, 1876-04-08
s0sESaR's TURN NEXT,
How He Furnished His House Numerous
Presents TO a Lady,

ROW tIc II ufnfcUel kkls knotA>C- otA-
Presents to Lady,
WASHINGTON March 5, 1876.
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 participants in the husband 5
corruption The testimony of Captain VIM
P. Ferguson, former chief clerk to Cen
eral Franklin, A Station, civil engineer OF
the Washington navy yard, is fall Of inter
est in showing how Robesou's eorruPtions
have extended to the smallest branches Of
the service. BIS testimony IL brief is that
Robson has had his new house on K street
finished off and elsborstely furnished by
government workmen, who brought with
them material from the navy yard This is
also testified TO by the former chief clerk OF
pay rolls, and the muster clerk, sho had
charge ef the mems time and has alleged TO
know the duties and objects of the men S
work. He noticed that the object of the men S
work was misrepresented 10 him under the
head of incidental labor, furniture, and the
like, and that this Misrepresentation was
afterward corrected upon the books of Gen.
eral Stratton.
The foreman of the yard, William P.
Childs, protege of Senator Dewes of Massa-
chusetts, was the main instrument employed
in perverting government material into pri-
vate use. He was made much of by Mrs
Robeson, and he, in turn, TO show his graft
tude, worked large number Of his men in
this ladys service. When Robeson first
came here he lived in humble bachelor style,
upon Vermont avenue, near street. When
he became married, of course he had to branch
out in style to correspond TO Mrs Robson S
ideas Of what was due their situation. The
secretary bought lot upon h street. Just
below the Hamilton House, and here he
erected snowy dwelling. The interior of
this building evidences unlimited wealth
and expenditure. Every room, from base
ment TO attic, is wainscoted with elegant
black walnut, here and there beautifully
carved with excellent judgment and taste.
This work would have cost upward OF 5 10, 900
had it been done by private hands. Here
the advantage of beiug secretary of the navy
is made to APPEAR
All Of this work was done by men from
the navy yard, who received thsiI pay
from the United States government. The
black walnut employed was also government
prope,t ty. Brides trimming this house
throughout in the NEST expense Inanuer, the
genial foreman of he navy yard, Mr. Chilis,
also took occasion TO further ingratiate HIM
self into the good graces of Mrs Robeson by
manufacturing various articles Of household
furniture. An el-gsnt and elaboretely cary
ed sideboard IN Rpbcson's dining room is the
work of Nr. Ch,lds. 1t cost the treasury
$500 under the item of incidental labor. Hat
racks, card tables, and kitchen dressers are a
few Of the numerous articles manufactured
by this industrious and patient soul, Childs,
for the so'e purpose of pleasing AIrs. Robe
son. One day Mr. Childs assumed lavish
mood and ordered two of the best wood cut
trrs at hand, Fred. Boettscher and Wm.
Noak, Germans, to go to work and make
up lot of work boxes for distribution among
/
Mrs. Robeson's s friends. These work boxes
were very costly, and occupied the attention
of BOettscher and Noak for several months.
Captain Ferguson S testimony shows that up
ward OF $l2 900 worth of time and material
have been diverted from the navy yard to
the private house of Robson, for his domes.
! tic Use.
/ Another case against Robson is related by
a former employee OF the navy department,
who was in a position TO know whereof be
speaks. He desires Joseph l.. Savage. for
mer we'll known hardware merchant and
naval contractor of this city, to be summoned
| before the committee. He had a claim sganis
the navy department before the day of Robe
son of S32 ,000, which had been throw out
by former secretaries. When RObeson cam'
in, Murtagh, proprietor of the kitchen organ
here, became very intimate with the secretary
of the navy, and had no little influence will
him. Murtagh at that time was friend o
Savage, aad, it is charged, asked Savag
how much be would give him if be woulC
get the claim through Savage said one
half. Al this Murtagh secured an allowances
of $50, 600 upon the claim, $4,000 of which
went to Murtsgh. Il is said that he after
ward divided with Robson. or, at any rate
compromised matters by making Mrs Robe
son present Of a very handsome set OF dia
monds upon the occasion Of her wedding
Chinag0 Tunes.
! A TEXAS CoURT-RooN INCmENT.-Whllt