Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-22
The Election Fund Investigation.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN J. DAVENPORT.
Inhn i Dauennnrf chief snnaruisnr a

Department of Justice yesterday. In reply
to interrogatOries, he replied that he was
well acquainted with President Grant; that
ia the last eight years he had seen and con-
versed with him probably four or five times.
The witness was then asked how he came to
interest himself so much in election matters
ard testified that in 1865 he discovered the
most atrociOus frauds in New York city.
He consulted with members of the Union
League Clue OF New York, and was EN- plOy-
ed by them to advocate the legislation that
was passed in $50 and 1871. He then went
on 10 explain that I'm the election OF 1870 he
discovered that frauds had been perpetrated
and adopted system OF registration which
eventually resulted IN the detection OF these
frauds. Ia pursuing this matter witness had
spent $4,000. He found that he was being
Impoverished, and he asked Col. Bliss Gen
Arthur. Gen. Sharpe, Mr.. Murphy, Jackson
= Shultz and other gentlemen OF New York
W W, ,e me government would not pay him
summer OF 1871 he went TO Loog Branch 10
see The President, and explained to General
Grant the frauds he had discovered, aud
ASKED whether some OF the fund In the con-
troll OF tue Department OF Justice could not
be used to pay him. The President was i'm
pressed with the plan submitted by witness
10 prevent frauds in elections. and said he
would recommend the matter TO the Attor-
ney General. Witness received in all S35 900
part OF which came through Mr.. Ac herman
and part through Mr.. Williams. He never
CONSIDERED mat there was any corruption in
the matter.
The committee at this point adjourned
unIll ten o CLOCK To-Day.
MR.. DAyIDsoN's TESTIMONY AS TO NEW
YORK ELECTION FRAUDS.
The committee resumed this morning the
examination of John j. Davenport VINO was
going on to explain the frards committed
under the form of naturalization, when Mr.
Caulfield called his committee together to
consult. After consultation IL was decided
that the witness should go on in his own
way. Inc witness then went on TO particu-
laTiZe the frauds. Witness had prepared g
mass OF ffidavits In relation 10 these frauds
and connected the parties.
Mr.. Caulfield.-How were Won nail for
preparing these affidavits!'
Mr.. Davenport was paid as every other
L. =. Commissioner was paid. Some was
pald PAD Tor and others | was not paid for. Wit,
ness examined mass of affidavits, and said
ne could not designate the affidavits for
which he was paid, and those for which he
was not.
Mr.. Davenport, after good deal OF badger
ing, went on TO explain the frauds he dis
covered In the system OF registration under
The law OF New York; he found that men
were registered from assignation houses
houses OF prostitution, and stables, and then
be determined upon his block system, where
by locations could be definitely fixed. The
witness went on to explain, that under the
Revised Statutes he had gone on and pre-
pared number OF books of instructions to
deDDty supervisors These books were paid
for unCer The law by the department. Witness
was questioned at great length with regard
In the issue OF warrants for the arrest of
parties who had improperly registered, and
he testified 10 the Issue of warrants In
lN'z Tor 200 persons, believing that they
were not in eXistence. Witness iSSuet the
warrants in order 10 prevent the persons
named from voting.
AT Is the committee adjourleI Mr.. Da-
vsDpoTts examination until Wednesday
next at 10 o'clock.
NAVAL ORDERS -Commanier II, l.. Ner-
riam, ordered on special duty at Washing
ton, ID. C., and on its completion will resume
his duties at the Naval academy. COmman-
Der K. +. Lewis, 10 the navy yard, Norfolk
Va. Gunner Moses A. Lane, from the Sa-
oine, and placel ~ waiting orders.
THE MISSISSIPPI INvEsTIGATING Com
MIrTEE, Senator Boutwell,, chairman, hopes
10 be able 10 leave for the state named by
the middle of next week, by which tim.
they hope the House will have cOncurrcd In
the action of the Senate In granting the
necessary appropriation to pay expenses.
Col. FRANK L. HOWE, of New York, was
before the grand jury In the safe burglary
case, TO day. II will be remembered that
Col. Howe is the party who Mr.. Ma1ge says
Introduced Carter to him before the Durg
larry, and who was with Mr.. Madge the Sun
day after the burglary. at the Arlington
hotel, where they are alleged TO have had an
interview with Harrington.
DIDN'T RECEIVE Two sALARIEs-h. c.
Whitley has testified before the Civil Ser
ment OF secret service men as inspectors in
tie New York custom house, that the men
were employed by his orders for the purpose
OF ferreting out smugglers, &c, but that
while they drew four dollars per day as in
speCtors that amount was regularly deducted
nom their secret service pay, and that they
at no time received the benedt OF both sala-
ries.
NATIONAL BAsKs.-The Treasury now
holds s347 OSO. $50 in bonds to secure national
bank circulation, and SIS, 623 900 to secure
public deposits. L. s. bonds deposited for
circulation week ending April %, S63 ,OCO. T.
=. bonds held for circulation withdrawn for
week ending April %, s569, 900. National
Rank circulation outstanding, 1887 .635 ,2i9.
Of which - O99, 100 are gold notes. Receipts
OF national bank notes for wa rded for re Temp
tion for week ending April %, as compared
with corresponding week OF last year-1s15
1850 900; 1876, 81 i6j. 900.
ARMY ORDERs.-By direction of the Secre-
tary OF War Captain William X. King,
corps of engineers, is relieved from duty
station at Chattanooga, Tenn, and not later
than May 10. He will relieve Major Walter
Mcfarland OF the charge OF the WORKS under
his direction in that region: First Lieuten-
ant Edward Mcguire is relieved from duty
under the orders OF Major w. p. Craighill,
and will proceed TO st. Paul, Mimi, and re-
port TO the commanding general department
of Dakota for duty as engineer officer on his
stan, relieving Captain William Ludlow;
Captain Ludlow, on being relieved by Lieu
terant Mcguire, will proceed 10 Philadel-
mia and report To Lieutenant Colonel J. ID.
ku1tZ for duty. Leave OF absence for four
months is granted TO Col. II. b. CIitz, 10Th
infantry, Fort McHarett, Texas.
DR. {. c. Cox, president of the Board of
Health, made a statement before the House
Committee on the District OF Columbia this
morning in relation 10 the charges that had
been made against him OF owning stock in
the odorlcss eXcavating company. The state
ment was made IN secret session, after which
the committee examined son of F. L. Saw
yer in regard 10 the contract in existence a
couple OF years ago between the Board OF
Health, and Mr.. Sawyer, lately deceased
for the removal of night soil from this city
This was also with closed doors. The com
mittee say they will make all the evidence
taken in this connection public in u few
days. and will hear DR.. Bliss whenever he
desires TO be heard; that they wrote to that
erect TO DIR. Cox, and presumed that DR..
Bliss would infer from that that the same
invitation extended to DR.. Cox would apply
TO him.
THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LII
BRARY OF Congress met to-day and consid-