The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-28
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

SEIZURE or NAVAL rELEoRAPHIc MATTER
The Subcommittee Of the Congressional Committee
Of Investigation tho Department OF Justice ycster
day held Its sixth days session. all the members OF the
committee being present
Marshal Fske recalled and testified that he had
never employed more than 500 deputy marsnals and
to tho cost OF badges he had the impression that
they cost each about twenty-five cents; though he had
got that impression he did not know he always
found in the once quite sufhcent number Of badges;
in Marshal shsrpe's bill 70 the government those
badges were charged for AZ the ratio Of 81 each.
Luke Gedney, All omploy6 In the Post once and
Supervisor Of Election In the Fourteenth Assembly
district examined the carriage bills for tho
election OF 1871 He testified that hts bill or s33
''constructiv6' one
John J. 0'Bren, who q wegher In the Custom
House In 1872 At . salary OF 81, 500 year, also
Deputy Marshal and member Of the Republican Gen.
trail Committee testified that he belonged to the Eighth
Assembly district whore It necessary TO watch tho
polls and preparatory arrangements but no paid all his
carriage bills himself he did believe that tho late
Police Commissioner Smith was republican At all;
no held snecuro undor the city government;
the voucher In .sharpes bill for $5s he pronounced
correct This witness was asked quite number of
questions the fairness OF tho elections, which
wsrc Of general character and OF no public interest
the information supplied
Joseph H. Choate, the lawyer, who was Chairman Of
the Committee OF Scventy's Sub Committee on Elec-
t,ons testified that Davenport had charge during tho
election Of all details putting the ticket in the
field and establishing the general order Of the work;
from October till after election Davenport made returns
to the subcommittee at different times; his bills were
approved by Emile Sauer, who gave the check to Wit
ness who Endorsed Il to Davenport amer elections
settlement effected upon tho presentation OF vouch,
In nnv upnrt eanlov cd In doio
frauds in tho election OF William N. Tweed TO tho
senate this work was very extensive and Davenport
paid reasonably for Il; the Committee on Fraudu
lent Elections audited these blls Davenports pay Tor
the first job was SIS, 600; at that time witness
did not know that no was drawing money from the Sc
cret service judiciary fund.- but supposed that he had
some pay from the State Republican committee; after
investigation Davenport was cxoncrated from having
democratic ticket; the Union League Club employed
Davenport but not as extensively the Committee OF
ssvenw wnhess saw Dav ~ h once A. ns
then gave him $3.50 subscription toward the pub
LEGATION Of these believing that smaller subscriptions
had been given but did not know then that he was re-
ceiving supplies from the judiciary fund.
michael Crcgan testified that he clerk in the
States gaugsr, Chief Deputy Marshal and also
republican candidate fer Alderman; ten before
fsatcd for Alderman by tho Com mii,ee OF seventy's
candidate The testimony OF this witness, beyond his
holding these onhces, was unimportant
Richard Edgworth. messenger in tho Custom House,
and IN 1872 Supervisor OF Election in tho Tenth dis
tric testified that no did not get any for hts work
Is supervisor a. ne was drawing salary rom tno
Custom House.
twas expected that John !. Davenport would be ex
ssn.ed himself before the committee in the very pink
Of smile and quiet and collected as four Congress-
men had not been investigating all his donss as an
eIectioncerng agent for the past week.
HE THREW BoMBsHELL INTO THE COMMITTEE
before no eft and showed manifest feeling OF indc-
pondence as to tho committees efforts 10 expose any
| errors his part He had been already sworn and
briefly examined at his request in regard 10
riago hire, about which 50 much testimony had been
tho DAY gssy%SoS WAS sworn ~ sa ssa S0 ok
o. Il IL s
seventeen hundred and some odd dollars, while the
bill presented to tho governments In Marshal Sharpcs
overhaulod tho bookkeeper's accounts, when
for over $780, and paid cvon on the same day tho
$1.700 bill was paid, which brought tho total amount
up TO than presented TO the government the
difference being exactly the amount allowed on tho
total bill by the company. Mr. Davenport complained
that he did not get chance Yesterday TO set thus mat
6hipmsn, Who had given the testimony on tho pro.
| vious day, acknowledging the error and offering 70
come before the committee TO make such acknowedg-
ment under oath. Mr. Cochrane informed Mr.. Daven-
port that while tho committee could not tako official
cognzancc OF letter. still they would be glad to AZ
ford Mr. Chipman tho tookkeeper IN opportunity 10
correct his testimony. Mr. Davenport then retired,
John A. Shells, chief clerk in Davenports Office
next examined he testified TO the charges In the
ONCE for searching the continuation OF the old
rates, Notwithstanding recent law Of Congress- the
foes for searching handed over TO tho clerk
United States Commissioner since 1859, tho fees for
which he himself retained did not retain fees for
searching; the fees IN hts Judgment amounted yearly
iss vear salary which came from the receipts Of
the Once; In Mr. Whites time IN the onico few heavy
cases came IN ono Of which ~ she Northern Pacific Rail-
case $4,000 The greater part OF this witness
testimony was IN regard 10 tho number OF deputy
marshas sworn in by him IN 1872. Tho point
was that in the bill sent In Davenport
charged for the admission OF over 700 deputy mar.
these had made oath before the witness; in a mar
ginal note to the bill was the statement that over 700
had been sworn In BY witness and tho rest BY Daven
| many men he had sworn. but had not put in bill or
received any compensation for bis services; he had
been asked by Mr.. davenport 70 assist him, he
very busy, and he did so he would not however, say
that the number given by Davenport not correct
and remembered having at the time guessed the
number when Davenport asked him 10 make . return.
The next testimony taken was that OF Walter A.
Gibson. editor Of the Harlem Local newspaper, who
| face otherwise dshgured by an assault made upon
htm In yesterdays HERALD was given tho ,esti-
mony OF Mr. Haws, one oil the Grand Jury before whom
| Mr.. Gibson appeared 70 complain that IN station l.
Post Once 100 copies Of his paper wero destroyed.
The facts the case have been repeatedly published
Mr. Gibson has presented his all the principal
officials up to the President but still has got no
tho ae 81 hs wo n
him. and he told his story from the beginning tho
| end. He left the committee room 70 summon
OF the Grand Jurors before whom his case came,
and did notreturn. This case will DO somewhat fur
1 ther Investigated aud Mr.. Cauldxe promised Gibson
that should receive tho attention of the committee
| Tho committee adjourned TO meet tomorrow morn
ing at ten O'Clock
SEIZURE or SECRETARY RoBEsoys DKsPArtHEs.
| Tho members OF the subcommittee asccrialned
through their secret agents yesterday that very largo
quantity tecgraphic matter which had passed be-
tween Secretary kobcson and some well known men
Interested IN naval matters was about to be
destroyed IN this city. The committees agents
watched the telegraph Office pretty closely, and
rewarded by finding the enormous bulk OF l. 400
pounds weight OF dispatches being taken n certain
paper mill 10 be ground out OF sight and into a
form and shape Tho officers seized the dispatches
and conveyed them 70 place OF safe keeping, where
they will remain until Mr. Meade and his associates
have opportunity Of thoroughly examining them.
A. present the committee unable TO say whether
these dispatches contain any reasonable corrcspon-
dcnco will throw ligh9 upon questions that are At
present dark and doubtful Tho removal OF this tcc-
Hranhic maiier Mhc the commlcc E In session here