The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-09
ROBESON,s TURN NEXT.
How lie Furnished his House-Numerou-
Presents to a Indy.


WAsniNGToN. March 5.-The points of
evidence against Robson are gradually leaking
out. and they disclose that, as in the Belknap
case. the wife has been one Of the active par
Elephants In the husbands corruption. The tes-
timony OF Capt. VIM. Z. Ferguson. former chief
clerk to Gen. Franklin A. Stratton, Civil Eng-
neer OF the Washington Navy YarI, IS full Of
interest In showing how Robesons corrup;ions
have extended to the smillest branches OF the
service His testimony In brief Is that Robson
has had his new house on X street husned on
aud ellborately furnished by Goyernm snt work
men, VINO or9uHnt win tneni "a YER y rom me
mer chief clerk OF pay rollS. aud the muster
clerk, who had charge OF the men time and
has alleged to know the duties and objects OF
the mems work. He noticed that the object OF
the mons work was mlsrepresented 10 him
under the head OF incidental llbIr. furniture,
and the like, and tnat this representation
was Gfterward corrected upon the looks OF Gen
oiTattOn.
prot6.e OF Senator Dawes OF Massachusetts,
was the main instrument employed In peryert-
was made much of bv Mrs. Robson, and he, In
turn, to show his gratitude. worked large num-
Der OF hts men IN this lady's service When
Robson first came here, he lived In humble
bachelor style upon Vermont avenue, near |
street. When he became married, OF course he
bad to branch out In style To correspond TO Mrs.
tObesun's ide OF what was due their situi-
tiOn. the Secretary bought lot upon street,
lust below the Hamilton House, aud here he
erected snowy dwelling. The interior Of thi ,
building evidences unlimited wealth and expen-
diture Every room, from basement TO attic, Is
wainscOted with elegant black walnut, here and
there beautifully carved With excellent judg-
meDt and taste. This work would nave cost up
ward OF $4,000 had 1t boon done by private
hands. Here the advantage OF being Secretary
Of tho 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 YVES also Government property. Be
sides trimming this house throughout in the
az
the navy yard MIR. Childs. also took occasion to
further ingratiate himself mo :he good graces
OF Mrs. Hobsson 10y manufacturing various valu-
able articles Of household furniture. An ele
CANT and elaoorately carved sidebodrd in Robe
sons dining Dom Is the work OF Mr.. Chllds. II
cost tho Treasury 800 under the item OF in
cidenta labor Hat racks, c lrd tables. and
ktcnen dressers are few Of the numerous
articles Manufactured by this industrious ana
patient soul. Childs. for the sole purpose Of
pleasing Mrs ho0eson. One day Mr.. Cbids as
sumed a lavish mood and ordered Two OF the
/ est wood cutters at hand. Fred. oettscher aud
VIM. Noak, Germans, to go 10 work and make up
9. o. TSTE oo3s' T eI'ITentlon SmSns Mrs
costly, and occuped tina attention OF Boettscher
and Noak for several mouths. Capt. Ferguson's
testimony shows that upwari Of S2,OO0 wort h
" time and mateTial have been diverted from
the nayy yard ~ tie private house OF Robson
for his domestic use,
Another clse against Robson u related by a
former employee OF the Navy Department, who
was ~ "a position TO know whereof he speaks.
He desires Joseph L.. Savage, a former well.
known hardware merchant and naval cOntrac-
tor OF this city. to be summoned before the
committee. lie bad a claim against the Navy
department before the day OF Robson OF
S32,OOO which had been thrown out by former
Secretaries. When Itobeson came in, Murtagh,
proprietor Of the kitchen organ here. became
very inIimats with tho Secretary Of the Navy,
aud lad no little influence with him. Murtagh
at tn time was friend Of Savage, and. II il
en"rged, asked savage how much he would give
him II he would get the claim thr Dugh. Savage
sad ono-half AZ this slurtagh secured an
allowance OF S20,00 upon the claim, $4,000 OF
when went TO Murtagh. IL Is said that 10 err
ward divided with RobesOn, or, at any rate,
COMPROMISED matters by making Mrs. HObesOn
present OF very handsome set OF diamonds
upon the occasion OF her wedding