The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-15
ORv1L GRANT.

tBy Telegraph TO the Tribun,


PHILADELPHlA. March 1.-The Times
Of this city Of tomorrow will say that q !
gentleman, well-known in business
circles, whose name, IL given, would Of
itself be a guarantees OF the veracity Of
any statement, and who is ready to np-
pear when wanted, yesterday Expressed
himself quite freely In regard to the
sale of post traderships. He said that
Orvil Grant and Mr. Casselberry
were In business together before
the suIsmer OF 1874. having been
engaged in on enterprise at Bristol,
Penn, called the Franklinite Company.
started for the purpose OF smelling zinc
ores. The concern soon failed, 10 the
great loss OF its creditors. Then IL w&s
that Orvil Grant suggested to Cassel-A
berry the trading post business, and at
Casselberry's instance Bonnaffon was
taken In with them. Notwithstanding
the separate denials by the trio or tiiier
visits to the President at Long Branch
in the summer OF 1874, 1t is TACT that
they did all visit him there at least
twice, and it Is believed oftener. Tt was
shortly after this, as acknowledged by
Orvll Grant on Monday. that Durfc0
and Peck were deprived OF their posts
on the Missouri river.
After that event BOnnaffOn went once
to Washington to see the President.
Casselberry went there frequently. and
In addition corresponded with the Pres
ideDt personally. The cause Of these
visits and this correspondence was d
delay Of some kind in getting rid o.
Durfee and Peck, even after their dis
missal from their appointments. That
the President wrote autograpbic letters
to Casselberry frequently is well known
to all who visited his Office with whom
he was on terms OF intimacy. He was
naturally proud Of being on such close
terms with the head OF the government,
and appeared to be ON even more conf
Dental terms with the President than
was Orvil, In whose discretion the Pres
ident seems to have placed little reIi~
ance. Still, Casselberry somehow
couldn't get things arranged, and be-
came very much disheartened, and talk
ed Of throwing the matter up. In the
early part Of 1876 he received letter,
which, with more than usual pride, he
exhibited to his confreres. It was sign
cd by the Presidents own hand, and as
near as the informant of the Times could
remember, wrs this:
my Dear Frieod Casseberry-I wish
to see you in relation to that business In
the West. Come at once.
"Yours, etc, u. s.. GnAsr.''
Casselberry at once started for WgAh-
iDgton, and on his return was highly
elated, saying that now "the matter was
all fixed" In the spring Of 1876 Bon
nation visited vt. Joseph, Mo. for the
purpose Of finally arranging matter with
Durfee and Peck; out, returning with
out accomplishing his mission, he, with
Casselberry and OryiI Grant, subse-
quently started West, and finally made
arrangements which resulted In their
obtaining the contract Of the business at
Fort Stevenson and Standing Rock.
During the trip the party visited the
other posts on the Missouri river Fort
cd: Travelling at Government expense,
| drawing Government rations, using
| Government transportation"
| The statement of OrviI Grant that he
| had no interest in the Fort Stevenson
post being mentioned, the gentlemar1
laughed and said:
That Is simply nonsense. He and
CasseIberry and Bonnaffon are interest,"
cd In both posts. As TO his having puk
several thousand OF dollars with CasseI-
berry in the Standing Rock Agency.
to put in. Why his notes are all over
town. J. Alex. Simpson holds one for
$500 that he was stuck WITH, and could
truth" he continued, "Orvii Grant
Is q good jolly fellow, and full
Of horse talk, and when you say
that you say all. He has had the chance,
since his brother has been President, 70
make dozen fortunes, but everybody
Ewho takes him soon drops him, because
4 he is so indiscreet that he would get
anybody who held on TO him In trouble.
He has certainly been making more
money out Of these trading p9sts tnan ~
statement on Monday about his poor
profits is simply absurd, for I know Of
a gentleman OF this city Offering $4,000
tn he let In with Casselberry and Bon
nation In the summer OF 1875, and Waa
refused"
/ A fiirt had an offer OF marriage tbe
j other eYeninp. and. rushing I'D stair.