The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-11
THE WHISKEY INVESTIGATION.


SENATOR LOGAN IN DENIAL OF BLUFORD WILL
SONS TRsrIMoNY-No KNOWLEDGE OF THE
EXISTENCE OF RING-wHY HE RECON-
MENDxD TIE REMOVAL OF THE Ex-soL1cI-
ToR-rHE ALLEGED EFFORTS TO INDIcT
LOGAN AND FARwELI.
WASHINGTON, August 10, 1876
Tho examination OF Mr. washburne Chief OF tho
Secret Service, resumed this afternoon before the
subcommittee on Whskey Frauds. lie testified that Mr.
Dexter, special counsel for the government while
planning to him nnd to supervisor Tuition his
to the granting of immunity those who would admit
their guilt said they in this way expected to roach
Senator Logan and Mr.. Farwell; but the witness did
not wish to be understood saying that Mr.. Dexter
said these parties would be indicted.
TESTIMONY SENATOR
Senator Logan appeared before the committee by
request, when Representative Paisted to him
following letter. addressed by Solicitor Wilson TO Sec
rotary Brstow, datcd December g. 1870
MR. WILSON'S LETTER.
D.As GEynn..wMr Cook was jus, in to see mo with
and WAS assured BY the President that he wanid
10 name his but what especially note
wr,hy WINS letter TO Cook from fca.c friend in
which charges that he in and that the atmosphere
relations With Di.siiier Powell &c. '"s' "''
IRON Iss, The Gsa give
Senator Logan said no had read such letter in the
newspapers, but not IN printed testimony before the
commttec, ana remarked that tho statement OF Mr..
Wilson, seemingly made on purpose to cast reflections
upon him. was great SURPRISE tor the reason that
early last December, when he was very Sick almost to
death, Mr. Wilson and Supervisor Matthews visited
him at his room in the Palmer House Chicago. Mr..
Wilson must have known that the declarations in his
letter false In every particular concerning him. 1t
false In all its points lar IL referred TO him by
Insinuat otherwise. At that time he confined
to his bed and could move and had not walked
ate M for q "a
Wilson and Colonel Matthews visited him.
Colonel Matthews, who was present in the commit
teo confirmed what had just boon testified to by
Senator Logan, who, rosuming his statement, SAID -
Any insinuations directly or indirectly remotely
with being connected directly indirectly with a
whskcy ring in Chicago or elsewhere, was alschood
NO coSxRcrroS WITH rHn RING
He never had any connection directly or indirectly
With distcry, or any connection with distiilcrs
rsctiAcrs, and no business with them whatever; nor
had he knowledge oil any frauds except Us they
developed IN trials and published in newspapers.
In response TO the chnrge OF Mr. Wilson that Senator
Logan thwared him IN his efforts TO remove certain
officers, District Attorney Ward included, Mr.. Logan
said that Mr. Ward was removed while he Mr. Logan
was lying on his bed sick. The ony knowledge he
had of his removal was telegram from Mr.. Ogesby,
his colleague asking hun to concur IN the recommend
alton Of another person. Mr.. Logan brought Mr.. VIII
sons attention TO tho fnct that some attacks had been
made upon him IN newspapers in connection with
whskey frauds Mr.. Wilson said 10 him ana 10 his
wife that he (sr Logan had nothing to do with them,
and that the publications. were slanderous. While
whom Mr. Wilson said that Mr.. Logan had nothing
TO do with the Whiskcy Ring than he (Wilson
had Colonel Matthews confirmed the truth OF these
assertions. senator Logan further SAID that ho never
as had been charged by Mr. Wilson, interIered, either
directly or indirectly, with the prosecution of the
whiskey frauds IN Chicago or elsewhere.
WILSON'S REMOVAL RECOMMENDED
He did, however, go TO the President and re-
District Attorney Ward. OF Chicago told him that VII
had said TO him that LU5an would have to be in
dcted as political necessity, to which the District
,.~sA sho thnr thnon nd
when Wilson replied. 1T makes difference.
Indct him first and find evidence altorward."
He had learned something to that eject from Others
Senator Logan went TO the President and told him that
q man who would act in that way was unfit to DO So
citor Of the Treasury, especially as Wilson bad
said no (Mr Logan was entirely innocent OF compl
city in the whskey frauds. The President, however
did not remove Wilson. Senator Logan did not
member the date Of the interview, but II was last
spring Senator Logan wished 1t to DO distinctly
dersood that his object not, had been insinu.
aicd 10 remove wilson order protect the whiskey
men or any others, but becsuse he consp,red 10
destroy man whose reputation was better than his
own.
Representative Cochranc asked Mr. Logan whether he
over to the President the removal OF Sec
rotary Bristow, which question the Senator answered
by saying he never interfered in the matter OF the
Presidents Cabinet He had no recollection OF speak
ing the President the subject Of his Cabinet lilo
may, however, have convcrscd with the President
about Secretary Brstow and may have said that he
thought Bristow was not 10 harmony with HIM on
political matters, and may have said If he were Prcs
dent he would not want him as Cabinet officer. II II
had occurred 10 him to ne would have said
IL, but ho did not remember whether he SAID or
not.
Mr.. Logan asked by Mr. Cochrane number OF
questions OF political character includn some about
appoint the subject OF General Henderson's
mova in part answer to which he SAID he did not know
whether he ever spoke to the President about II or
not, but If he had been President he would have
moved Henderson as he would auy man who abused
him.
Representatives Cocbranc and Plaisicd being In dis
agreement TO the relevancy oil certain questions In
connection with Henderson, Mr. Knott was sent for, to
whom Mr. Cochrane recited the points OF disagreement
between himself and Mr. Plaistcd when senator Logan
said
II was invited here to answer what Bluford Wilson
said about me- but you have introduced matters about
the removal OF Henderson which have nothing TO do
with subject regarding which was called TO testify
You trying to put mo in the position of boy TO an
nothing personally Of the 'whiskey Ring and you are
asking about The Presidents removal OF officers
MIR. Cochrane--1 was not aware OF any specific matter
OF which you we're called to testify.
Senator Logan-You put hypothetical case and
will not answer II.
Representative Knott then decided that tho original
question irrelevant and that Mr. Cocbrane's state
mcnt went still further in the same direction
TESTIMONY or CORRESPONDENT.
w. Scott smith, "a newspaper correspondent was
called and testified that last is he had conversation
with Bluiord Wilson, who told him he expected to
Jasper ID. Ward, Drstrcti Attornov. The witness
asked permission to use this information, but Wilson
declined to let him do so He, however, prepared
despatch and IL his respective papers, saying
that Two prominent politicians would be indicted, omit
ting their names. Wilson further informed me that no
was gathering evidence Of thor completely in the whs
KEY frauds.
Representative Paisicd offered in evidence a letter
OF the President OF tho 18th o July addressed TO cx
Secretary Bristow relieving him OF all obligations and
authorizing him TO testify before tho committee con.
corning all con between them the subject OF
prosecutions Representative PlaIsted intended by
this TO show that Mr.. Bristow was at fu liberty TO
testify which he declined do apd that the refusal OF
Bluord Wilson TO testify 10 certain matters was not
well founded the letter Of the President to Mr. Brs-
tow included all subordinates
Representatives. Knott and Cochrane overruled Repre-
sentative Psised The last named also offered IN evi
dence the letter OF nineteen Grand Jury men, dated s
Louis. December, 1870 aud addressed TO President
Grant
Represent natives Knott and Cocbranc also objected TO
receiving tho above 90 testimony for the reasons
stated