New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-20
THE COURTS.
1E slit AGAINST GEN. WEBB.

THE SUI AGAINST GEN. WEBB.
he REFUSES AGAIN TO GIVE THE NAMES OF BRA
zIIIANs TO WHOM HE PAID MONEY FOR IN
FIUENcE.
When, in 1867, James Watson Webb was
Minister TO Brazil he received &14.252 on account OF
claim which this Government had against the Bra
Milan Government for the Illegal seizure and condemna-
hon Of the American schooner Caroline. OF this sum
only $4,000 turned into the Treasury by Mr. Webb,
who claimed that the balance, 252 by the implied. II
not direct Of Secretary Seward, paid 70 Ger
tain influential Brazans for services rendered in secur
M the settlement Of the claim. Shit brought by the
Government in the United States District Court for this
district the a9,252. An order obtained
An the case for tie examination Of Mr.. webb before
eefereo. and during the examination Mr.. Webb, in re-
ronse TO written questions made the following state
ment
Ireceivcd from the Understanding the state Gov
eminent II Brazil, at RIO DE- Janco, on oct = l-61, the
sum ~ sl4252, OF which 1000 was IN pay eni ~ the
interest the claimant IN the socaed Caroline claim.
TIE resi- Tue being payable by ms direction TO oiher per
The payment wac made IN pills on London AT 20
days in three different bills; and from publication
nade by tie Department Of STATE by order OF ne House
of Eenrcs Natives have dOun. tAat the bills were
ior E5.0OO R5.9U0, 1882. respectively. They were
drawn by the Government OF Brazil on their fiscal agent
IN London, out cannot give the anc 9i me uier or
pyce transmitted The bill Tor 10000 20 Ir sew ard,
IN, ts T receive u'' the same paid over to
ter.ain Brazliians, whose names am nos
Iemuc Wells. tine bills for 25,9O0 and 1882. agreeable
h. written statement from tie claimant directing me to
pay 20 them That stat uent after eiasnS the
names ~ the Brazihans, nclosed 70 Mr. Seward WIN
ry dispatch Of Oct l. 1907. IL directed me u pay the
laln Brszians whose names were mentioned. had
previously, April -. 1867, made communication 20
kr seward on the subject Csce Doc 30. page 142).
- nis Mr. seward made no dissent In respnuse to NY
dsnatch gcpOrtng the settlement received Nj ward
r ir,rsh of pee Il Is67 iu which he said: you have
taGgu much energy and saeity IL tae settlement OF ms
claim"
among the questions put TO Nj Webb on this exami
nation was one calling for The names Of the Brazians %
whom he paid the ss,252 In answer to this question
ar, Webb said
Ine-oaed FOR the parties entitled 70 receive the sur
rln over and above $1,000 collected nom the lr1 IAN
Government tll of whom were B'aziiansl, the btls
1880 ami S3.S52 They We're desrous no Z" be hh9Wa
IN lie transaction; and % secure thei services pesed
myself and my official character as Enfo tAolulDlJ
aud Minister Pleniloten aT ~ the Onta Sialts 20 20
notanc directly or indirectly, calculated o. ica1 To az
exposure Of their connection Win tAs cam 40 sa,,
therefore Who were tle parties teiel-eu 70 ", 20
any response winch would le,o 90 tLclr exposure "oad
I'M ie,n md ~ Ieyov Fxtraord.narv am m conse-
UIence compelled 70 decline more sltclAc answer 40
tois question
Uron this refusal TO answer the question: United states
nistricAtJoruey Bliss, who conducts the ease FOR the
Governments obtained from Judge Batchford an Order
requiring Mr. webb % answer the question, or show
cause Why he should not he committed for contempt of
court refusing % do The order was IeturnaDie on
The 18TH Of this month"; but 10 went over until last eur
eay when Mr. Webb. through bis attorney III Parsons
o. tie n.la Of Mann Parsons submitted his reasons
why be should not disclose the name, OF the Braziias
referred to- After Iccing the circus ance o. the case
and declaring ttat 1t would Doe d.,honorpc TO give tAe
names he added That the United states never had or
ss-re1 any interest tire said claim that the money
received On account thereof was received by this defend
an as tie money Of the claimant Lemucl Wells, ene ci
81 rer-.-. whom De bod Interested with himself ia thr
slu.. DAT he da dispose CI ire SAID money accarln E
T. the directions az tle said claimant ana tha WA. H
dd IN respect thereto is not rev'a-t or ms ci % al'
valid ella u Of tue Government AGAINST the uieii.i
Hf- Bliss ARMED thai Mr. Ncnbs eNpia1aiihn was 10,
o. e--rf 81 IND tlr order ol the Court. iiasnuc Ss 30
w. on Isl rrassuurjio o. lis lr>- POSITION dio trtssi
a u I
rvu.irl. tl-at Mr. Webb : rlneled macs WI II
T.. .ri.r I'D tts case JbtGeu. ana tlll Toe tH N1
pitrfi, r- u Nsv-Tors and submitted htnsci 70 l.e
-rsiicsn ~ r,. court JudEe b 1icuiori stated lat
/ Government li,E.- t,,-vt % So ELL the answer -
question AS being wholly Insufficient, n-t l.al,
In tHe absence OF any rucn motiOhs t-'+c
". ir his opinion. only one course 20 pursue.
NJ Rise said hat he would have moved 90 strike ''v .e
C,gs.~ - IN iceie &c cf-2Tafot % OBTAIN Jhr ne
rs.o ts.srua Iu some other way, IT u were Au' 'A
sfr ey,uliuinr authorities relative 20 tie u"tei hc
Isd vrry s--iu- doubts respecting he power o. the
Court ~tlihc .ut t'e answer lie also stlu tiat o LOU
~ wish 90 harls- Ir Webb bu tha. under an t.e ~.
crq =. nc.- le press his motion iJt culI ileI1
Juago Baiciurd said tia; lie would give eec''o" Cd
a. possible.