The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-27
Secretary Bristow and the Latest Rumors


In reference to the statement to the effect
that Judge Barley, of Washington, testified
before the Committee on Department of JUS
tice, that Senator Suit, Of Maryland, told him
that Bristow had acted corruptly in Kentucky
while District Attorney, by having indict-
ments against certain parties quashed, Secre-
tary Brstow has written the following letter TO
Hon. r. G. CaulGeld, Chairman Of the COM
mittee: M
q APRIL, 10Th, 1876.
Sir:-My attention has been called to the
Washington dispatches to the Baltimore ''Ga-
zette" Of this date, copy enclosed.) from which
it appears that sometime last week Mr.. I. w.
BARLEY, Of this city, appeared before your COM
mittee and detailed remors, under oath, affect
ing my official integrity. This witness is rep
resented as having sWorn,. upon, Information
and belief, in substance, that while was United
States Attorney for the district of Kentucky, Il
number of distilleres were seized ut my instance
and soon after, upon an offer Of large sum Of
money. resigned and procured the appoint
ment of my assistant (Col Wharton) as my Sue
cessor, became counsel for these distillers. and,
in accordance with the terms of the alleged
agreement, procured the release of their prop
erty.
officer of the Government who could be reached
by your committee in few minutes, should be
allowed to remain in ignorance of tile exact
character of such testimony for nearly week
and that no opportunity to meet the charges Of
so serious a nature should be afforded him.
In the absence of any definite information
from your committee in regard TO what the
witness really stated under oath, ard without
reference to the alleged denials of these state
Nv p,,,tl,
meet the SANDER as find it in the public prints,
even at the risk of appearing to reflect upon the
methods Of your committee. The story, Wheth-
er testified to by Mr.. BARLEY or any one else
before your committee is absolutely and TILL
quaifiedly false.
1 trust your committee will recognize the
propriety of giving me the opportunity to
meet this baseless SANDER promptly, and for
this purpose | request that the officers Of the
court, including the Judge thereof, be brought
before your committee, and subjected to pub
examination touching all the matters alleged
by the witnesses in question, either by direct
statement or inuendo and if need be- that the
records OF the court be examined for the pur-
lose of showing that no such cases existed; at
least that [ had no connection with any such.
Furthermore, claim the right to be heard per-
sonally before your cOmHittee. under oath,
touching all the matters referred to by any Of
subject.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your Obedient servant, ot
B. II. BRIsTow.
1t is stated that Suit, who is largely interest
ed in the whisky business, appeared Monday
and testified that he never made such state
ment, and there the matter rests.
Mr.. Suit has prepared the following card-
''1y name has been mentioned in connec-
ton with an alleged payment to the Hon. B.
II. Bristow, Secretary of the Treasury, OF for
ty thousand dollars as an inducement to him to
res gn his position as United States District
Attorney for Kentucky, and to release my dis
tillery.
l wish to say. that have not lived in Ken
lucky since 1861; .that | have not owned or had
anything to do with distileries in that State OF
anywhere else for the last twenty years; that
| never paid Mr.. Bristow, either directly indi-
rcctly, one cent i'll all my life for any purpose
whatever, and that no one has for me; that he
has never acted as my attorney Oh any matter
whatever.
| am entirely at loss to account for the base
and baseless SANDER which connects my name
with his. although my attention was called
to it by the Washington correspondent OF the
''Inter Ocean" some time last summer or fall.
then denounced the whole story, without re-
gard to its origin, as utterly false, warf and
wool, and without the slightest foundation i'll
fact.
This denial most .cmplatically repeat to-
day, and challenge all proof to the contrary"
5. L. SUIT.
Washington, D. G, April 10, 1876.