New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-17
rHg CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE



Had never known of cigars having been
taken out of the cigar room without being
stamped; has attended to his duty and not
been absent one hour during the SIX years
in which he has been cigar inspector.
j. Fen wick, swOrn-Has been employed
in the CustomhOuse since 1868; he subscrib.
ed voluntarily in 1872 to . share in the
stock of the National Republican news
paper; all statements to the contrary he
denounced a. false; witness had not heard
that any one in the Customhouse had been
compelled to subscribe to that paper.
D. M. Strong, also an employe in the
Custcmhouse, testified to the same in every
particular.
Executive session was called.
Mr.. Whitaker, counsel for the defense,
stated to the committee that he had but
two more witnesses to examine.
The committee, in secret seesien, appoint
ed Messrs. Gibson and Darrall as the sub
committee to examine the political condi-
ton of affairs in West Felicana, in pursu-
ance of the resolution of Congress.
The ether members of the committee will
leave New Orleans for Washington this
evening, special sleeping car having been
chartered for their accommodation on the
Mobile road. In accordance with this ar
rangement the understanding was that the
full committee adjourn sine die at three
o'clock this afternoon.
After executive session, Mr.. C0nger
moved that the committee take recess for
half minute, in order that the chairman
announce the latest news from the Circin-
natl convention.
The motion prevailed when the chairman
announced the result.
A letter was then read by Mr. Reilly,
from the bend clerk, stating that Mr..
Masich was on Huard's bond when he ex-
ported the los, 900 cigars purchased from
Gonzales Brothers.
C. w. Adams, sworn-To MIR. Whitaker
Was formerly mate of the steamship
Margaret; on ono occasion eleven cases
were shipped from Havana to the port of
New Orleans, which we're invOiced as merf
chandise; the cases had suspicious look
ing appearance and an examination was
tor the purpose Of ascertainiDg their con-
tents; those opened contained cigarettes;
the object of the inspection was made for
the purpose of adjusting the freight
charges, ss there was q considerable differ
ence between the rates charged for cases
containing merchandise and those contain
ing cigare; these were the cases which
Special Agent Wicker subsequently seized
at Key West.
Henry Reder sworn-To Mr.. Whit
aker-is q messenger in the Custom
house for Collector Casey; after office
hours had occasionally gone to Col
lector Casey's residence and taken the
children out carriage riding; never worked
at Collector Casey's house during office
hours; witness has slept at Collector Casey's
residence during his absence; witness has
no kno 4ledge of Joe, the colored boy re-
ferred to by c. w. johnson in his testi-
mony.
Daniel G. Hutchinson, inspector, re-
called:
To Mr.. Whitaker-Visited the store of
Mr.. Masich in company with Mr.. Kinsells
and found everything all right; when they
were in the act of ascending the stairs lead
ing to the second story, Mr.. Masich said
that story was not rented by him, but by
Mr.. jackson; permission was asked OF Mr..
jackson to make the examination; he re-
piled, .certainly;" nothing was found there
except seven cases which resembled cigar
cases; Mr. jackson said he had them made
to put salt in; the cases had no stamps upon
them; they were not q portion of the same
cases which Special Officer Wicker seized,
as they we're different in appearance; the
importation of 49, 900 cigars from Havana,
under invoice for $4,000, was evidently q
mistake in shipment; went to Havana on
the came steamship with Special Officer
Wicker.
Augustus Ferguson recalled-Had sew
eral conversations with Mr.. j. NJ. Davis,
cigar inspector, relative to witness brother,
George w. Ferguson; in one OF these wit
ness stated that his brother was coming to
New Orleans with the committee.
Further examination Of witness was post
poned until MIR. Davis had testified.
James Jackson, of the firm OF jackson Il
| Fitzpatrick, swOrn-To Mr.. GibsOn-Had
RECOLLECTION Of the arrival Of q cargo of salt
en- the ship Pericles; reported to Washing
| ton of the Irregularities in the duty on that
| cargo; afterward saw Collector Casey,
| who said he was sorry witness had written
to Washington about the matter, as if re-
| ported at his office the mistake would have
been rectiied at once; is a brother OF Mr.
David jackson, who testified relative to
| this case on Thursday.
D. M. Kilpatrick-Is q member of the
| firm of jackson g. Fitzpatrick; knows about
| the arrival of a cargo OF salt on the ship
| Pericles in December, 1870; believed salt
was being passed through the Customhouse
| by the assistance and connivance of gov
ernment officiale, in reducing the duty from
| twenty four cents to eighteen cents pei
hundred pounds; investigated the matter
and became satisfied beyond doubt thai
such was the case; Mr.. Kinsella called
at the Office of the firm and
thorough investigation of the matter
Mr. Kinsella spoke Of the investigation be
| subsequently, made, and of witnesses swear
| ing to one thing which was corrected by
| other witnesses. Mr.. kinsella afterwards
| told the firm of jackson g. Fitzpatrick thai
| it was as clear a case as ever came undel
his notice.
| Mr.. Conxer asked-"What kind of cleal
| case"
Witness said he and his partner under
stood MIR. Kinsella's words to mean that
1 E1l NJ nj
fraud against the parties.
| Mr.. Conger objected to such testimony al
hearsay evidence and as to what witness
and his partner understood.
Witness then stated that Mr.. Kinsellt
had informed him that he had discharged
two of the ,lerks in the CustomhOuse who
had admitted that they had at times re
ceived money from the firm Of jackson 4
Henderson; on the twenty-fourth OF Febru
ary, 1876, cargo Of salt came on the shll
| St. Patrick from Liverpool, consisting o.
| 7O7 tons. The weigher reported q tons m0r'
than the invoice and bill of lading calle(
| for made complaint about it to the Gus
| tOmhOuse; showed no disposition at first Il
reweigh it; subsequently the salt was re
weighed and found thirteen tons in excess
of the weight as specified on the invoic.
and bill of lading; this witness also consid
cred on unjust weight; should the govern
ment weight of the salt exceed that speci
fed on tie bill of lading and inveice, th'
firm to whom it belonged would be com
PEELED to pay duty on the extra weight.
By Mr.. Conger-Does the salt such as yo'
have described Zine salt) increase or de
crease in weight during transportation in I
vessels hOld9
Witness admitted that it increased il
weight; how much he could not tell; cOars'
salt lost in weight during transportation il
| q vessels hold.
Witness, in answer to question from tn