Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-03
Mary Merrit, case.


ury Department to-day eXaMined !
Webster Elms, Chief Clerk In the
Office of the Solicitor of the Treasury,
who testified that he had charge of
all papers in the Mary Merritt case
and wrote the letter recommending |
the remission of forfeiture, Never
saw Secretary Bristow in relation to
this case, by conversation or other
wise,
Joseph II. Robinson, Assistant So
licitor. testified to General Rristow
appearing in April, 1874, before So
licitor Banficld, asking that the case
be examined on its merits. Secreta-
ry Rristow read his opinion; at that
time he had no connection whatever
with the case so far as witness knew.
Secretary Bristow then made a
sworn statement to the effect that he
had no interest in the Mary Merritt
case, except as friend Of ireland
and Evans, attorneys for Trice Bros,
all of whom We're his neighbors at
Hopkinsville. Evans testified the
truth that Bristow had i'm Philadel-
phia talked about the case and re-
fused to take any compensation for
any services, and that subsequently,
he went to the Treasury Department
at the request of ireland, who thought
his lawyers were unacquainted with
the practice of the Department, and
there presented the question on legal
grounds alone. being satisfied that it
was clear case for remission. On
that occasion he expressed himself as
earnestly against the practice of in
formers going before the Secretary of
the Treasury and resisting the power
conferred upon the Secretary by the
act Of Congress. He also expressed
himself against Hazleton, at that
time member of Congress,
appearing there for similar purposes.
After he became Secretary of the
Treasury he declined to have any
thing whatever to do with the case.
He thought Edward c.. johnson made
a mistake in saying the Secretary in
formed him that he was going to
Philadelphia. He was in New York
from the 18th to the 25th of March, un-
der treatment for his throat, when
the remission offorfeiture was grant
ed.
Il Did not think the case came up at
that time and did not learn it was de-
; cided until some time afterwards
Conant, during his absence was act
ing Secretary of the Treasury, and
the papers in the case were brought
} before him.
} Parties had right to be heard, and
his former position should not have
excluded them from presenting their
case to the acting Secretary. Never,
at any time expressed to the commit
tee or to any other officer of the Treas
ury, what should be done with the
case. Although Solicitor Wilson APP
preached him on the subject, he de-
} clined to talk about it; did not refer
: the case to any one. Declining to
take any action whatever, he did not
: wish to be understood as even imply
| ing that the wrong was committed
i'm the settlement of the case, and he
wished to say explicitly that he had
no knowledge that informers in the
case, had been settled with.
Before this investigation was or
dered had never examined the pa
pers in the case, until he did SO here
in common with members Of commit
tee. In was not true as stated in the
:. resolution, that one of the attorneys
: in the case applied to Sec'y Bristow
for remission of forfeiture, and he
replied he would do nothing himself,
but his private secretary could fix il
up, and said attorney met his private
/, , secretary and had the forfeiture re-
. mitted. Did not believe any of the
attorneys ever met his private secre-
!, tary at all His private secretary was
quite young man and acted as his
. amanuensis and stenographer and
had nothing to do with the transac-
ton of public business.
Disgusled wish The Niack Hills.
: Quincy. Ills.-James McCune,
formerly of Ohio, arrived in this city
this afternoon direct from the Black
Hills, aud was interviewed by a
Wing reporter. McCune is disgust
ed with the Hills, and says hundreds
were leaving and many were without
means to leave. He does not believe
that gold has ever been found there
in paying quantities, There were
plenty Of rumors of rich lodes, but he
only saw one or two who had luck
enough to find anything of value, He
had paid as high as $40 for a hundred
pounds of flour, so cents pound for
sugar, and other things in proportion,
and says If he gets back TO Ohio he
will be glad TO end his days there.