The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-16
GEN. GRANTS STOCK FARM.
THU CONCERN PARTLY OPERATED
AT THE PUBLIC EXPENSE.

Iron, ns Baltimore Gassae.
Information was received Mt the Office Of
the Gdkettc on Saturday to the effect that Presi-
dent Grant had operated his stock farm, near
1t. Louis, largely at the expense OF tho Govern
ment. and that the fact Of such misappropria-
tioL Of the public funds was known to more
than one penon in Baltimore formerly stationed
at the st. Louis barracks. 1t was intimated that
Gen. Grant bad by his own order, as Command
er-in-Chief- OF the army, personally directed
detail from the garrison at St. Louis to lay out
race track on the Presidents farm, and that the
stock Of the President at the same place had the
regular attendance OF a veterinary surgeon OF
farrier connected WITH the post at 81. Louis, and
that such attendance included the shooting Of all
horses at tho expense Of the Government The
serious CHARGE was fully and carefully Invests
gated and is verified by the statements Of Capt.
George T. Robinson, an ex-.rmy o1iceri Ser
gesnt Cnffman, In charge OF recruiting once 81
the United States In Baltimore, add Private
Asbby, also OF the regular army, now memoer
OF the mounted service 10 Baltimore.
G pit. Robinson, who resides at 10 South
Chester street. IN this city, u will be recollected,
was brought prominently before the country by
his charges AGAINST Delknap on the day follow
Ing the disclosure Of the lstters corrupt deal
ton OF affairs at Fort Sill. He charged that
President CIR mt was fully acquainted with tie
actual condition OF things there nearly two
years before the disclosure at Washington that
startled the whole country, representing tnat lie
Capt. hODinsOn) had, with other O1fceTs at the
fort. sent communications, over tbeif own sig
natures. to the President, calling his ate tion
to tho Belknap frauds and outrage. Subsequent
to this Capt. Robinson was cashiered, and, as he
alleges, toy direction of Belknap, to whom he mad
made himself obnoxious In mis- efforts to ex-
poss his corrupt transactions In connection
with the sale Of post trad ershps on the frontier
In consequence OF his having been a cashiered
officer, iess credence has been placed bv tho
press throughout the country In RObinson's
statements, and being aware OF this TACT, care
has been taken In the present Instance TO get
. las IA Ma aagA L. NNafh
whom Capt. Robinson bad no opportunity Of
communicating, and who are at pressnt at:
tached to the regular United States army, and
OF good st nding as soldiers.
Their evidence. IA viii be seen. fully corrob-
crates IN all essential particulars that OF Capt.
Robinson. IN connection with the EN- plovment
OF details from the United States forces In st.
Louis to iav OF at toe Presidents stock farm u
private race track, and also the expenditure Of
Government funds to shoe the horses quartered
at Grants farm, some Of which, IL Is claimed,
were owned 10y members Of the great ST. LOUIS
Whisky ring.
GAIT RoBINsoN's STATEMENT
In answer 70 questions by our reporter, Capt.
Robinson said
l was stationed at st. Louis from March s,
1874, until May 10. 1875 l was IN command Of
the permanent trooo, or general garrison, num-
| located ABOUT nine miles southwest OF st. Louis.
Con. ID II. Grerson, superintendent of the gen.
err mounting recruiting service, -. Louis bar
| racks, came to me with an order IRON Gen.
| Grant to detail me To go TO his farm and thefe
| lay out private race track, which refused to
cheerfully, but refused as a Captain OF United
States cavalry to lay out private race track on
| private farm. He took the letter and went
back to his barracks II read about as follows
Unders tanoing that you have an engineering ofcer
At your 'sIi9n you will order him to lay Que race
| Nearly a week after this Gen. rierson present
| ed me with another letter from Grant Il saw tn
| letter IN vselD peIemptUriy ordering me to do
| tue work. The order read about as follows:
You will detail oicer competent TO do this work
who YOU have Informed me Al your post, 70 lay OUT
&C. upon Gen SIMPSON, United States Engine Corps,
| IL was approved by Gen. Grierson and served
| upon Gen. simpson, who furnished me with
aud steel tape. dt once maze adetail IRON IA y
| company for necessary men to perform tue
| work went to Geo. Grants farm and laid out
| the track on ground selected by Gen. Grerson.
| IL was MALT mile track. The ground W.
