Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-28
as GEN. GRANT <.UlLTyp
PaoiiC Money for Election ffsurz
Poses-Wili the President he wa
Preached.

Pablo Money for Election fsur
poses-WiIi the President II e Hsss
Peached.
From the Baltimore Gazette.
WAsHTNGroii, April 10. t
the committee on expenditures IN
in the department of justice struck a
perfect bonanza fraud to-day. Thev
were prospecting on the 18th inst,
and in asking Cot. III. G. Wbiteley
some .IuAstious abous the d Sbufse-
ment of the rorey annually appro-
priated to Aused under the direction
of the attorney Genera in the detec-
ton aud prosecution of crimes against
the United Safes, 1t occurred to the
committee that the witness was very
technical in his answer, and they sus-
pected that he WAS Pviding direct
answer. h was accordingly press
ed very close, but he answered
that he never paid any mon;y
knowing that il was to be used for
corrup5 purposes. He was then asked
if he had not paid money which might !
have been used f i corrupt purposes, |
and he answered that Of course where |
he paid large sum- of money under |
orders tor one person he could not /
know for what purpose it was paid |
finally. He was asked if he had not |
paid large sums of money at various
times TO a we'll known politician of
New York. This staggered him for
few moments, and he began to suspect
that somabo 1vhad been giving away
| the secrets OF his office H., however,
did not answer 3qnlrely, but asked for
| time to consult his counsel and examine
| his Papers. He had no desire to con-
ceal anything from tle committee, but
| ne did not wish to speak without hay
| ing had IN opportunity to take advice
and look over some records. Ii he
could have d few days to go to his
home at Cambridgeport, Mass, and
look over some papers. he would
come b ok and te!! all he knew. After
| consultation the committee decided to
allow Whitley the time he asked, and
he left that evening for Boston, and
he turned up this morning and went
before the committee. and told all he
knew about the disbursement of
money belonging TO the secret service
fund for election purposes The su J.
stance of his testimony was as fol-
| lows:
In 1871 John J. Davenport, of New
York city, who is Uuited States COM
missioner and chief supervisor of elec-
tiOns, wanted large sum of money from
the appropriation for the sundry civil
bill for the year ending June 80 1872, to
be expended under the direction of the
Attorney General III the detection and
prosecution of crimes against the
United States. He saw tho President,
and 81, 500 was ordered 20 be paid oy er
to MIN. The order was verbal one
from the Attorney General. A little
| Iatar DavE.nnnrf a ,ltaG 70 uoa IUb;toIo,-
at the office CT tie secret service divi-
sipu, New York city. and not finding
him left note, i'll which he says that
/ he had seen General Horace Porter,
, who tod him that the President had
. ordered the Attorney General to direct
him, Wmteley, to pay over five Thousand
| dollars to linn, Davenport. Not long
+ after this Il letter came to Whitley
from Attorney General Alderman, in
r which he says that the President has
5 had II conference with Davenport, and
? directs five Thousand dollars additional
' to be handed over to him by Whitoiey.
: This was done. There was paid due
l ing 1871 to Davenport in all seven
: thousand eight hundred dollars. Tie
t folio wig is II sample of tie rec ipte
5 which ID ivenpOr gave for this monty
= Scpiem Der IA, 1871, received of II. &,
q | y,
: sion. the sum of one thousand dollars,
Y to be used 10y me in the STATE, OF y "
e York, for the purpose of Il ateotins and
& bringing 10 trial persoas guilty ol
0 crimes agaiust the United States
Y JOHN 7. DAVENPORT
/ Z. S. Com, and Chief OF supervisors
{ OF Election.
In 1872 Davenport was more greedy
4 He wanted mntey ut the rate of tiy,
e and ten Thousand dollars Mt tim
Il Col. Nhlteley got frightened at tui.,
It and refused to pay any more ulpney
V UhoreupOn Davenport wrote to Alton.
4 ney General williams, and next ia,
Whiteley received orders to pay
4 Williams told him be must consul
= Davenport, and use the money in sucI
T.. r,arner as you aud Ia may agree upon
= Wniteley says be paid over the money
e but that he was not informed n,
o DAvonpart as to the disposition mad
+ OF ii. GA the 18th of July Davenpor
It received s., 900, and on October IL
l. 81 coo more, and September 26 SO.
IS 900, making twenty thousr nd dollar
o i'll all. In ali Whiteley PAID 10 Daven
V port 535, 600 during 1871. '72, '73 an,
It III. Attorney General Williams wa
V subpRnaed and brought forthwith be
q lcIe GHS cJhi In tet, anu rlglQiT CX
J. amined during nearly the whole after
e noon. He admitted that he ordered
e the money to be paid to Davenport a
. the suggestion Of the President, bu
r claimed that it was used fot the pur
o pose OF preventing election frauds il
= New York city. His attention
|, was called to sections 2026 anc
t, 2031 of the revised statutes, vhicI
II provide that chief SUPERVISORS i,
IS elections shall require their sab
Y crdInates TO make out lists of votes an
n examine into all questions OF doubtful
= voters, and fixes for all this labor reg
?, ular fees and salaries. So that undo
1t tho law everything tnat Davenpor
n could do legitimately was paid for b
2. the United States government. Iii
Ii accounts all came to the Treasury De
If pa! .fnent, and must be audited, and
Y found correct, paid out OF the regula
d appropriations. This leaves no room
IT whatever fer the use of the $50. 60
It from the secret service fund for an
II regular aud lawful purpose, and tn
o President and Attorney General, upo
: the latters showing, have been guilt,
r OF thus mlsde3eanOr IN Office ard mus
: be impeached therefor.
y Ex-Attorney General Williams tes
titled that Commissioner Davenport
of New York, received, by order O
the president, hot less than tWent,
thousand dollars,from the secret ser
vice fund 20 break up illegal registra
a tlon IN New York city. He was no
y prepared to say what services Daven
port rendered, but he knew that Gran
was particular in giving Davenport al
| 10,