Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-22
CORRUPTION.
An Explanation OF the Case Of Bristow
and the Bark Mary Merritt, Of
Canada.
The Spaulding COUrt-Martial - Park,
Schenck and Emma-DOn Piatt's
Last COnfessiOn-Ete,
Bristow and the No,v Merritt.

: BristOw and the Mary Merritt.
? LOUISVILLE, April 21.-A Courier.
Journal reporter interviewed Hon. w
Evans, Of this city, in reference to the
case of the BARK Mary Merritt, about
which Mr. Cate, OF Wisconsin, offered 8
resolution in congress. Mr.. Evans said
there was nothing in Secretsry Bris-
toW's connection with that case which
was in the slightest degree improper,
but, on the contrary, his sensitiVeness
as to bis Gfficisl pcOpTiety had resulted
in great IN jury to his (Evsns's) clients.
Mr.. EvaGs said the facts in the case
are these: The bark Mary Merritt was
owned by Murray, of Canada, who
bought her fcOm TTice Brothers, OF Hop
kinsYille, Kentucky, on warranty.
The bark was seized and libellsd in
Wisconsin for a mere technical VIOLA
ton, and then forfeited by decree from
decree. An appeal to the supreme court
was taken, and Trice Brothers employed
Feland g Evans, lawyers, to obtain re-
mission of the forfeiture. They visited
Washington, and offered BristOw en-
plOyment in the case, he then
! holding no public office; the
proposition to him was declined,
but BristOw introduced them to Secre-
tary Richardson. Evans says this was
| done without compensation or promise
thereof, and purely for friendship. The
! efforts before Richardson did not sue
ceed, owing to the representations Of
! Weiss, the inf0rmer in the case. Sub
| sequently, when Bristow became secre-
| tary Of the tres 5ury, the application for
| remission was renewed, but he positive
| ly refused to act in the case, placing his
refusal on the ground that ne had al
ready appeared in the case as de-
scribed. Weiss subsequently, as Evans
| understood, made sffitavit saying that
he had teen misiDfOrned, and uniting
in prayer that the application fOr re-
mission should be granted. Evans
learned that the remission was approved
by Mr.. COnsnt, acting secretary Of tbe
treasury, afer sn examination OF the
casa by the collector of the treasury. His
clients never obtained remission, nor
have he and his partner received q cent
for their services. Mr.. Evans states dis
tinctly that BristOw YVES never an attOr-
nsy ia the case, and never received a
tarthing for his services, and PrOnOunces
this assault utterly grOundless and made
for malicious purposes.
The SgauIding COurt-MartiaI.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2l.-In the
ford, clerk Ct the navy pay office, testi-
titled, with regard to the relations OF J.
0. Hanscom, FarWell & Co, and J. E.
DelamOntague, of the pay department,
that the amount on the certificate book,
purp0rting to be due HanscOm from the
eleventh Of September, 1874, to the first
OF January, 1875, was $l55, 1850 81. The
amount actually due as shown on the eX-
pendituIe book was S45, 600. There
were certificate issued to Hanscom and
FarWell & Co., as shown on the ceItifi-
cate book between the first of January,
1875, to the thirty-frst of August, 1875,
amounting to S2S7, ,1S9 S5; the requisition
book only calls for $37, ,0C0 due. The
ceTtifi cate book shows that certificates
amounting to $lS7, ,722 so were Issued to
DeiamOntagus from the first OF July,
1875, to the first of January, 1876. The
amount really due is $40 900. This cor.
rOborates the statements Of Farwell that
he knew nothing OF the number of GER
tifcates standing in his name, and Of
DeIamOntague to the same effect.
Park, Schenek and Emma.
WASHINGTON, April 21,-Mr. Park in
the Emma mine inquiry to-day testified |
that, by purchase and sale Of stock, in
1872, Gl6, 700 was realized. According
to his understanding, General Schenck
was entitled to One-half, but he refused
to take more than 1850. General
Schenck was interested to the extent of
2035 shares. General Schenck read q
statement showing that his investments |
on account of the Emma mine aggre- |
gated S53, 200. To show for this amount, |
General 8 eheuck hCs received dividends |
and holds stock, as follows: Dividends, |
thirteen months, 1871 and 1872, $500; |
AIS original shsrea, $4,000; total, $ll 800, |
leaving q clear loss, IS nearly as can be |
estimated and asceTtained, Of S42, 200. |
The examination il now closed with the /
exception of the reception Of certain pa
pers from London.
Don Piatt's Confession.
WASHINGTON, April 2l.-Don Piatt /
testified before G ymer's committee to-
day that he used mis- influence with the |
secretary of war to have COwles & Bre-
gas moth preventive used in the army, |
and gave them all the standing they |
had before the war department. They |
agreed to give him five per cent. OF the
gross receipts, and afterWard raised it to
fifteen per cent. He may have received
about ten thousand dollars a year, or
about twenty thousand dollars for his
share. He afterWRrd had some misuD-
derstanding with them, and went to the
secretary OF war aud told him he consid-
cred the patent Of C0wles q Brega a
fraud. The witness exonersted General [
Garfield from all blame about the ap-
pTOpristion for this matter.
The Department of Justice.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-The testi-
mony nf Elk. Attorney General Williams
aud Colonel Whitley, before the COM
mittee on expenditures in the depart
ment Of justice, w;s given to the press
tonight. The chief points have already
been furnished. JOhn +. Davenport
testified that ia the New York election
of 1870 he discovered that frauds had
been perpetrated, and adopted system
of registration which eventually result
ed in the detection Of these frauds. In
pursuing this matter, witness had spent
ten thousand dollars. He found that he
was being impoverished, and asked Col
onel Bliss, General Arthur, General
Sharp, Mr.. Murphy, Jackson 8. Schultz
and other gentlemen Of New York
whether the government would not pay
him in his efforts to detect there frauds.
In the summer Of 1871 he went to Long
Branch to see the President, and ex-
planned to the Pre3ident the frauds he
had discovered, and asked whether
some Of the funds in the control Of the
department of justice could not be used
to pay him. The President was i'm.
pressed with the plan submitted by
witness 20 prevent frauds in elections,
and said that he would recommend the
matter to the attorney. general. Wit
ness received in all thirty-five thousand
dollars, part Of which came through A.
G. Herman and part through Williams.
He never considered there was any cor
Tuption in the matter. Adjourned.
Paris Preparing for IS7s,
PARIS, April 2l.-The prefect Of the
Seine intends to ask the municipality
next week to vote twenty-fOur millions
of dollars for public works necessary to