The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-03-11
RORESON,S ROBBEREES.
How He Built His Fine Mansion.
And Stocked it With Costly Furniture.

I Washington cor. Chicago Times:
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 partlcl-
pants in the husbands corruption. The
testimony of Capt VIM. 7. Ferguson,
former chief clerk to Gen. Franklin. A
Stratton, civil engineer of the Washing
ton hayward, is full of interest in show
inc how Mr.. Robeson's corruptions have
| extended to the smallest branches OF the
service. His testimony in brief is that
| Robson has had his new house on IL
street finished off and deliberately orna-
mented by government work men who
| brought with them material from tue
navy yard. This is also testified to by
the former chief clerk of pay-rolls, ana
the muster clerk, who had charge OF the
/ mems time, and has alleged to know the
duties and objects of the mems work. lie
noticed that the object of the mems work
was misrepresented to him under the
head of incidental labor, furniture, and
the like, and that this Misrepresentation
was afterward corrected upon the books
. of.Gen. Stratton. The foreman OF the
ward. VIM. P. Childs, protege
of Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts,
was the main instrument employed IN
perverting government material to prl-
vate use. He was made much of by
Mrs. Robson, and he in turn, to show
his gratitude, worked large number OF
his men. to this lady's service. When
Robeson first came here he lived in
humble bachelor style upon Vermont
avenue. near I street When he became
married, of course, he had to branch out
in style to correspond to Mrs. Robeson's
idea of what was due their situation.
The Secretary bought lot upon *
street, Just below the Hamilton house,
and here he erected snowy dwelling.
The interior of this building evidences
unlimited wealth and expenditure. Ev
erv room, from basement to attic, i:
4 wainscotted with elegant black walnut
here and there beautifully carved witt
excellent judgment and taste. This
work would have cost upward OF S1O, OOC
had it been done by private hands
Here the advantage Of being Secretary
of the Navy is made to appear. All o
navy-yard, who received their pay from
the United States Government. The
black walnut employed was also Govern
) ment property. Besides trimming this
, house throughout in the most expensive
, manner, the genial foreman of the navy
= yard, Mr.. Childs, also took occasion C
; further ingratiate himself into the GOO
graces of Mrs. Robson by Manufacture!
various valuable articles of household fur
niture. An elegant and elaborated,
carved side board in Robeson's dining
+ room is the work of Mr. Childs. 1t COS
the Treasury of the United States 5000
under the item of incidental labor
, Hat-racks, card-tables, and kitchen
dressers are a few of the numerou
e articles manufactured by this industriou
; and patient soul, Childs, for the sol
purpose of pleasing Mrs Robson On
day Mr.. Childs assumed lavish mooC
and ordered two of the best wood-cutter
at hand, Fred. Boettscher and VIM
Noak, Germans, to go to work and max
up a lot of work-boxes for distribution
among Mrs. Robeson's friends Their
!. work boxes were very costly, and occu
: pied the attention of Boettscher ant
: Noak for several months. Capt. Fer
t guson's testimony shows that upwards o
, So, 900 worth of time and material hay
been diverted from the navy yard to tn
! private house of Robson for his domesti
use.
+; Another case against Robson is rela
ted by a former employee of the nav,
! department, who was in position t.
: know whereof he speaks. He desire
Joseph l.. Savage, former we'll know
hardware merchant and naval contracto
: of this city, to be summoned before tn
: committee. He had claim against tn
navy department before the day of Re
n bosom, of 1000, which had beer
thrown out by former Secretaries Whel
Robson came in, Murtagh, proprietor 0
the kitchen organ here, became very in
f innate with the Secretary of the Navy
and had no little influence with him
Murtagh at that time was a friend O
> Savage, and, it is charged, asked Savag
' how much he would give him if he wotl
!; get the claim through Savage said one
7 half. AT this, Murtagh secured an al
lowance of 500, 900 upon the claim, SO,
600 of which went to Murtagh. 1t
said that he afterwards divided wit
T., Robson, or at any rate, COMPROMISED
! matters by making Mrs. Robson pres
: ent of very handsome set of diamond
| upon the occasion of her wedding.