New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-03
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
Second Day,s Proceedings.

Second Day's Proceedings.
The committee met yesterday morning at
ten o'clock. All the members were present
except Mr.. Blackburn.
Ed. A. Davis, having been sworn, testified
as follows:
am the cashier at the st. Charles Hotel;
in 1874 l knew of a contract for repairing
lighthouses along the coast; in that year
Mr.. j. H. Sypher called upon me and made
q proposition that take up one of the con-
tracts for repairing lighthouses; 10 company
with Mr. Sypher went to Colonel Morse's
Office in the CustomhOuse, and there saw
the contract, which Colonel Morse pro.
duced at the request Of Mr.. Sypher;
it was for $4,000; after examining the
contract, and finding 1t all right, I &C
cepted it; after signing the contract, gave
it to Mr.. Sypher; few days after Mr.. Sy
pher called upon me and informed me that
the work on the lighthouse was completed,
and to 60 and get the money; he drew me
Treasury Department, and which was paid
me on sight, IN five one thousand dollar
bills; the money handed to Mr.. Sypher;
he said he would remunerate me tor my
trouble; subsequently wrote him concern
ing the amount promised me; his brother
finally paid me $l25; j. H. Sypher
is the ex-member of Congress; A. j.
Sypher is his brother, and was Colo
mel Morse's clerk; Colonel Morse
repairs in the Customhouse; supposed the
matter was all proper, although was some-
what surprised when l was informed the
work was done; personally l did no work
in the matter other than that stated; j. H.
Sypher did not answer my two letters rela-
tive to the matter; l afterwards heard that
the $4,000 was used for election purposes; l
do not know what lighthouse the work was
done for; l learn that Colonel Morse was
relieved about two months ago; the cashier
of the collectors ctfice paid the $1,000; when
the proposition was made to me by J. Fl.
Sypher l was in the ticket office of MOrgans
terry landing.
Matthew Cunningham was the next wit
ness examined. His testimony is as fol-
lows:
have resided in New Orleans for twenty
one years; I am q plumber by occupation;
in 1872 l was appointed by the United
States marshal deputy to attend the polls
at the election, for which l received SIS;
with that exception l was never employed
in the Customhouse, and did not receive
pay for services purported to be rendered
by ms in August, 1872; signed no vouchers
or pay rolls, and did not authorize any one
to sign my name for &93 in either August
or September; know no man of the same
name as myself in the city; know no per-
son by the name of Woolridge; know Van
ceni; no proposition was made by any one
to me in 1872, holding position under the
United States government.
Charles Geisiche sworn, testified as fol
lowe:
am a resident of this city, and dray-
man by occupation; was employed to haul
goods from an importers store on Gravier
street to bonded warehouse No. 6, and to
Motions store, on Gravier street; the cases
took to the warehouse went in light and
came out heavy two or three days after
ward; made Eve or six trips of this kind,
taking four to five cases at q load; was
told to hurry up while engaged in this work;
Ialways unloaded my dray in the rear Of
the warehouse; when I got there the doors
would be open, so that no time was lost: /:
when arrived to haul away the
goods the doors were always open
and the cases ready to load; l was
first employed by one of Mr.. Mio-
where to 90 and what to do; took in more
cases than took out; l have been in the
hauling business about six yeare; the clerk
followed me to the warehouse each time,
but did not go inside; the cases were largo
French cases; when l went for the caees
did not have to ask for them. as they were
always ready for me; my instructions were
to load and unload in the back streets in
the rear of the warehouse; was employed
for this business about a year ago; be-
Iieve Mr.. Mioton's clerk ia in the city yet,
as l saw him two or three days ago; was
told to drive away from the bonded ware
house as soon as possible, and as soon as
the cases were unloaded and inside the
warehouse the doors were closed; l went
with two drays each time; it took much
longer time to load or unload at the front
than at the rear of the warehouse
the drays or wagons were unlOaded at
the same time; don't know the name OF
the man who was in charge of the ware
l think, is either No. SO or 100 Gravier
street; the trips were generally made in
the afternoon; from what l could judge of
the cases they were imported goods OF
French tinware.
The committee then took recess until
lPM.
At that hour the members again met and
on motion of Mr.. Vance went into execu-
tive session, for the purpose OF comforting
relative to the taking of certain testimony
in this city relative to the Coushatta affair.
United States District Attorney Beck
with, who had been summoned as witness,
requested to be excused until p. NJ, on
account of important business in the United
States Court.
After executive session the committee
adjourned until 7. 2. M.
The committee resumed its session at
p NJ.
During the secret session of the afternoon
testimony was taken in the Coushatts case
The subcommittee will proceed to Cou-
shatts this evening.
United States District Attorney James r.
Beckwith sworn, testified as follows
l was appointed United States district
attorney in 1870; succeeded Mr.. Long.
Examined by Judge New-Mr. Hutchin.
son was appointed in my office to look after
per year; the work of Mr.. Gurley in the
Office was to attend principally to the cor
respondence and general business of the
Office; Mr.. Hutchinson was appointed on the
Joint Recommendation Of Supervisor Conk-
ling and myself; he was specially assigned
to the investigation of revenue cases; he
was appointed in 1872.
In the CASE of the embezzlement of ex-
Postmaster Lowell, from the complicated
nature of affairs in the p0stofice at that
time but little data could be obtained; my
impression is that the amount of the en-
bezzlement in the money order department
alone was about $4,000; civil suit was insti-
tuted; am not certain whether it reached
judgment or not, but it was settled by COM
promise; Mr.. Madden was one of the bonds