The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-08
THE MOTH EXTERMINATOR.
A SERIOUS CHIRGE AG1INsr THE
VETERAN GEN. MEIGS
Accused Of Rejecting n Preparation because
ne was Refused a share In the Proceeds
An Emphatic Denial frsm tho General

Accused Of Rejecting n Preparation becau..
he was Refused share in the Proceeds
An Emphatic Denial frsm tho General
WAsHINaToN, April 7.-Before the Com
mittee on War Expenditures to-day, David Web
ster OF Concord. N. H., testified that he came
to Washington about the 18th OF March, 1874, to
sell to the War Department al moth extermi-
nator made by him, Congress having appropri-
ated $4,000 TO keep IN oths out OF army clothing.
He went with Austin 7. Pike, a member OF
Congress from New Hampshire, to Gen. Melgs,
Quartermaster- eneral, who refused to have
anything to do with II. Afterward ho got Rep
resentatives Parker, Craein, aud wadleigh to
write letter to Meigs, whereupon Gen. MeIes
agreed to test tho merits OF the thing. The
preparation was tested and approved by Capt.
Rogers, OF the Quartermaster's Department at
Philadelphia Arsenal. Webster then went back
to Gen. Meigs, who told him that he should
have the contract. Meigs asked him the
price, and how much the Government
would want. witness said ho did not
know how much the Government would
want, but said he would not require the depart
ment to pay for moro than was used. He after
ward stated the price by letter. Meigs then de-
cided to use It. Gen. Meigs then asked him,
"What beneHt will II be to me2" Witness nm
swerod. 1t Will Kill your moths" Gen. Meigs
said, But how much will YOU give me n put
damned cent, General" Witness said Cien. Meiss
gave hi n to understand that Cowles & Co.. who
were furnishing the moth exterminator, were
Iaying him part of tho proceeds. Yesterday he
tWeosteT) met man near the Judiciary square
before the committee. 10 the mane hand
were two one hundred dollar bills. lie did
not know the man, hut told him he 60.
Ing to tell the truth to the committee, and
that be did not want any money. The AN
turned ana walked on rapidly. Witness fol-
lowed to see where he went, but could not walk
fast enough. To-day man named Ingham Cory
ell came up to him In al store on seventh street.
Coryell Is in the Quartermastcr's Department at
seventh street wharf. Coryell said that up to
three days ago he believed that Ingalls, and
Others we're In tho Moth X ng. and that Meigs
was innocent; that they had got Cowles & co.
out OF the country to prevent them giving testi-
convuced that Meigs was the corrupt party In
the transaction. Witness presented number
OF letters TO coroborate his testimony. He had
never received any order from Gen. Nei.s for
tine moth exterulinstOr. except one for 800
worth. This he refused to furnish unless he
that to hl the order would cost more tnan II
would come to; nut he offered to furnish 1t for
clOting himself
TINS afternoon Gen. Noigs appeared before
tho committee In obeuience to a teleeraphtc
snmmons, ana testified that the statements OF
Webster. to the effect that he sought an interest
~ ms moth eXteiminator. by suggestion Of any
Kind that could be tortured into such sus-
pirion. were absolutely false. He said lie never
asked what benefit the contract would be to
nm, aud that he mad never asked Webster how
much he would give Lim. He had aways con-
sidered Webster, Ike many inventors, crazy on
tho subject OF bis preparation for exterminating
moths. Inc General SAID that Webster had
offered to furnish t10O worth OF the moth ex err
minator, provided be be allowed to use 1t him
self. lie declined to permit Webster to 20 into
the arsenal and handle the clothing, because he
did not know enough about him. flo had con
sidered him honest, but rather light IN the
bead, aud had never Inquired into hts charac-
ter. lie did not want outsiders In tho arsenal.
because II was dangerous policy to admit them.
Gen. Meigs corroborated generally the other
statements OF Webster from the record. but pro-
nounced his charges false In every particuIar-
the creation OF very active and imaginative
brainJ
while Gen. Meigs was giving his testimony,
webster was walking around very much excited,
leaning over the shoulders of members OF the
committee and proposing questions, much to
the amusement OF every ono present.
Zen. MeiEs was asked whether ne was tho
means Of the adoption OF the Geo. W. Cowles &
Co. process for exterminating moths. lie replied
that no had opposed It's adoption. even after n
board OF army officers had recommended IL, nut
nnally Yielded To The accumulation Of tesumo-
mails in It's favor.
Wnen asked by whose influence II lad been
Kept in use, he replied that George W. Brega
anu Dom Piatt were very active In the matter.
He said the Cowles process "A not now ia use,
because at tho last session OF Congress ii was
provided in an appropriation bill that no money
should be paid for the use Of any patent process
Tor exterminating moths or preventing ulildow.
lhey now use Camphor.