Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-02
WASHINGTOS.
BristOw and the Mary Merritt Case
sworn Statement of the secretary
OF the Treasury.
ExtraditiOn Treaty
Interview of Faulkner, of Vir-
ginia, with Secretary
Fish.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-The commit
tee on expenditures in the treasury de-
partment to-day examined Webster
| Elms, chief clerk in the office Of sOlic-
| itoT of the treCsury who testified that
| he had charge OF ali the papers in the
| Mary Merritt case, and wrote the letter
recommending remission of forfeiture
| He never saw Secretary Bristow in re-
lation to this case by conversation or
otherwise.
Joseph H. Robinson, sssistant-solic-
| itor, testified to General Bristow ap.
pesring, in April, 1874, before Solicitor
BanfieId, and s1kiDg that the case be
examined on it's meriis. At that time
he had no connection whatever with the
| c2se, far 9s witEe-s knew.
SecretsIy Br's' w then made sworn
statement to the following effect: He
had no connection with the Mary Mer-
ritt ceqe, except in the capacity of
friend OF Felsnd & Evans, attorneys for
Trice BrotheIJ, al Of whom were his
neighboiJ at Hopkinsville, and his per-
sonal iriends. 1t YVES the Truth, sstated
by Evans in his testimony, that that
gentleman had a conversation with him
in Philadelphia in relation to the case,
and that he declined to take any COM
psnsation whatever for any gel vice he
might peIfOrm; and that subsequently
he went to the treasury department at
the request OF Feland, who, though
good lawyer, wss unacquainted with
the practice of the department, and
there presented the question on legal
grounds alone, being satisfied 1t was q
clear cPse for remi"3ion. On that occa-
sion he expressed himself earnestly
fk,a yNroati0a Of CyD;nn
before the secretary of the tres 9ury and
testing the power conferred upon the
secretary by act of congreJ 80. He also
expressed himself against HaZletOn, at
that time member of congress, for ap-
pearing there for similar purposes.
After he became secretary OF the Jreas-
ury he declined to have anything what
ever to do with the case. He thought
Edward E. Johnson made mistake in
saying the secretary informed him he
was going to Phlladelphia; he was in
New YORK from the eighteenth to the
twenty fifth OF March, under treatment
for his throat, when the remission Of his
forfeiture was granted. Did not think
the cPSe came up at that time, and did
Eot learn il WIS decided until sometime
afGeTwRrd. C0nant, during his absence,
was acting secretary of the treasury, and
the papers in the case were brought be-
fore MIN. The patti had right to be
heard, and his former position should
not have excluded them from present.
ing their cE3e to the acting secretary.
Never at sny time expressed to CODant
or any other officer Of the treP sury what
should be done with the case. Although
Solicitor Wilson approached him on the
subject, he declined to talk al )ut it. He
did not refer the cF1e to any one, declin-
ing to take any action whatever. He did
not wish to be understood Ps even
implying that any wrong wes commit
ted in the settle ment OF the cP9e, and
he wished to say explicitly that he had
no knowledge that the infOrmers in the
case had been settled with. Before this
investigation wsI ordered, he had never
examined the papeIJ in the case until
he did SO here IN common with the
members Of the committee. It WIS not
true, as stated in the resolution, that one
Of the attorneys in the casa had applied
to SecretaI. J BristOw for a remission of
forfeiture, and he replied "he would do
nothing himself, but his private secre-
tary could fix it up" and said "the at
tOrney met his private secretary and had
the forfeiture remitted" " He did not
believe any Of the attorneys ever met
his private secFetaI J at all. His private
secretary was quite young man; acted
as his amanuensis and stenOgTapher, and
had nothing to do with the transaction
Of public businC] ;.
AngIO-AmerIcaR ExtraditiOn Treaty.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-Representa-
tive Faulkner, chairman pro tenn. Of the
committee on foreign affairs, had an in
terview with Secretary Fish this morn
ing and learned there was q meeting of
the British cabinet, Saturday, at which
they adhered - their former position
not to return WinslOw to the United
States unless requested by cur govern
ment. The protest of the secretary Of
state, which the British cabinet had
before them on Saturday, shows that
such an evasion of treaty stipulation
was never before suggC tied by any gov
eminent. The secretary strengthens
his protest by citing a number Of pre-
| cedent7, slludiDg TO the fact that a parlia-
mentary enactment seems to be cOnsid-
cred by the British government OF mol c
binding force than :; solemn treaty ex-
isting between two nations, and which
provides for extradition under the cir
| cumstanc:3 presented in the case under
consideration. AS our government will
| not give sucn e9surance as Great BrltalL
requires, the latter is unyielding. Wins
low will be Internationally discharged
| tomorrow. On the reception Of official
Intelligence of this fact the secretary ol
| state will transmit all correspondence
in this case to the house Of representa-
tives. There is no doubt that the actor
OF the British government will lead tt
measures having in view the repeal o
! the extradition clause Of the AshburtoI