| pointed out to US by Grants superlntendent.
| lwould furthermore state tnat while In com-
ahd 81 permanent t.--s lps az -. Louis, ticre
was man there named john Herman. the vet
| per mOn.h. lie had charge and instruction OF
| cavalry recruits la norsesnoeins. Twice week
| he was ordered 10 90 to Gen Gran = farm auoi
attend to all veterinary III tiers also the snoe-
| ins of all horses requiring 1t. Inc men Of the
| United States service were detaod twice q
| farm and shoe the horses. They r.nged from
twenty TO Sky, and were all supposed 10 be-
| evtr, Were owned by Mckee aud other IN IN Uers
OF the great whIskey st; Louis Ring lne e1
|
| oul VI The United 81 lies Ire-suTy.
| PRIVATE AsnLEY's STORY.
Private WIN. q. Ashley Of tue general m ounted
serE9e, s,atloned ID tnls ct " sA'l thal ne VS.
barracks m February, 1874. 1t was "a demorAiized
mob until ~. Robinson took command.
| Q-Dm you ever see Capt. Robinson with surveying
q Do you sno" Of amy surveys having been maze at
60 lhere, aud tod Sergeant carried the
ibid you know John Keenan, the farrierp A
| Q-Did you know OF his having shod horses on the
Pr,sldent's stock farm? Al have farriers 20
| down mounted VITA ,Quipmeuts for the purpose
have SEE Esn Er-Ats nor.es AZ the post get ding cd.
as Mlss Neie Grants Two pone. GA several occa'
teen or nfleen men deta 10 shoe Grant 8
iarn There we're slso many horsrs belonging ~
| o-At wnose expense war ali tbs done2 Al nave
| Government.
| SERGEANT CoFFMAS's STATEMENT.
The following conversation was mad with Ser
| geant Henry Connan, VINO mas cndrge OF the re-
cruitins office on Centre Sia ket space Balti-
| more:
SIsw long have you been IN the service of the
Q-wnrn did you 81 become acquainted wssh Capt
| Geo RODInsOn' la Pnladeiphla III tue fan Of
g. WHAT was hi, general record IN the army2 A.
% Mic C%pt 4. Va al St Ioui. were vou
hGrc2 2. A.-Fof snort time. ...-.
a. iag a. you snow When under cen hetcns command
,.n on "" fhi Vas bad discnne me .
Owed to answer roll cali win Their pt.ts their
boots with st4ble frocks on, &c. Uuder Capt koD-
insou's Naturalization there Naa "A declded Change Tor
| thr better.
q. ~ you know OF a hive stock association Ia eI.
istVuce NJ the barracks? Al DO. II Was propos 4
IN farm should be stocked oy tho coupany, which
was composed OF members OF the permanent troop.
| show If promotion, &c. tlO were deauc for tins
purpose pay DAY. | kneW OAe man named Mitche i
| VINO NltuLrCN alter payidg 900.
Q.-UnuVr Cap kObinsun's administration did this
| Riug continue 10 nOurlHHY A.-Nu. may that
hack hruk.n. Inls was accom-. shed ny reluc x
several OF tue commissioner officers. uclrd tnAl
cant. kupiusOn Tue means 4 OrHAug W the Rag
Capt. ROo,usun uroke tue First Lieutenant, cond
LtutrLan aud COmnissary Sergeant, anu appoint 4
|
| q what effect did this haye9 A.-The condition OF
| the post ulucn mpr. yea Ia lact We nad good
pcrni.n.nt cOuip.uy u4der Capt Ruulnson'- adm MS
tratlun. The troop I'M r1vrt IN discipline zee iln
81. No discipline be made unless nave inrlI
| TatiOnH rcgu-ry. 81 n CAPT koniueon cNne cont
know OF ny mounted arm or TARGET practice having
| been Obsery d.
Q.-Wnere VAS Grants STOCK farm located2 A
Nor el lOui'
q. Dld YOU know OF work done there by a dctai
from the naIracAsP A.,eVelnl tim4r horses rom IN
farm We q snud at st. Louis oaracks. was Tod the,
were GfAnts rises. IA,y were saod by man Aau,,
| Lozer, AM otiers lOnn kernln the farmer To-
| tue United States army.
The Decentralization Case-A Letter from
MIR. MOultOu
To THE EDITOR OBJ THE SUN-ST:
| nnd In the Associated Press despatch published