National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-10
DEGRADING TIE GOVERNKEEc
The Craig-BIysnt Conspiracy Charge-Eow
Pn-n-n q

Papers are Cooked Up.
The case OF William Craig and George W Bry.
ant, charged with conspiring to delraud the Gov
eminent Of $4,000 by securing the passage of a
fraudulent claim through the Treasury Depart
ment, was continued before Judge Saell yester
day, and called at II O'Clock. The prosecution
presented the original claim that was filed July
Is, 1872, which was read. Accompanying It was
an affidavit, setting forth that William Craig
contracted with Andrew Stewart, q Government
contractor, to transport certain stores from Fort
Le&Tenwortb, Kansas, to Fort Union, Texas, and
train Of fifteen wagons was sent to Lssvsnworth
loaded and dispatched, and that ninety.three
mules Of the train were captured by the Indians.
There were other affidayits accompanying the
claim which were not presented, and the counsel
for the defense asserted that they should be put
in evidence at that time, as they we're part and
parcel Of the one claim.
Judge Smell said that at the present stage of
the trial he would order the admission Of only
such evidence as had been read.
Tne Government then offered In evidence
THE ARTICLES OF CoPARrHERsHIP
existing between Craig and Bryant, dated Lsav.
enWortn, December 3, 1883, as also the contract
of Andrew Stewart with the United States
dated in 1854, for the transportation OF miiitary
stores from Forts Riley and Lsayenworth in
Kansas, to Fort Uni9nl Texas; aud power Of at.
TENDER s, 1873, to prosecute the claim. Tnis
closed the documentary evidence, 10 the admIs
SlCQ OF WHICH Il6 Qelepse excepted.
The first witness called was Major Henry O.
Hodges, who testified that in the year 1854 he
was depot qusrtermaster, stationed at Lsaven-
worth. He met Bryant in 1854 at that point, but
did not know any one as to the transportation Of
stores excepting the contractor, Mr.. Stewart.
Reeolleets that about July 5, 1884, train was
loaded there for New Mexico: there were some
mule teams and some OK teams in the train; no
application was made at that time for an escort
Dut an application was made later In the season
Dy Contractor Stewart, (abo1t August 25.) The
eonnandant OF the post may have been ap.
piled to.
Crossexsmined: Had kept nothing back from
the government in regard to the claim. Had
never heard anything against Mr.. Bryant.
A $500 AFFIDAVIT.
John Williams sworn: Witness was assistant
adJutant general at Fort Leavenworth IN the
year 1851 was mustered out of service in 1885, be-
IeTed he was in 81. Louis in 1873; whhe there was
called on by a man named Rogers, who repre-
eented that he was Of the firm OF Nugent &
hogersi attorneys atlaw at Kansas City. Wit
ness was then in needy circumstances, and after
Conversation with Rogers the latter wrote an
andayt, which witness signed Witness did not
furnish the Information on which the affidayit
was framed. Witness was paid 500 ca sh on sign
lag the atidavtt, and was to receive 800 sheu
the claim was allowed. Witness did MOI see
see Rogers until about year ago, in the Indian
Territory, when he came there and produced
paper, which witness signed, and received 40 for
90 deing, Rogers saying that It would pay him
for the trouble Of coming into town. He still had