The Morning herald., 1876-04-26
LOCAL NEWS.
AN EXPLOSION.

AGSeVeW TTUWU ~ tN0 CuStOW aOWSe-OT
Noles Said to BE- Detaulter.
The rumors which were on the stree
yesterday morning, to the effect that seriou
frauds had been discovered in the Custom
House, Of this city, which implicated Col
lector Nolen, were not generally CREDITED
until late hour, and the story was givel
currency in tho evening papers.
From what we have been able to learI
from official and other sources there Seems
to be no doubt of the truth of the report
and Dr.. Nolen tacitly admits the charge. II
appears that the facts were divulged to the
Republican leaders yesterday, by special
agent Morris, who has been working up the
case, and through whose efforts the alleged
frauds were unearthed. The facts seem to
be that in 1879, two vessels, the John Sid
ney and Midway, one ship and the Other
barque, were wrecked off Lewes, but a
large part of the cargo, consisting Of
brandy and other valuable merchandise,
was saved by the wreckers, at that port,
and went into the hands Of the government
and was sold at auction, q portion of the
proceeds having been paid to the sailors
and the balance, 1t is alleged, went not into
the treasury of the government, where 1t
belonged, but Into the pocket of Collector
Nolen, in all amounting to some 5000.
The salvors were not satisfied with the
share which they obtained, and It is now
said that 1t was never accounted for. Re-
Gently, an attorney in Washington, repre-
senting the wreckers who saved the liquor,
called the attention Of the Treasury De-
partment to the matter, and Major Morris
has been investigating it, with the result
already stated.
A HERALD representative called upon
Mr.. Morris at the Clayton House, last
evening, and although that gentleman did
not absolutely commit himself, gave him
to understand that the facts as stated above
were correct. '''.''-
In reply to the question, "is there any,
thing besides this against Mr.. Noleng" he
made an equivocal reply.
"Then there is nothing else so far as you
know" continued the HERALD reporter.
~ cannot say, sir"
"Is there anything that you do know,
then?" ',., .',...-.
To this question Mr.. Morris made no
reply, and as he seemed disinclined to con-
verse our reporter did not trouble him fur
ther.
A HERALD representative also called at
Mr.. Nolen's house but did not obtain ad-.
mittance to the Collector, but we received,
last evening, letter from him, which ex-
plains Nself: ,}- - "a Ih,'
CoLLEoToa's OFFICE, April Is, 1875.
EDITOR HERALD, re-. ., ....- lFr.
Dear SRA charge is made by implfca-
tion against my subordinates In Office, in
an article of the fourth edition of the
Commercial of to-day. will state that al
the money in the case was collected by me
in person, and that neither of them had
whatever to do In the case, or ever,
had any of the funds In their hands, and
neither of them are at all responsible for
the delay In paying 1t over to the govern
ment. -WM. D. NoLEN,
Collector.
The Collector has not, as it was rumored
resigned, and will probably make some de-
fense, but yesterday, two prominent Re-
publican gentlemen; H. F. Pickels, Esq,
and Lewis Thompson, Esq, were mentioned
as candidates for the position, from which
DR.. Nolen will be compelled to step down
and out, but Mr.. Pickels having withdrawn,
Mr.. Thompson will, 1t is thought, have no
trouble in securing the place. He It is un-
has now the support of the party
since Mr.. Pickles withdrawal.
DR.. Nolen, will probably not be prosecu-
ted, If he makes good the amount of the
alleged defalcation.