The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-19
A KENTUCKY MULE CLAIM.
TIE STORY STARTED TO IHJURE
SECRETARY BRISTOW.
The Slnndcr Originating with the Thieves
whom the Fearless secretary has brought
TO Grlef-Ono senator EnRnaed in IL.


whom the Fearless secretary hn. brought
TO Grief-Ono senator Engaged in IL.
WAsHINGToN, March 1s.-The sensational
mule claim story printed in the New York Her
aid OF to-day ia but one Of sories OF fabrica-
lions which the enemies OF Secretary Rristow In
the Republican party have long been endcayor-
ing to get into print. The claim Of J. A. Thomp-
son Co. for losses on mules purchased for the
Government on contract made with them by
Quartermaster Howland, acting under instruc-
tons from the chief ,Quartcrmaster Of Gen.
Ihomas's army, Is one well known to many gen.
! tlcmen In Washington. The parties interested
are welsnown citizens OF kontnckv who had
large experience In raising and buying aud sell
Ing mules, and their characters aro in every way
rboye suspicion. They were men OF large means,
and Quartermaster Rowland could not have
tuckv than j. A. Thompson and Beujamin q.
Groom for business OF this kind.
so much for the principals. Now for tho his
tory Of tho claim. 1t had been pressed before
the War Department for some six or seven years
by the claimants, who had employed Judg, r.
j. ID. Fuller OF this city. formerly one Of the ac-
counting officers OF the Treasury under pfesi-
dent buchanan. All the evidence g. support 1t
was collected and arr nged under the direction
OF Judge Fuller, but the Secretary OF War re-
fused to pass UPON the claim and had it referred
no connection with the claim until It had been
refcrrcd to the Court OF Claims, end then the
only thing he did was to make a legal argument
on the construction OF so much Of the acts OF
1862 and 1854 as relate to the purchase Of army
supplies.
ne proofs in the case are admitted by every
body to be ample, and IL IA significant fact that
Chief Justice Drake, In his dissenting opinion,
docs not question tho suiiciency Of tho eyi,
dence at ALL The only point he makes which
might be cliimed to bear on the question Of evil
dence Is, that he insists that the law requires
the Commander-in-Chicf to order the purchase
In open market and that the order from his
chief Quartermaster was not his order but the
proofs as to the actual purchase OF the mules,
ths prices paid for them, and tho amount for
which they were sold, are ample and incOnt esti-
bie: he opinigus of the majority Of the court
and the dissenting Judge arO solely on the law
involved.
The Judgment Of the Court was rendered on
Jan. 8, 1874. and the chief Justice a few days
later certified the fact to the Attorney encral,
VINO, after some time had elapsed, wrote to tho
Secretary OF War saving that he had given the
case careful exau,ina'ion, and WAS satisfied
that II would he unjust g. The claimante to sub
Jcci them to further eXpcnsc md delay bytaking
an appeal to the supreme Court. On Feb. 4,
1874, Judge Fuller transmitted the iudmeut to
noSectetary of War. and asked that II might be
forwarded by him, with the papers In the case, to
the accounting officers OF the Treasury for a
stateuc cnt Of the account. The letter Of judge
Fuler was endorsed by the Secretary of War,
recommending thu settlement of the claim. and
tho same day the papers went 10 the lhlrd Au-
dttor,and tLeuce,passed to the.S cOni .Cpmptrol-
Ter. ms second Comptroller end dOrscd thereon
that las one of the claimants IL In tho city and
unxious Tor an adjustment, II Is proper that II
receive prompt attention"
The Rctins Secretary Of the Treasury at thst
time WAS Sawyer who on Fob. direo,ed "A war
rant to issue. and ordered II made special. Ihe
The FRS Comptroller endorsed on the warrant,
This may be paid by one OF the firm signing
the lrm name" draft on tho sub Treasury
at New York for the full amount WIS issued aud
gwen 10 BenJ G. Groom. who endorsed 1t -.
A. Thompson Co., per Benz. q. Groom" and
deposited II with Riggs Co, Of this city,
through whom IL was collected Dristoy WAS
not In the city at the time, he having gone to his
homo In kentucey after arguing the case in the
Court OF Claims. lie received his fee from
Groom In check on Riggs Co. Tor Sl,OS0. ten
yer cent. OF the amount recovered, according to
agreement "a. de with the claimant.
n- J., the whole uuth of the story, SO far as
1t affects secretary Br,stow. Now for tho origin
came from some II the Republican thieves VINO
have been brought to gret 10y the fearless Sec
10 d. We been eng eei for some time past In
looking up the phpors In tins Cdse, and he b d
tho cpunteuance, II not the assist nee, Of an
pthrr IN attempt was made some lime ago TO
induce the cores spnndcnts OF certain Demo-
cratic and inCci cndent news papers 10 give cur
fcncy 10 thil same story, and Others uf the ssme
nat re, affecting, ns II WIS alleged, Mr.. Ifis-
toW's Integrity bat after Investigating them,
lHE Sun CORE spondclt for o.e refused 10 haye
any thing g. DO with them.
A few DAYS ago tue lion. Erastus Wells OF
Missouri received letter fl, m -. Louis, set
Ung ria what were alleged 10 be Tie facts IN
this C ln and Mr. Wells showed the letter 10
the Hon James ID. Beck OF Kentucky, then in
Washington, who at once said there was no
tfuth III tho siateuchts a. there made. Mr..
Mcils replied 10 his rrespondent, assuring
him that ihe claim was an homes. one, M MT.
HristuW's connection herewith proper one.
10 daht As soon as Secretary Sris .OW heard OF
the story yrnted In tue Hcrfld, he went before
Mr.. Cll mel's Committee on EApendltUTcs iu tho
War Dcp.TtW Mt, and asked for the fullest in
Nesigdtlon. Qif. J. 'kburn, member Of the
Committee, said 10 nim tn 4 he was entirely IA.
mihar with the case; that the claimants wero
constituents Of lis, and they were honest and
honorable uen, and lac knew there was no
foundation fortae allegations against tho Secre-