The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-30
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Seventh Days Session Of the Congress
siOnal Investigating Committee.
DAvENPoRT's Do1Nas.
Serious Charges Against the Shipping
Commissioner.
Mr.. BLISS UNDER EXAMINATION.

The sub-commitsee Of the Congressional Committee
Of Investigation The Department OF Justice held s
seventh days yesterday the Astor House. all
the members being present
The nrst witness examined was John K Brown, ON
recall He testified that the bills which no bad pre-
pnted were drawn from the slips Of matter supplied
BY the foreman printer and not from account books
y lodgers He expressed desire that the committee
should examine the work done BY the establishment he
represented and satisfy themselves In this way a. to
the fairness Of tho chargea He informed by Mr..
Meade that this Unnecessary they had NO req
son to doubt tho correctness OF the statement
Kenneth G. White, who for nineteen years had been
Clerk OF the Circuit Court next examined. He
asked TO suggest any reforms In the practices OF
the once which his experience might dictate. but no
replied that while no was In once tbere ir-
Irregularities OF which he could complain; he thought,
however, that tho committee should not take any
action he led to believe they about do
in regard to tho pay jurors received in his opinion
. reduction OF the present compensation per diem
would be injurious to the public interests In reply
question whether the Chief Inspector OF Eleo-
lions should DO entirely untramced by parsanship,
be said that beyond doubt It should be So and
John /. Davenport decidedly partisan IN politics
Charles A. Fancy, who chief clerk for Davenport
In 1874 Testified that no had then clerks
his assistants he received the money TO pay them
from Davenport but did not know whore It was pro-
cured; It generally given him In the form OF a
chock tho Chemical Bank in this oity; he had no
knowledge that time that Davenport in the gov.
ernment's pay.
James A. Shields, chief clerk In Davenport's once,
examined recall testify as to his action at
the three elections, whom acting United States
Commissioner He was questioned as 20 the case
Of Mr.. Jonathan Marshall, who, on an election day
which particular he could not remember was ar
rested on charge OF false registration, but when
Iakcn before witness he discharged him, AZ he
knew him TO bc practising lawyer and
residing In the district, so the discharge
granted on Marshall's own recognizance.
Marshall to appear before Davenport the fol-
lowing day. but what become OF the witness did
not know. Witness could not say that the afidavit
was madc out in the name Of John Doc, or that tho
place for tho name q blank, but thought not He
did not know by whom the affidavit drawn. In his
opinion such arrests need not DO made proper caro-
were exercised United States Commissioner must
Issue for tho a1idavt Of citizen.
Jonn q. Van Pelk next examined, but his tssti-
mony entirely relative 70 matters pertaining the
Idaho PcnItentiary, tho particulars OF which
Of general interest
George H. Helnrichs was the next witncsa He tast-
fed that he has been nnturalzed citizen since 1885,
Alderman OF the city in 1858, and is now living
on his income. He wont over the story already pub
lished several times IN the papers OF how the brothers
Stah into his room In October, 1872 asked him
to give Information about his neighbours went away,
came back Ia tho afternoon and hauled him along TO
Davenport's headquarters at the Fifth Avenue HOTEL
whore the little magnate
TREATED HIN IN THE MOST UxHAxDsoxE MANNER,
requiring sureties $4,000 each for his appear.
ancc refusing 70 be satisfied with one bond Tor 3io 900
which was gwen, and finally waving him or with his
hand TO Ludlow Stree, jail, where ne was obliged to
remain from That Saturday afternoon until the follow
Ing Monday morning Davenport refused to give him
even ten minutes e get the second bond and refused
Crcamor and others his release on Monday morn
ing Mr. Heinrichs allowed his liberty, Davenport
He 1eeyed he said that Would hang
democrat in the Unitcd States " he could Mr. Joyce
cross-examned the witness at considerable length,
considerably excited the old gentleman BY asking him
10 tell what names he had scratched from the
genuine democratic ticket and who the republican
candidates for whom he worked. Mr.. Henrichs de-
cncd giving such private information saying no came
there give testimony about Davenport and TO
his votes since 1854 Bot he sworc that his arrcst
accustomed intimidation among many OF the voters
his district Who having hoard OF the outrage inflicted
upon him, anticipated similar fato for themselves
g. G. Jayne, the detective, recently notorious In
governmental cases. examined by tho committee In
strictly secret session. Tho door OF the committee
locked dun Ing the examination, and the ut
most secrecy to the developments maintained.
when the examination was concluded the committee
informed tho reporters that Jayne had tcstued 10
nothing new tho story told by him having been in
cludcd IN the Washington Investigations, and Jayne
himself made similar statement
George y Langoone, tho lawyer employed BY Mr..
above, saying that he believed
THE CHARGE AGAIysT HErxRIcHs
was general and that he had obstructed the
registration OF voters He said that all Efforts had
failed with Davenport In securing Heinrichs release
though any amount oil bail had beon offered. Daven-
port stated that Heinrchs just the that was
wanted, hrs would knock terror into Others
dependent aud arbitrary and lacking all ordinary cour
tesy Henrichs' case never came before the court,
and after about year his bondsman was released:
John H. H. Haws, the Grand Juror who testified last
week 10 facts In the Gibson Case again tho
stand and explained that tho interest he took the
partially from the fact that letters addressed
10 members Of his own iamily in Harlem had miscar
ried and he also informed by Of his ncghbors
Is ever 20 aesc
Mcssrs. Gustavus A. BRETT G. X. Norvell and J. J.
Ferris appeared before the committee 70 seek redress
Commissioner, c. c. Duncan. The complaints which
these gentleman mako have been Of long standing.
Mr. Brett 10 President OF the Shpowners' Association
Mr. Norvei secretary, and ME- Ferris attorney, and
the two former stated the grievances general way
der which the shipping merchants have 70 suffer from
Of his onlco The charges made are very Serious
cusng Mr. Duncan OF running the whole business Of
Office for hk own iamily's benefit He y represented
us paying S. 500 rent for floor OF the Sea-
mons Hallwhlch should not rent for $500 year.
Duncan is President OF the scamens Association, in
which building Is his Office as Commissioner and he
thus pays tho cxorbtant amount from himself As 10
we're, 10 himself In tho building also Il the seamens
Bank with which he - connected, and IN general
way his relatives control or tho whole premises.
what Is called the chapel tho building has never
four sons among the lhirsy-one clerks in
bis oficc and tho salaries Of these arc not
definitely liked but put down At different
amounts for different years prcnxcd with the word
ssaboul" IL Is sad that high $l2o 900 has been
divided among the TOUR sons as salaries u 70
acknowledged that Duncan received 500 900 year
from the once and this he for by saying that
II pay the salaries Of the clerks the rent OF the
once and tho incidental expenses IL Is
charged against him that no money Is
ever returned by him 10 the Treasury,
over and above the amount allowed him BY law. In
assuming the performance Of all the duties now devov
Ing upon him, about my firms In the same busIness
were deprived OF their legitimate calling All Efforts
made TO bring the for argument before the courts
iailcd. the United States District Attorney say
ing that ho had power In tho mat
ter. Yet Duncan's counsel were heard
his lsido Of tho qucston His manner Of doing bus
mesa n alleged, most Offensive and ovcrbcnFing
He makes such rules he plcases and enorces them
just ~ u suits him. making every special case,
absorbing the fees and cmouments Of the ONCE which
should DO paid into tho United States Treasury.
II was recommended by Msssrs. Brett and Norvell
that The law should be amended bearing the ship
min he