New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-15
THn CoNGa Ess1oNAL CoMMITrEe
Investigation Continued.

Investigation Continued.
The committee met at ten O'Clock yester-
day morning and resumed the examination
of witnesses.
Thomas j. Semmes sworn-Resides in
the city; is lawyer by profession; knew
United States District Attorney Beckwith,
both before and since his appointment;
never known Of malfeasance in office on his
part; so far as witness knew, was as honest
as any district attorney that ever lived; and
has been extremely jealous in conducting
connection with the marshal has been only
in relation to civil suits; his Office in the
civil department was admirably conducted,
according to witness opinion.
r. FL. Mari sworn-Has resided in New
Orleans for TIE last thirty years; ia ac-
Qusinted with District Attorney Beck with:
knew him before he received his appoint
ment; met him often before in civil and
criminal cases; knew of no Irregularities in
his Office; is, in fact, over.zealous in prose-
cuti0ns and formidable adversary: had no
occasion to complain of the United States
marshal's office; knew of no case of over
charge; United States commissioners have
frequently committed great abuses in ex.
tOrtiog illegal steamboat charges; United
States Commissioner 0Shannon issued the
first warrants under the civil rights bill;
several parties were arrested and brought
to this city from St. Martinsville and were
discharged by that commissioner.
Executive session was here called, during
which the report Of the subcommittee who
visited C0ushatta was submitted, Messrs.
Vance and Woodburn both signing it.
Mr.. Gibson informed the committee that
he had received q com runicatiOn from Mr
Euber, who testified on Tuesday, ann ounc-
ing his intention Of refunding the money
he received from the CustomhOuse.
Hugh Swan sworn-Resides in this city;
wss not employed in the Customhouse in
1879; signed no vouchers and was not on
the rolls; in 1874 was engaged on q govern
ment boat at the passes; knows of Hugh
Swan being in the directory as q carriage
maker.
Mrs. Sarah Ferguson sworn.-Js the wife
of George Ferguson; had not seen her hus
band since he left the city on the twelfth of
April last; heard from him last about ten
days ago; he was then in New York; des-
don't know Why he went there; received
three or four letters from him since being
in New York; is doing nothing in support
of his family; made NO reference to his
return; his brother is in business here; Mrs.
Ferguson directs her letters to her husband
care of the postOf6ce, New York; the latter
part of May Q man, giving his name as
George Reynolds called ct her house with Q
large package for her husband, but as she
had heard nothing about it refused to
receive it; Resides at No. 345 Robertson
street.
To Mr.. Copger-Did not know where her
husband took Q bundle of papers when he
went to Washington; did not know that the
bundle was the same afterward brought to
the house; Reynolds said the bundle be-
longed to her husband; there were papers
and proofs of some kind in the bundle her
husband took away; had some cigars, but
does not know what he did with them;
whether they were sample cigars or not
could not say; Mr.. Ferguson wrote from
New York that he was there to settle up
the affairs of his sister after the death OF
his brother-in-law; does not know the name
of the friend her husband sent the papers
to: always destroys her husbande letters
after reading them; Mr.. Ferguson has q
very intimate friend reeiding near Morgan
City.
Augustus Ferguson swornTis brother
of George Ferguson and clerk in the drug
house OF FredericksOn g. Harte; received u
letter from George ten or twelve days ago;
threw it away; answered it through tbs
New York pOstoffice; his letter referred
simply to private matters; as he has lost sew
erai letters his brother does not write about
business affairs; have been frequently
asked, especially by persons in the Custom
house, when his brother would return;
James Morrison, in the appraisers depart
ment, offered to bet witness that he was
now in New Orleans; saw him last when
he left for Washington; do not know where
he sent the bundle of papers; Gustave
Mann, Q friend of his brothers, went away
with him; believe they separated in New
York; Mr.. Ruiz. who has charge Of light
house at the Old Lake End, is an intimate
friend of his brother.
General Sheldon here stated that Mr..
Aikman. auditor of the Customhouse, in an :
sver to q letter from the chairman of the
committee, had submitted the roll Of the
laborers fled in the surveyors Office tor
October and November, 1875, and for April
aud May, 1876. The rolls were then sub
mitted.
The committee decided that Mr. Aikman
should make answer personally before the
committee and be examined st some future
time.
Mrs. M. j. Malvey sworn-Her husband
was employed in the CustomhOuse up to
the time of his death, at . salary Of $25 per
month: he was q soldier in the Mexican
war: Mr.. Malvey was subscriber to the
N0tioual Republican,; paid $25 for share
in that paper; said he was compelled to do
so or lose his place.
Mr.. Conger objected to the testimony as
it was simply hearsay.
To Mr.. Gibson-Witness declared berselt
the owner of the share; went to Mr.. Her
wig at friends suggestion and offered the
share for SIS: he refused to take 1t.
Joseph L. Herwig sworn-Tc Mr.. Reilly
Reaidss in the city of New Orleans; is a
brother of the deputy collector; was en-
ploved in the Cust0mh0use three or four
wears ago; left New Orleans on the third OF
NAV to visit the centennia'; visited Wash
ingtOn on his return. ..
@ uestion-Did you hear OF the committee
beiap in session in Washingtonf
Answer-I did.
Ouestion-Did you visit the committee
every day while You were theree
Answer-I did not visit the committee at
all.
Witness left Washington the latter
mart of NAV: did not leave until the ad-
iournment Of the committee to meet IN
New Orleans, spoke to NO one who was
witness or to be witness relative 20 giv'
ing evidence before the commi!ee1S De'
Iieved that George w. Carter was in wash
ircton to represent his brother and certain
ot6er parties; nothing was said to mr..
NoIeire about making up purse to keep
NJ. Ferguson from New Orleans 90 - not
to anpear before the committee; took nc
mart. directly or indirectly, in keeping Fer
cnaon away from New Orleans.
10 Mr.. CoDger-Know no reason why ne
or his BROTHER or any Official IN ne the cos'0m'
house should wish Ferguson away. n,
To Mr.. Reilly-Did not know tnat MT
MoIe;re viehed TO obtain q copy Of Mr.. Fer
guson's testimony.
q. a. Whitney sworn-To Mr.. Conger-
7. a resident of this city, and agent for Mr.
Charles Morgan; have frequent transactions
With the Customhouse and Customnouse
officials fs Concerning entrance and clearance
Of ships and entrance and clearance o'
bonded goods. .f tho vork