New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-19
WASHINGTON.

Earl Derby's Reply 70 Secretary Fish.
WASHINGTON, May 18.-Derby's note is
firm in tone The objections of Fish are re-
earded as merely technical. Emphasis is
laid on a similar misstep when Cass was
Secretary. 1t will be considered in Cabinet
meeting tomorrow.
More Silver.
The treasury received $lO0. O0Oin silver
quarters from San Francisco to-day.
The Postmaster General.
Postmaster General Jewell does not con-
template resigning.
Another Day Lost.
No Southern nominations today.
Recruits for Texas.
Lieutenant Edward Donovan has be en-
ordered to conduct detachment OF colOred
troops from St. Louis to Texas.
The New Orleans Committee.
The New Orleans committee is in execu-
tive session. The examination of ex-G0v-
ernor Warmeth will probably be waived:
The committee, by q party vote, directed
the chairman to apply to the Attorney Cen
eral for immunity for Set lye:
G. W. Ferguson, employed IN the cigar
room of the New Orleans Customhouse,
testified He came here to expose some If
regularities in the New Orleans Custom
house to the Secretary of the Treasury. He
arrived on Friday. On Saturday he met
REPRESENTATIVE Darrall, who, after short
conference, told witness to come to his
house. Thereon. partly on Saturday and
partly on Monday he made known to Oar
rail- his object and aeked that Darrau
would 60 with him to the Secretary OF the
Treasury, or give him letter. Oar
him to see Bluford Wilson, solicitor
Of the treasury on Tuesday morning. On
| Tuesday morning Ferguson showed Darrall
| a communication that his brother in-law in
| New York was sick, and excused himself
| from the engagement. He went to New
! York, where his brother-in-law died, and
when he received the subpoena to testify
| before the committe he made no further
| effort to see the Secretary OF the Treasury,
as he considered his evidence before the
committee would answer his purpose.
| On his arrival from New York, he was
approsched by Mr.. Ayers, of New Orleans,
at Wlllarde, Who asked him who he was
going to testify about before the committees;
told him that he would inj ure the Repub-
lican party; that he was doing foolish
thing, AND that Herwig had plenty Of
money and could bring q hundred witnesses
| here to testify that witness was not to be
believed under oath. Witness considered
| this in the light of a threat:
| Witness did not obtain leave of absence
before coming here; he worked until three
| o'clock the day before he left, and on that
day sent word that he was sick; he knew
that if it was known he was coming here
he would not get out of the State alive.
| When asked why he now would prefer Civ
| ing his evidence in New Orleans, he said
that he could there substantiate what he
said by records, and they would not molest
| him while under the protection of the com
missioner. Ferguson left New Orleans April
l2, before this investigation had been OK
dered.
Question tell us what you know
about any frauds!
Wltness-I was employed in the cigar
room of the Cust0mhOuse in 1873, when
twelve cases, purpOrting to contain guava
ielly, were received in the Customhouse
consigned to a man named Huard. The
cases we're taken to the store Of Mr.. Masich
One box only contained jelly, and the Other
eleven contained cigars. The case contain
ing Jelly was opened in presence OF witness
When he and other laborers were told there
was no more work to be done. and they
went away, witness secretly returned
and saw the jelly box opened; but
privately opened some OF the other boxef
and found that they contained cigars. The
cases contained 10000 cigars, and the
fraud consisted in entering them as Jelly
The duty on cigars was ~ ~ per pound anC
| twenty-five poH OcAo oAv..OA0AA, oAAA S~0 -
ternai revenue stamps. The duty on the
ielly witness thought was ten per cent; haC
told his brother and Mr.. Darrall, but NJ
one else, about this affair; did not tell any
of the revenue officers about it, fOri fear o.
losing his place, and did not think it would
expose the fraud if he did, as they were al
in the ring.
: Question-How did you know they wer'
in rings
Answer-The importers had told witnes
that Thomas Ong, who had collected tn
, money from them, had kept all the money
and had not divided with the others; ant
hereafter they would divide up the none.
themselves, AMI then pay it over to the en-
ployes; the importers paid $50 per 100
cigars, and that sum was divided anon
them; the ring was composed OF Dillinl
ham, naval officer; Herwig, deputy collector
Crawford, entry clerk, and Thomas Ong.
Question-Was Collector Casey q men
ber of this ring!
Answer-Not that am aware of.
Witness declined to answer whether b
, | was present when any money was pal
> until assured by the committee that thel
r was no criminality in that, or, at least b
= evidence could not be used against himsel
t Witness saw Jose DOMINGO pay $6OV0
0 Mr.. Ong. This was about February, io;
r Witness knew this payment related
+ cigars because, after Ong went out, D.
' mingo said: ON these fellows. The
Q come to me before I can get th
' cigars ont of the cases." Know it was NJ
0 for duty, because that was paid to tn
t cashier in gold before the goods Were q
livered, and Domingo paid Ong in greer