The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-21

we WIN listen 10 tho Great Father wicn be tells us
wha, he wants us to do about inc Black Hills " Crooks
last expedition has forced hostiss IN tho North The
dispatches from Laramie are mol reliable.
WILLIAM vANDEvER. Inspector.
NEW ORLEANS CUSTOM HOUSE.
OFFICES IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TEsrI-
MoNY BY THE WITNESS FERoUsoN-How
FRAUDULENT PAY ROLLS WE'RE Made OUT
AND PAID
WASHINGTON, May 20. 1870
The committee federal Offices In Louisiana met
to-day ana continued the examination Of &. w. Fer
guson.
Previous 10 the examination tho minutes OF tho
secret OF yesterday read by which it was
shown that the committee decided meet
in New Orleans on saturday My u. which will
ncccssilac starting from Washington next cdncsday
evening
Mr. Ferguson was asked continue his statement
concerning the fraudulent pay rolls the Custom
House nj New Orleans
Witness asked tho following question --If should
testify (which don't say sha.D that la signed
from forty to sixty fraudulent pay rolls and that tho
money had been drawn them, would not be liable
prosecution GU that testimony
The lawawas read 70 the witness and he officially
informed that any testimony he might give tho
such testimony he should pcrJurc himself
Witness said that in September ana October 1872
General Syphcr, ex- Member OF Congress- gave him
bundle OF pay rolls each voucher al that time beng
made separately, and asked Witness sign them
with any name he chose witness flled up aud signed
about fifty sixty of those vouchers and returned
them to sypher, who took them away and returned
with package Of money, paying witness salary Of
$780, and pive Others whose namcs no had s.cnei
| on the vouchers
! Witness asked to give tho names which he had
/ signed the rolls. and he said he signed whatever
| name INTO his mind; he had authority from
| any one whose names ho signed TO sign their namos
but some OF tho employees hal authorized him 10 col
/ lcct their monoy-Thomas Fcrnon. William Nco,
Benjamin Lcggott Joseph Asher aud others no could
not rccollect who persons who asked him
collect their money; no signed fictitious names fJr
some OF them OF the represented par
existence, as Brown, jones. smith, &c the
money pald 10 witness was not his salary, he
then employed In the Custom House; no po-
lca striker; Syphcr gave witness money Tor eight
ten persons; the money was put into envelopes IN
from $35 TO 500 aud handed 10 witness, who gave
them tho parties designated by Syptcr; no nainc
ullcd in tho top oil tho voucher and no Of
money filled In at the time wItnvss signed the
vouchers; tho vouchers were IN blank when signed
and the amounts were NIL put In aiterward;
tho money paiaD to these parties not consIdcra
labor performed, bus was for election pnrposes
parties democrats and liberal republicans, and
they expected TO support tho ticket bearing
Syphcr's name; Mr. Mclean, since dead, helped
witness 10 sign these vouchers; vouchers were
taken tho Custom House, audited, and the money
was paid them; some OF the mon who received the
money were registration officers; Others wore parties
who took sailors out OF boarding houses vote.
others were Interested in fraudulent naturalization
papers, and they all expected work for General
sypher alter the pay rolls were signed Syphcr took
them and said, Hold on, boys, awhile, and VIII
know Of his own personal knowledge whore Sypher
got the money.
sypher's owe money! A. No sir; i was understood
tLaThe drew Il from the Custom House.
q did not ask you what was understood. ask
you n you Know where the money came FROM Do you
know that General sypher did not draw Il from his
pocketf A. No, sir
by Mr. Gibson-what is your opinion as to where no
Mr. Wilson, US counsel for Collector Casey objected
to the witness giving any opinion, and quite discus
arose on that point, aud the question was mod-
fed inquire what the grounds OF his I'm
pressons about where the money from, and wit
ness said il the conduct Of Syphcr in having tho
rolls made OUT taking them away With him and
q DO you know Of any other cases where fraudulent
payrolls have been made outs A. No, sir not Of my
own Knowledge.
Q. Where were you when you signed these paw
rollss A. In q room ON The upper floor OF the Custom
House. which General sypher used Office tenn
porary; Sypher was gone from Tho room about three
quarters OF hour and returned with the money;
witness did not know whether he went OF the
Duding or not
By Mr. Conger--what month was !: that the $4,000
cigars imported BY McCarty in New Orleans
WHICH no paid duty ON only 1O,000f A. In March.
1875
slr Conger read the following telegram from Col.
Icctor Casey sent 70 thcSccrctary Of the Treasury
TO rnx SECRETARY oy rax rSsssvns Washington D.
Nswspapsrs that Fergas. .w"rs yesterday before
1900 cigar March, 1915 that duty paid
imported cigars il Ma,sh ss aud paid lie da,y
committee. JAMES y. CASEY. Collector
Witness was asked what he had to say 10 that, and
ne said the cigars he alluded in on the steam
ship Merida he said also that AcCarty entered four or
i've lots OF cigars IN March. 1874
Mr. Gibson read telegram from kcCarty AZ fol-
lows
Hon. RANDALL Ginsox Chairman Committee;
have paid duty on 1000 cigars imported by 8
hays never made any Custom House en.es u cigars Tor
M~ssech and consequently be nsys paid me Any money
false snd uiacon. L. MCCARTHY.
Also the following from Domingo
rs" q Ferguson before your Committee that
either or ny clerk told BIN that Dillingham; MAS = msmbo
ring importing frauaueny absolutely
-''' = A'' :" - ''''s"' " s's ScsE e Dcx1xao.
Also one IRON Massoch. as iolIows:--
INV ORLEANS La, Nay 49, 1875
To Hon. X Gnsox. Chairman of Committee
give" Yesterday before your by
~ a. Ss s s - ow "s ss
been IL my employ and has never done business
Witness said the statements In tho dispatches wers
false II could not b. expected that those men would
acknowledge their connection with any fraudulent I'm
porting.
The witness was asked any one had questioned him
about his testimony gwen yesterday and no sad that
ZONE Que came 70 HIM and told HIM that ex-senator
Carpenter wanted 70 him, and no went 70 him
last night; Mr. Carpenter asked him " his statement