New-York tribune., 1876-05-22
NEw-oRLEAys CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

TEE WITNESS FERGUSON TELLS FURTHER STORIES
ABOUT FRAUDULENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sYPHER IN BAD LIGHT-sIGNALs OF DISTRESS
fRoM CASEY AND OTHERS.
GENERAL PRESS DrsPATcH.l
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The Committee on
Federal Offices in Louisiana continued the examination
Of G. W. Ferguson yesterday Witness asked the follow
ing question If should testify (which don't say
shall that had signed from 40 to go Ofruduen payros,
and that the money had been drawn on them, would
not be liable prosecution that testimony" He.was
officially informed that any testimony he might give be-
fore the Committee could not be used against him unless
such testimony he should perjure himself
witness said that in September and October, 1872,
Gen. sypher, ex Member Of Congress- gave him bundle
OF payros each voucher at that time being made out
separately, and asked witness TO sign them with any
name he chose. Witness filed up and signed about 80
so OF these vouchers and returned them 10 Sypher VINO
took them away and returned with package OF money,
paying witness a salary Of S90 and giving him some
money TO give those whose naeswere the vouchers
He signed fictitious for Of them, and OF
the represented persons not In existence, as
Brown Jones, Smith, etc. The money paid to witness
not his salary for he not then employed In the
Custom-house. He was political striker. sypher gave
witness money for eight or ten persons. The money
put into envelopes in from $35 to $50 and handed
to witness who gave them TO the persons designated by
sypher No name was filled in the top OF the voucher
and no Of money filed in at the time witness
signed the vouchers The vouchers were in blank when
signed and the amounts all put in aftorward.
The money paid TO these persons for election pur
poses They were Democrats and Liberal Republicans.
and they were expected to support the ticket bearing
syphers name "A Mr.. Mclean, since dead, helped wit
ness to sign these vouchers The vouchers taken
ue NusVoh-honse Auditor and the money was paid on
them. AFTER the payrOlis signed sypher took them
ana sad' Hold on boys awhile and Will soon be back
mere Win the money" Witness did not know of his own
personal knowledge where sypher got the money IL
understood that he drew it from the Cusfom-bouse
When be signed these pay-ros witness was In room ON
the upper floor Of the Custom house. which Gen syphcr
used as an Office temporarily sypher was gone from the
room about hreequar,ers Of hour and returned with
.e money Witness did not know whether he went out
OF the building or not.
witness said that II was in March, 1873 that l4OO 600
cigars were imported by one McCarty Mr. Conger read
segfam from Collector Casey, saying the newspapers
poi that Ferguson that McCary imported about
i4VVOO cigars In March, 1875, and that duty was paid
VI only 10000 The records of this Office show that Nc
eIy imported $4,000 cigars In March, 1875 and maid
.ne duty ON the Witness said the cigars he alluded
70 came In IN the steamship Merida He said Also that
hcCarty entered four five lots OF cigars in March,
1875.
iDe "ltness was asked II any one had questioned him
soout MS testimony given yesterday and he said that
some one came TO him and told him that Car
pener wanted 20 him. and he went to see him last
nshe MT Carpenter asked him IL his statement about
Dngnam was true, and witness said 1t was Mr.. Car
Pener said 1t then he would wash his hands clean
u Dilngham The witness then gave statement OF "A
os u cigars which were consigned to F. Massoch, IN
on 'he appearance OF the indicated that they
nao Deen cut down from very large to small ones Mas
acn also received lot of cigarettes in bulk The law
'09a'reo tnat the cigarettes should be taken out