The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-02
By Telegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
TO THE DAILY INTELLIGENCER
WASHINGTON.
Mary Merritt Investigation.

Mary Merritt AnTeSIiSntlOn.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The Committee
on Expenditures in the Treasury Depart
ment, to-day, examined Webster Elms,
chief clerk in the Office OF Solicitor Of the
Treasury, who testified that he had charge
OF all the papers in the Mary Merritt
case, and wrote letter recommending
the remission Of forfeiture. Never seen
Secretary Bristow in relation 10 this case
by conversation or otherwise.
Joseph II. Robinson, Assistant Solici-
tor, testified 10 General Bristow appear
ing in April 1874, before Solicitor Ban
field, asking that the case be examined on
its merits. Since then General Btistow
has had no connection whatever with the
case so far as witness knew.
Secretary Bristow then made sworn
statement to the following effect: lie had
no object with the Mary Merritt case ex.
cept in the capacity Of friend Of Feland
and Evans, attorneys for the Tricc
brothers, all OF whom were his neighbOrs
at Hopkinsville, aud his personal friends.
1t was the truth, as stated by Evans in his
testimony, that that gentleman had a
conversation with him in Philadelphia in
relation to the case, and that he declined
to take any compensation whatever for
any service he might perform, and that
subsequently he went to the Treasury
Department ut the request Of Feland,
who, though good lawyer, was unac.
quainted with the practice Of the Depart.
ment, and there presented the question
on legal grounds alone, being satisfied
that il was clear case for remission. On
that occasion he expressed himself earn
estly against the practice Of iniormers
going before the Secretary ofthe Treasury
and the resisting power conferred upon
the Secretary by an act OF Congress.
He also expressed himself against Mr..
Hazlcton, ut that time member OF Con-
grcss, appearing then for similar purposes.
After he became Secretary Of the Treas
ury lie declined to have anything what
ever to do with the case. He thought
Edward L. johnson made n mistake in
saying that the Secretary informed him
that he was going to Philadelphia. He
was in New York from the 18th to the
25th OF March, under treatment for his
throat, when the remission Of the forfeit
ure wns granted. lie did not think the
case would come up at that time, and
did not learn that it was decided until
some time afterwards. COnant during
his absence was acting as Secretary Of
the Treasury, and the papers in the case
were brought before him. The parties
had right to be heard, and his
former position should not have excluded
them from presenting their case to the
Acting Secretary. He never at any time
expressed to Conant or any other officer
OF the Treasury, what should be done
with the case, although Solicitor Wilson
approached him on the subject, but he de-
ciined to talk about ii; he did not refer the
case 10 any one; he did not wish TO be
understood M even implying that any
wrong was committed in the settlement
ot tho case, and he wished to say explicit
" that he had no knowledge OF the in
formers in the case who had been set
tied with before this investigation was or
dered; had never examined the papers
in the case until he did sohere in COM
mon with the members OF the committee;
it was not true Us stated in the resolution
that one Of The attorneys in the case ap-
piled to Secretary Bristow for the rCnlis-
sion Of the forfeiture, and he replied that
he would do nothing himself, but his
private Secretary could fix II up, and he
said the attorney met his private secreta:
ry and had the forfeiture remitted; did
not believe that any Of the attorneys ever
met his private Secretary atall; the pri-
vate Secretary was quite young man,
and acted as his amanuenses and stcno-
grapher, and had nothing to do with the
Transaction Of public business.