The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-02
WASHINGTON.
The Mary Merritt Case.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-Webster Elms, chief
clerk in the Office of the solicitor of the Treas
ury, today testified that he had charge of all
the papers in the Mary Merritt case, and wrote
letter recommending the remission of the for
fixture of the vessel. He never communicated
with Secretary Bristow in relation to this case,
by conversation or otherwise, and no influence
whatever was exercised by any person in the
department i'll favor of remission. The case
was considered in the regular course of business
witness, the vessel was not legally seized, as
she had British register, and was not guilty
of fraud or wilful negligence.
Jos. FL. Robinson, assistant solicitor, testified
as to Mr.. Bristow's appearing in April, 1874,
before Solicitor Banfield, asking that the case
be examined on its merits. Since Mr.. Bris-
tow read his opinion at that time, he has had
no connection whatever with the case as far as
he knew.
Secretary Bristow was sworn and made a
statement to the following effect:
He had no connection with the Mary Merritt
case except in the capacity of friend of Fe-
land & Evans, attorneys for Joyce Brothers,
all of whom were his neighbors. 1t was true,
as stated by Mr.. Evans in his testimony, that
that gentleman had a convers alton with him
in Philadelphia, in relation to the case, and
that he declined to take any compensation
whatever for any services he might perform,
and that, subsequently he went to the Treasu-
~ Department at the request of Feland, who
though good lawyer, was unacquainted with
the practice of the Department, and then pre-
sented the question on legal grounds alone, be-
ing satisfied it was clear case for remission.
On that occasion he expressed himself earnest.
ly against the practice of informer coming
before the Secretary of the Treasury and re-
sisting power conferred upon the Secretary
by Congress. He also expressed himself
against Hazeltine, at that time member of
Congress, appearing there for a similar pur-
pose.
Mr.. Bristow said after he became Secretary
he declined to have anything whatever to do
with the case. He thought johnson was mis-
taken in saying that the Secretary informed
him he was going TO Philadelphia. He never
at any time expressed to Mr.. Conant or to any
other officer of the Treasury, what should be
done with the case. Although Solicitor Wilson
approached him on the subject, he declined to
one but left it where it was declining to take
any action whatever. BE did not wish it to be
understood as even implying that any wrong
was committed in the settlement of the case
and he wished to say explicitly Re had no
knowledge that the informers in the case had
been settled with. He never examined the
papers in the case until he did so here in COM
mon with members of the committee. He re-
peated that he never appeared as counsel or at
torney otherwise thar as he had already stat
ed, and did not expect or desire compensation
nor did he receive any.
1t was not true as stated in the resolution,
that one of the attorneys in the case applied
to Mr.. Brstow for a remission of forfeiture
and that he replied he would do nothing him.
self, but his private secretary could fix it up
and that the said attorney met his private sec
rotary and told him that the forfeiture would
be RENTED.
The Secretary after reading the above ex-
tract said the statement was absurdly false.
He did not believe that any of the attorneys
ever met his private secretary at all. He
thought he was quite safe in saying so. This
private secretary was quite young man and
acted as his amanuensls and stenographer and
had nothing to do with the transaction of pub
lie business
G. f. Conant, assistant secretary, testified,
He consulted Solicitor Wilson before he Con
anti decided the case of the Mary Merritt The
offence was purely technical one and he be-
came satisfied the execution of q penalty would
be unjust. He did not exchange one word with
the secretary before or after the decision of the
case directly or indirectly. He decided it on
his own responsibility; No money was offered
relied on the opinions of the two solicitors of
the Treasury. of Assistant Secretary Hartley
and of Mr.. Lyman and his own judgment.
e. j. Babcock, Bristow's private secretary
and stenographer, testified that he took notes
of all the secretarys official and private cores
pondence al his direction, and attended to the
opening and filing of his letters, and knew
nothing whatever about the case Of the Mary
Merritt.
Solicitor Wilson narrated the circumstances
under, which the Mary Merritt case was
brought TO his attention. Mr.. Bristown de-
clined to take any action on it because he at
one time presented the case to Secretary Rich.
ardson with arguments in its favor. He was
positive that Bristow threw out no hint as to
hew be would have the case decided.
Various Matters.
Bluford Wilson has explained away the
charges of retaining 5000 of government
money in one instance and of accepting $4,000
Tor compromising whiskey cases in another
while he was district attorney 10 Chicago.
Treasurer New thinks the stringency in the
currency and silver will disappear this week.
1t is reported that President Grant is very
i'll.
1t is stated that the Belknap fined $4,000 for
seduction in Iowa, several years ago, was not
ex-Secretary Belknap.
1t is stated that the expenditure of govern.
ment money by McCarter in experimenting on
sizing for currency paper in the eE craving bu.
reau is to be investigated.