The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-29
THE MARY MERRITT CASE.

ted by assistant secretary Cowan, Judge
Hub6ell, formerly District Attorney for
Wisconsin, gave documentary account
OF all the proceedings in the case. He
admitted that he was throughout oppos.
ed to the remission OF the forfeiture OF
the vessel, but finally gave his consent.
In reply to questions by Secretary Bris-
tow the witness said there was no charge
Of fraud against the vessel. That the
whole ground Of forfeiture was on points
in the Reciprocity Treaty, and had moth.
ing to do with smuggling.
The Secretary read the following from
the resolution directing this inyestiga-
ton namely: "And thereupon one OF the
attorneys for the owners OF said vessel
applied TO said Bristow, Secretary OF the
Treasury, for remittance Of said for
feiture, 10 which said Bristow replied he
would do nothing himself, but his private
secretary could tx it up, and said attor-
ney met his private secretary and had the
forfeiture remitted."
The Secretary asked the witness, pre-
suming he was the Attorney alluded to,
whether there was any truth in that allie
CATION.
Witness replied that II was wholly un-
true. The Secretary never said any s9ch
thing to him, and he never saw the Sec
retary or Private Secretary. y.-,-e,,..
Secretary Bristow-Did i not tell you
that | had rendered some friendly assist
ance to Messrs. Ferland and Evans with.
ont fee and not as an attorney, and there
lore aeGliheu 70 "c' III 'r1 i'!"'a' Iu.
while could not act Oelieyed that
every petitioner had inc right 10 oe
heard! A.,
"itnesS-l dont feniemoer .haS " 'ne
precise words, out II was 70 Ilias ellect.
Secretary brlstow-Did you ever make
any arrangement win me IN ihe pres
ence oil Senators carpenter anu MilSon
or in inc absence Oh ei!ner OF po.n .,
them th"t was 70 leave !ne department
anu let some one else ii4 1t ..
Witness-No, SIT; II 'S i"lsc III every
particular. n., ..-,..,.,u
secretary pris1oM-piu YOU n, EVER Nno"
any person III the iteasG,y , ntPar nnan ar.'ens ~
10 i!hVe uny 'nins " oo VIZ" ''''' "' :"
an improper wayI
W., ml.hesSLNo, ,.;caI s,i: nT' ,I". I" 1o,r.o, 20.
Inc Judge tesIinea .hat Johnson ~,
ported 10 MN that he lau 9us! letuIneu
from washington anu lounu 1h.nss ;' 1pgle
very iavor"oie, ItIe lna1 .2eereIHIy piiH
was going to Philadeiphia ana wonia
leave the Assistant secretary 70 remit
the line or release the money 10 Merritt
The witness understood johnson TO say
this to him more than once. :,
The Chalrman-Did you understand
johnson to say that Secretary Brlstow
was going TO Philadelphia with me view
that settlement should be made IN his
Witness-l don't give II rs my under
standing; that's what Johnson said;
Johnson told me that a settlement would
not be made unless ! gave my assent.
In the course oil tic examination
Secretary Bristow asked the witness Il
he did not know that the predecessor oil
Mr.. Banfeld had gone carefully over the
ground, and said that the offence charged
against the Mary Merritt was merely
technical. :.
The witness replied that lie recollected
Of it.
Secretary Bristow asked the witness,
who testified that he was throughout op-
posed to the remission, by what processhe
changed his mind.
The witness replied because he was as,
sured that the Department was prepared
to make the remission anu thus arrest iur-
ther proceedings, and because he thought
to secure the remission oi me forfeiture
Of the vessel, General Banileld having re-
signed the Office ot Solicitor; Inc Gener-
al was at that time IN Phlladeiphia en-
gagged in railroad business as IN attorney.
He stated to General BriStow the object
Of his errand, and offered to give him part
Of the compensation. General BristowT
declined to take fee, but said
he would assist in presenting. the
matter fairly to the Secretary oi the
Treasury; Secretary Bristow introduced
him to the Secretary, ana Mr. b9nheld,
the soiieltor, was iniormeu that IL was
Iae poliey teen NOT 10 grant any ; remls
so" VI po.'; ,oi. fI".; a.