The Grange advance., 1876-02-23

I became convinced that it should be re-
voked or suspended in the interest of de-
tecting frauds that had already ibeen
committed. In conversation with Su.
peryisor Tuition he stated to me that if
thesobject Of that order was TO detect
frauds that had already been committed
he thought it would fail. He said this
order went into effect on the 18th Of
February, (this was in January when we
were talking); that it gave the distillers
who had been defrauding the treasury
nearly three weeks notice to get their
houses in order, and to be prepared to re-.
ceive the new supervisors; that the new
supervisor would probably 60 into
the district where frauds might have been
committed, and he would find everything
in good order, and would 50 report; that
the order might possibly, and probably
would, result in stopping the frauds, at
least for time, but would not lead to
the detection of those that had already
been committed. He said if the order
was revoked it would be looked upon as
a triumph by those who had been de-
frauding the treasury. It would throw
them off their guard, and We could then
send special agents of the treasury out to
these suspected distilleries. We could
send good men, such as one he mentioned,
Mr.. Brooks. He said they could 60 out
and not be known to the distillers, and
before they would be aware of it, their
ways would be discovered, the proofs
would be all complete, and then they
could seize their distilleries and them,
and prosecute them. Twas so convinced
that his argument was good,
and also that it was in
the interest Of Furnishing frauds that this
order should be suspended, that I told
him. should suspend it Immediately,
and without any further consultation
with anybody gave the directions for
the suspension Of the order making the
transfers. My recollection is that wrote
the directions for the order on q card in
pencil, certainly before leaving my Office
that afternoon, and on that the order
went to the. .treasury,signcd. by one of my
secretaries. /
(The remainder of the direct examina.
ton was to the effect that Babcock had
not interceded to save any member of the
ring since the prosecution commenced and
that he had not applied to the President
to interfere in his own behalf.
Cross Examination by Mr. Eaton.
Q. General, of course, you do not
suppose, do you, that while Gen. Bab-
cock has been your private secretary and
in intimate and confidential relations with
you, any one would voluntarily come to
~ Inv >to sn1r, IN
reputation? A. I do not know any such
thing.
@. Perhaps you are aware, general,
that the whisky ring have persistently
tried to fix the origin of that ring in the
necessity for funds to carry on the polit-
ical campaigns. Did you ever have any
intimation from Gen. Babcock or any one
else, in any manner, directly or indirectly,
that any funds tor political purposes were
being raised by any improper methods {!
A. I never did. l have seen since
these trials intimations Of that
sort in the newspapers, but never before.
Q. Then let me ask ybu if the prose-
cutting officers have not been entirely cor
rect in repelling all insinuations that you
ever had tolerated any such means for
raising funds? A. was not aware that
they attempted to repel any insiuuations.
G. Do you remember letter of Mr..
Lord to yourself dated May 80, 1870, in
which he spoke of Mcdonald as "a bad
egg," and as saying to you that he was a
discredit to the administration? FOB
jected to by the counsel for the defend
The Witness. Was that before or
after McDonald's appointment
Mr.. Eaton. 1t was shortly after Me-
Donald was appointed, very early in that
year, if recollect.
Answer. I have no recollection Of
such letter. have an indistinct recol-
lection that when Mcdonald was first re-.
commended for the position he told me,
either in letter or in q conversation,
that Mcdonald would not do. My recol-
lection is that finally he united with
others in recommending Mcdonald. ]
have a general knowledge that about
the time Mcdonald was being pressed for
the appointment Ford thought it was not
suitable appointment, but my recollec
ton is that he afterwards acquiesced in
it, and possibly either joined in the re.
commendation, which was written one
and will be OH file in the treasury depart.
ment, or else he told me in a converse
ton.
@. Do you remember whether John
A. Joyce was recommended to you as
Ford's successor by Gen. Babcock? A.
He was not.
Q. Was anything said to you by Gen.
Rahcoc|x hetween the time of the death Of
Ford and the appointment Of Constantine
Mcguire touching Joyce's fitness for the
place? A. Babcock presented me dis
patch that he had received from Joyce,
saying that he was an applicant or max