The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-20
how The NEW YORK ELECTIONS VRRE CARRIED.
Whitley's Story and Its Confederation by
Attorney General williams.
THE ATTACKS ON BRlsTow.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

oRANT-TEsTIMoNY OF WHITLEY AND Ex-
ATTORNEY GENERAL. WILLIAMS.
An astounding development was made today in Mr..
Caulnclds Committee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment OF Justice, the testimony involving in very
painful manner the President Of the United States.
Tho story relates to and confirms the charges
made m New York in 1872 that the admnistra
corrupt manner, in tho elections OF that
year. It will be remembered that in that year John
Davenport became notorious for his conduct federal
Supervisor Of Elections and United States Commits
sioner under the law giving the federal power authority
10 superntend elections Of federal officers. It
shown to-day first by tho testimony Of Colonel Whitley
ex-Chet Of tho Secret Service and then by tho con-
nrmatory admissions OF cx-Attorney Gen nj
Williams, that williams through whitley, sent
10 Davenport all different times $4,000 of the
service fund Of the Department Of Justice that
All this thus sent during the months Immediately
preceding the elections in New York. and that 1t
given to Whitley for Davenport by Williams the
direct orders II President Grant The following the
story in its detais:-
Some days ago Colonel Whitley, sx-Chef Of the So
cret Service. appeared before the Committee Ex-
pendlture OF the Department OF Justice and testified 10
having furnished John l. Davenport Of New York,
the order Of Attorney General Williams and stated
that he believed that he had certain letters and
vouchers at his residence in Boston 10 prove
the fact Upon the order Of the CON-
mttee no proceeded to Boston, and returned
only to-day, when his examination continued He
produced to-day receipts Davenport amounting
something $50. 0oo which money, he testified, he
had paid to Davenport about $4,000 the order of
Attorney General Akerman and the balance the
~rdsr Of Attorney General Williams during
the years 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. in
Tho months immediately preceding the elec-
zion in New York in each OF those years
and tho most part during the Presidential campaign
OF 1872 Ho produced letters from Attorney Generals
yestivc specimens OF political literature. He also
stated that his Information derived from Attorney
General Williams was that the money paid on the
order OF President Grant
Attorney General williams was then summoned
before the committee and testified, in effect,
That whitley's statement was correct; that he
had paid the money Davenport first on tho writ
ten order OF President Grant, beng himself ndisposed
to mako the payments that he made the first payment
upon the request OF the President and after
brmed him that Davenport engaged in great
work, preparing books, which, Williams charac
terized IT. kind or invention prevent frauds in
Inc elections Tho President said that he had the
books and commended very highly Davcnports plan.
Mr.. Williams further testified that all this money was
paid out 10 Chief Whitley and that vouchers were
retained in the Department Of Justice to show
that Davenport had received dollar from this Secret
port by Whitley without any agreement what II
should be used for how should be used Davcn
ports acquisitions being always honored and that the
partment has received any Information what
The money was used for Mr. Williams was carefully
Intercepted whether this expenditure was In tho
line OF Davenports Official duty, either Chief OF su-
pcrvisors in New York or AZ United States Commits
sioner both Of which Offices the latter held and was
unable to state that such was the Mr. williams
vas explicit in stating that he would not have paid the
money except by direction OF the President and that
he never sought to ascertain the particular use TO which
the money applied.
The President win probably be subpunaed before the
ommittos 10 answer these questions for himself
General williams he asked what conversation
passed between himself and the President when the
latter ordered the first payment OF money to Daven
port the object OF the question being draw from the
Of the government, advised tho President that such
payment OF money was Illegal But the
witness answered that be could not rccollcct precisely
what tho was and when the question was
put in leading way. almost directly, in iacs he
still failed TO rccoect what had been said.
The question whether the committee shall call the
President before them nat what manner they
shall question him, will probably DO discussed by
the committee tomorrow. Presidents Jefferson
and Lincoln appeared before committees OF
Congress 10 testify, and General Grant, II is
believed. desires to appear and will como as soon as
he is summoned. In tho Black FRIDAY investigation
the committee sent him copy OF tho testimony and
requested him 10 send In such answers AZ no chose to
make
II Is said that there has been in admin