The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-09
THE cUsT0mH0UsE KU KLUx.
THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF BRADLEYf
PERKINS AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY
LONG.
A Desperate Condition Of Anairs, Which
Must be Further Investigated.

|
A Desperate Condition Of Anairs. Whicl
Must be Further Investigated.
Among the many startling revelation
brought out by the Investigations 0
the Congressional Committee, nom
afford more subject for comment thai
the extraordinary statements Of .th'
witness VIM. B. Hall, who states un
qualifiedly that Bradley, Capt. F. w
Perkins and Major A. b. Long wer.
murdered because they had claimed
their shares OF moieties in the Custom
house spoils.
It is illustrative Of desperate corrup-
ton and villainy of the Radical officers
and Jobbers who have so long prevef
upon this people, and is one OF ! darby
tragical and sensational character. II
| appears that in 1871, or 1872, there were
many cases OF seizure and prosecutions
OF parties for gross frauds on
the revenue in the importa
ton or sugar. wine, cigars, and the
expectation OF barrels OF water as
whisky, upon. which the exporters re-
ceived q drawback
When these frauds were detected
there arose fierce contest
OVER THE spoILs
among the Customhouse officials. the
detectives and claimants OF moieties.
These cOntestiDg claimants became
largely interested in reducing the num-
ber OF these claimants and thereby in
creasing their own dividends. Now II
appears that among these claimants to
shares OF the confscated goods seized
by the Government, there were three
persons who, pending their claims,
came to
BLOODY, MYSTERIOUS, VIOLENT DEATHS.
They were: r. l.. Bradley. who was
employed in the Customhouse as q de-
tective, and claimed to have discovered
large sugar fraud, which resulted in
cOnf1scation to large amount. He
claimed his share Of the confiscated
property, but, it appears, was bought
OIL or temporarily silenced, so that the
whole amount was gobbled up by
the Collector, Surveyor and Ma
val Officer. These officials, however,
made some sort of agreement or
bond with the Government to pay Brad
ley his share, in case it was ever decided
that he was entitled to it, But before
bradley was able to prove his claim, he
was
MURDERED
in q mysterious manner, in Golfers
fee-house, on Dryades street. About
the same time the United States Dis
trict Attorney
MAJOR A. B. LONG,
a popular, temperate and sedate mar.
who had served in the Federal army
and who had large claims on the pro-
ceeds OF the confiscations, and for which
he had obtained judgments. to which
other Customhouse officials get up
claims, was found dead early one morn
ing in his office i'm the first story Of the
Gustomhouse, adjoining the U. s. Court.
his throat had been cut from ear
to ear, and both his wrists had under
gone q similar treatment. The scene
evldenced desperate struggle and one
OF the most CHASTITY that could be
imagined. His death was attributed to
SUICIDE.
Nobody could give any satisfactory
reason or motive for his self-destruc-
lion, as he was prosperous, occupying
an enviable position, and his integrity
had never been assailed and the affairs
O1 his Office were In perfect order. Be-
sides, he enjoyed the confidence Of the
Within q few days after this melan-
choly event, about o'clock at night
the report OF pistol was heard coming
from the Office OF
CAPT. F. W. PERKINS,
1n Carondelet street, near Common.
The policeman, rushing to the spot,
'ound the body OF Capt. Per-
xins lying on the floor OF his
'front.' Office, and shot through
The head with pistol which lay still
smoking at his feet. He had apparent
" shot himself while in q sitting pos
,ufe. Some disorder was found among
he papers in the rear office which were
,trewn on the floor.
Capt. Perkins had been a prominent
Radical official, having been an alder
nan, and conducting at the time Of his
ieath q lucrative shipping business.
This was the f. w. Perkins who, 1t |
would appear from the testimony taken
before. the Congressional committee,
yas at that time large claimant OF
noieties as informer in certain cases OF
goods.