The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-17

How Ne Furnished Mis- House at the Ex-
pense or Uncle Samn-Whefe Mis- Wifc's
Diamonds Came From.
[From a Washington Letter.


from a Washington letter.
| The points of evidence against Robe
son are gradually leaking out, and they
disclose that, as in the Belknap case,
the wife has been one of the active
participants in the husbands corrup-
ton. The testimony Of Capt. VIM. p.
Ferguson, of the Washington Navy
Yard, is full of interest in showing how
Robeson's branches of the service. His
testimony in brief is that Robson has
had his new house on X street finished
off and deliberately furnished by Gov
eminent workmen, who brought with
them material from the navy yard. This
is also testified to by the former chief
clerk of pay rolls, and the muster
clerk, who had charge OF the mems
time, and has alleged to know
the duties and objects of the men s work.
He noticed that the object of the mems
work was misrepresented to him under
the head of incidental labor, furniture
and the like. The foreman of the yard
VIM. T. Childs, was the main instrument
employed in perverting government ma
terial to private use. He was made
much of by Mrs. Robson, and he, in
turn, to show his gratitude, worked a
large number of his men i'm this lady's
service. When Robson first came here
he lived i'm humble bachelor style upon
Vermont Avenue, near l street. When
he became married, of course he had to
branch out in style to correspond to Mrs.
Robeson's ideas Of what was due their
situation. The Secretary bought a lot
upon X street, just below the Hamilton
House, and here he erected q
snowy dwelling. The interior of
this building evidences unlimited
wealth and expenditure. Every room,
from basement to attic, is wainscotted
with elegant black walnut, here and
there beautifully carved with excellent
judgment and taste. This work would
have cost upward of ten thousand dol
lars had it been done by private
hands. Here the advantage of being
Secretary of the Navy is made to appear.
All of this work was done by men from
the navy yard, who received their pay
from the United States Government.
The black walnut employed. was also
government property. Besides trim
ming this house throughout in the most
expensive manner, the genial foreman
of the navy yard. Mr.. Childs, also took
occasion to further ingratiate himself
into the good graces Of Mrs. Robson by
manufacturing various valuable arti
Giles of household furniture. An elegant
Robeson's dining room is the work of
Mr.. Childs. 1t cost the Treasury 5000
under the item of incidental labor. Hat
racks, card tables and kitchen dressers
are few of the numerous articles
manufactured by this Industrious and
patient soul, Childs, for the sole pur-
pose of pleasing Mrs. Robson. One
day Mr.. Childs assumed a lavish mood
and ordered two of the best wood cut
ters at hand, Fred Boettscher and VIM.
Noak, Germans, to go to work and make
up q lot of work boxes for distribution
among Mrs. Robeson's friends. These
work boxes were very costly, and occu-
pied the attention of Boettscher and
Noak for several months. Capt Fergu-
sons testimony shows that upward of
$12, 900 worth of time and material have
been diverted from the navy yard to the
private house of Robson for his dOmes-
tic use
Another case against Robson is re-
lated by former employee of the navy
department, who was in a position to
know whereof he speaks. He desires
Joseph l.. Savage, a former we'll known
hardware merchant and naval contrac-
tor of this city, to be summoned before
the committee. He had O claim against
the navy department, before the day of
Robson, of $4,000. which had been
thrown out by former secretaries. When
Robson came in, Murtagh, proprietor
of the kitchen organ here, became very
intimate with the Secretary of the Navy,
and had no little influence with him.
Murtagh at that time was friend of
Savage, and. it is charged, asked Savage
how much he would give him il he
would get the claim through. Savage
said one-half At this Murtagh secured
an allowance of $4,000 upon the claim,
$4,000 of which went to Murtagh. It
is said that he afterward divided with
Robson, or, at any rate, compromised
present of very handsome set of dia-
monds upon the occasion of her we'd
ding