Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-04-22
BY ELEGR APH!
SPECIAL TO THE PIoCHE DAILY RECORD,
BY WESTERN UNION LINE.
EASTERN DISPATCHES.

dence directly lmpilcatlng the freSluent
of the United States in an illegal and
corrupt use of public money was taken
before the Committee on Department of
Justice, and comes from no less person
than an ex-member of his Cabinet, ex-
Attorney General Geo. H. Williams, and
who, in fact, shields his illegal conduct |
behind the written order of the Presi- |
dent. In word il involves the payment |
out of the Secret Service fund by order |
of Grant of $32, 900. to aid in carrying
the elections in the city of New York in
the years 1871, 1872 and 1875. All of
this money was paid to notorious John
L. Davenport, who was Chief Supervisor
under the Enforcement Act, but who
does not receipt for it in single in
stance as an officer of the Government,
but simply as John L.. Davenport. In
one instance he merely gives his own
due bill for payment made to him in
his official capacity. Attorney-General
Williams says he was first called upon to
pay Davenport $4,000 in 1871. He hest
tated to use the public money SO, and
called upon the President, who, after
brief conversation, ordered it's payment
by written order. In the Fall of 1872,
when the last Presidential election was
held, $40, 900 was ordered to be paid Da-
venport. The Attorney General stating
that in each instance he received the
verbal order OF the President before
turning over the money. Last Fall &c.
900 more were paid, when Williams half
demonstrated. In 1872, when Grant ran
| against Greeley, the President said:
Davenport is engaged in a great work
up there. He must have the money"
When pressed by the committee investi-
eating the corrupt and illegal use of this
fund, the ex-Attorney- General evaded
and lodged, and seemed reluctant to tell,
though not 30 willing after all to protect
the President. This corruption fund
was paid on the order Of the President
to Whitley, and by the latter to Daven-
port. Whitley produced to the commit
tee to-day Davenport's voucher for every
cent, and Williams corroborated him in
that and in other respects
WASHINGTON, April 20.--In regard to
the testimony of Whitley and ex-Attorney
General Williams before the COMMITTEES
on Expenditures in the Department of
Justice yesterday. Williams in converse
ton to-day says: "In 1872 the Presi-
dent came to me after his return from a
trip to New York and said he had ex.
amined the work of Davenport in pre-
pairing perfectly accurate list of the
voters in New York and that he wal
deeply impressed with its importance
that when the list would be completed i
, would be an effectual preventive o
r fraudulent voting; that the expense o
making the list was great and that h
wished that would assist Davenport b
paying out Of such funds rs could prop
: erly be used such sums of money a
n would insure the completion of this in
3 portant work. Accordingly l did pa
e Davenport with the express understand
IS ing that the money was to be used for 4
y other purpose than that of completir
Z" this registration, in all about 1886, 90
running through period of nearly ii,
years, from II to rs. l had authori
>. under existing statutes to pay MON
- to prevent fraud at election
>. and the work done by Davenport b
st been saving to the Government
I'll many thousands Of dollars. Davenpe
" can probably show were every dollar
. the $35, 900 was expended. He has be
az summoned and will no doubt eyplai
matters satisfactorily. There was NOT
!. ing wrong in this transaction and t
;. President will not hesitate to say that
!: directed the money to be paid to Dave
Is. port for the purpose l have e1plaine
The records Of the Department show Il
tic the payment to Davenport began uni
,is Attorney General Alderman, my pre-,
ma cessor, who had authority under exist
he laws to make such payments.
be CHICAGO, April 20.-The Inter. Gee
this morning publishes crop reports FRI
co. two hundred points in Indiana, Mic
me gan. Ohio and Pennsylvania, where |
W bulk Of winter wheat is growing, she
~; IN ing the present condition of the growi
crops. In few counties in Illinois
wheat threatens to prove failure,
c. the majority Of reports are ENCOURAGE
~ Michigan and Pennsylvania report
m. cellent prospects, the spring hav
proved favorable for winter wheat.
mr. GALVESTON, April 2O.-The News I
nm morning contains the following spet
,o from San Antonio: On Monday Gene
Ord commanding the Department
,as Texas received a telegram from the co
-. manding officer of Fort Mcintosh to
ion effect that forced contributions had b,
levied upon American citizens at n
on, Laredo by the revolutionists and tina
emit the Americans persisted in refusal to
!. the assessments they would be sold
Ter and double the amount taken.
,as- Americans had appealed to the comm
cial agent for protection by troops.
the insisted that he had no troops and
ron authority if he had troops. his instr
lions being to maintain Q neutral pol