The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-02
4NOTHER RTNG Jon.
Boss Shepherds h,n Trumping Up the
CHARGES AGAINST Bristow.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-Thcre Is good
ground for believing that the District Ring had
a hand In causing the Mary Merritt charges to
b. pref,rred az inst Secretary liristow. The
Whi-koy Ring W s, undoubtedly, at the bottom
Of the movement, but II received encour ge-
ment from the Boss Shepherd crowd. Cate,
the member from Wisconsin, who in;rod gced
the resolution In the House, was one OF the first
of the new recruits made by boss Shepherd.
The notorious Charley Eidildee took possession
Of him on his arrival here, md took him to Ross
Shepherds grand party at the beginning OF the
session.
In hts statement to day before the committee
Secretary Bfstow said that he had no connec-
ton with the Mary Merritt c ise. except In the
capacity Of a friend of Messrs. Feland 4 Evans,
the attorneys Tor the 1rce Brothers. N of whom
were his ncighbors ~ Hopklnsville. md his
personal friends. IL was true. as stated by Mr.
Evans in his testimony. that that gentleman
nd conversation with him In Pnilldelphi1 In
relation to the case and that hc declined 10 take
any conversation Whatever for suy service he
might perform, and that subsequently he
went to the Treasury Department at the re-
quest Of Mr.. Feand who, though good lawyer ,
was una, quaiuted with the practice # tho de-
partment, aud there presented tue question
on legal grounds alone, being s1tsied II
was clear case for remission. on that occa-
sion he expressed bmself earnestly against the
practice of informe rs coming before the secre-
tars Of the Treasury and resisting power con
ferrcd upon the secretary nv n act Of Congress.
| After he became Secretary OF the Ire lsurv, he
| declined to have ANYTHING whichever to do with
the case. lie thought Mr. Edward T. Johnson
| made mistake In saving thit the. S 'cretary in
| formed him he was going TO Philadelr hia. liy
| reference to memoranda. he found he was In
New York from the 18Th TO TIE 18th of 'atch,
! when The remission Of the forfeiture was grant
! ed. He did not think that the case came az at
! that time. ma he did not ~ arm that II was de-
cided unll some time aiterw1rd. Mr.: Consnt'
| DUNG his absence. was the Acting Sec
retdry of the Treasury. ana tie payers
| in the case were brought before HIM.
The parties had right to De heard,
and MS former position shout not have eXclud-
| ed them from presenting their case q the Act
ing Secretary. Seer tary Br.-tow said lac never
| at any time expressed t. MI. Cunant, or To any
done with the case. Although Sllcitur wilson
! approached him ON the subject. lie declined to
talk about II. lie did not refer the case to any
! one. hut left u where II was. declining 20 taNe
! deistuod as even IL plYtnS that any wrong Was
| commi ted In tie settlement Of the case. and he
wished u say explicitly thai lac bad no knOwl-
| edge that the iniCtmtrs ~ the So had hct n
settled with. lie did not know III SEQ ~
any OF or sum had been paie to iuiurnitrS unt VI
after the resolution ordering his inyes tisati N
/ WIS introduced ia tue House.
II was not true, is stated m the res llfiOn,
"th8t one 81 the attorneys IN the g ~ applied
TO or tary Irs ow for the r. is-iua oi the
nothing himself, but his priv te secretary couli
fix IL up. and the said It lrney met his pr,g @
secretary aud mad the forfeiture r. mitt d." The
secretary, after lie had read the above extra I.
not believe that any OF the attorneys ever met
| his pitvafo secret nv at all he thought he was
| quite sac In saving So
| q uis private secretary was quite young man,
and acted his amanucn-is and stcnpgf pm r.
and had nothing to do with the transaction Oi
/ Illllg business.