money to Van
Week at the time ne sought an introduction 10
Colt the latter wanted 5000 OF bim he mentioned
this TO Van Week, VINO laughed ana said, That is
rather heavy" the witness could not see it-that
IA, he did not think the advantage lie deriv ed
from Colts Information was worth tnat much
money; ne did not authorize Van Week 10 ofler
Colt any specific sum; alter the introt uction lie
negotiated with Colt alone; he told Van Week
at the second meeting that he found Colt u
pretty good boy, and that he could make some
points out OF him. During the crossexamination
Kettle said Van Week must have known what
Post 0flce contractors are after when they give
dinners. The further examination was adjourned
Till tomorrow.
District Attorney Fisher and Judge Spence, So
lcitor Tor the Post once Department appeared
Tor the governments, and Colonel William A. Cook
and Charles Thompson for Van Week.
After the case OF Van Week shall nave been dis
posed OF that OF Kinds VIII be taken M by the
commissioners.
Frank S. Channel, one OF the clerks CHARGED in
GRIMM al connection with The mani contract frauds.
surrendered himself To the Marshal to-day, and
gave bonds in The sum OF $4,000 Tor q hearing be
lore the Commissioner.