New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-15
ton; he could not possibly remember them

/
| Mr.. Gibson-But you said they were all
| at your house the other night!
To Mr.. WOOdburn-C0uid not remember
| any more names; there were several dry
goods clerks and steamboatmen among
them; would bring the book with the names
entered in it if the committee wished;
could not recollect the name of dry goods
clerk or the name of steamboatman.
Mr.. WOodburn-Yet you said on Monday
boatmen.
Witpess-So they are.
Mr.. johnson observing that perhaps he
could write some names down which he
could not think of Immediately, pencil aad
paper being furnished the witness, he
wrote the following names: Steamboat
men-Thomas Armony, Christopher Wall
and Samuel Whaley. Dry goods clerks
William McFaddep, Samuel Sullivan,
Jr. Sergeants-at-arms and dOOrkeepers-
George Metcalt, Charles Callahan and Will
liam Gallaher.
Witness did not know where any of them
worked or resided.
The name of the organization, witness
said. was THE Young Mems Protective AS
sOciation.'
To MIR. Conger-Tt had no other name;
the constitution and bylaws were made two
|
rotary or member; the order was not for in
tlmidation or violence, but simply to see
that there was fair election and TO prevent
frauds of any description.
If Mr.. COnger understood anything, he
understood that the society, or order, was
purely political one, as the articles
proved
Witness said it was not intended that the
organization should take either side in pol
itics. Witness was Democrat himself.
Mr.. Conger-Yes, and they were all Dem
ocrats, except one, it appears; and he has
not been proved Republican yet.
Witness said Mitchell voted white ticket
in 1874.
Mr.. Conger-A White League ticket!
Witness-No. sir; white ticket-a Re-
publican ticket.
Mr.. Conger-Article four says that the
members shall be on duty at the polls to
see that there is q fair election, without
violence" which inferred that the members
might use violence unless restrained by this
law.
Witness said each member of the Or
ganization could vote for whatever po-
litical party he chose; the intention of the
organization was not to work for any par
ticular political result; the society was sup
cents from the members.
In answer to the same question by
Messrs. Vance aEd Conger, witness said
that the book handed the committee con-
tanned the original record of the cOnstitu-
tion and bylaws. which still governed the
order, and that nothing had recently been
added to or taken from the writing in the
book.
The following witnesses appeared before
the committee of their own a,cord and re.
quest in relation to this matter:
William e. Blake sworn-On Monday C..
w. johnson testified to seeing him receive
$i20 from the CustomhOuse in 1872; had
never received any money from the govern
ment except for serving as q witness before
the grand jury; the statement of Mr.. John
son was untrue.
| employ of the government at the Custom
house as a night inspector; received one
months salary at that time; has not re-
| ceived one dollar Of government money
| since; the statement made bv c. w. John
| son before the committee on Monday that
| he (witness) received 500 from the Custom.
house was untrue.
r. H. MARI desired to state to the COM
mittee that the first acquaintance he had
| with Mr.. johnson, was q short time ago
| when he asked him to sign pc tition for
| the erection of Democratic wigwam on a
| vacant lot opposite his tMr. Mars resi-
! dence), that on that occasion johnson told
| him he knew OF parties on the rolls of the
| CustOmhouse receiving pay and doing no
| work; when he requested him to appear
before the committee and testify to the
| same.
| John D. Crawford sworn-To Mr. Reilly
| Is entry Gle: k in the Customhouse and no
tary public; persons employed in the Gus
tomhOuse were sometimes sworn by him as
| to the correctness of the vOuche z: knew
| certain parties whose names were men,
tioned others he did not know; does not
know positively that any of them were en-
| pioyed in the Customhouse in August, 1872.
| EVENING SESSION.
| Thomas Smith sworn-To Mr.. Copger-
| Has imported goods for the last fourteen
| years; business at the CustomhOuse has al
ways been conducted properly and
promptly.
Auguste Hoffman sworn-To Mr.. Con.
ger-Is connected at present with the firm
of D. H. Holmes & Co., dry goods mer-
chants; do large importing business;
| everything has always been very fair and
| prompt IN the way of business with Gus
tomhOuse officials; If anything, more SO than
| before the war.
been q resident of New Orleans for the last
thirty nine years; has done considerable
business with the Customhouse, which has
| always been satisfactory; the reputation n
| as stated to him from other merchants O1
the city, relative to the conducting of theil
business in the CustOmhOuse was the same
as the above; is Democrat.
Question-All through!
| Answer-Always.
| Have resided in this city twenty nine years;
is in the uor busine ss; has had transactions
with the Customhouse officials; have always
| met with courtesy and had business trans
| acted promptly.
| Mr.. Stevenson here expressed the opinion
as a lawyer that this testimony was not re
levsnt
Mr.. New hoped no objections would be
| raised.
Mr.. Stevenson did not persist.
| Mr.. COnger observed that occasionally
the character of lawyers and members O1
Congress were investigated. [Laughter].
Questi0n-DO you know G. w. Johnson
| Answer-Well, know several Johnsons
Question-But C. w. johnson?
Answer-Can not say do.
Question-To what political party do you
bel0ngs
Answer-I am Democrat, sir.
Question-Sound9
Answer-Yes, sir.
Have heard of Irregularities il the Gus
tomhouse.
Mr.. Reilly asked if witness knew of any
of the names which he read TO him being
on the rolls of the Customhouee. Witness
did not
Question by Mr.. Conger-Your acquaint
Answer-Well, yes, sir; generally.
Charles A. Dugazon, firm of A. Rocheres,
e. Co., importers of wines, brandies, sar
dimes, etc., sworn-The Customhouse busi
ness Of the house is conducted through
broker; does not recollect of anything t
complain of in the management of the Cue
tomhouse 40 far as the firm of Rochereau