Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-02-14
HUMPHREYS iMElIcleiLiTY.
His Testimony Before the Senate
COMMITTEES on Privileges and
Elections,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-As pertinent
to the subject of the inquiry, into the
ineligibility of Frederick G. Hum,
phrey, as proposed by the commission
the committee on privileges and elec-
tions to-day examined that gentleman
in accordance with instructions of
the senate. Witness testified that he
acted asa republican elector, previous
to that time he held the Office of
United States shipping commissioner
at Pensacola, but resigned said office
in September last, and his resignation
was accepted. He had no copy Of
his letter of resignation, but handed
the letter accepting his resignation to
the chairman. Tho letter reads as
follows: "iSir:-Your letter of the
oath. of September, 1876, resigning
your office Of United States shipping
commissioner for the port of Pensa-
cola, in the state of Florida, has been
received by me, and your resignation
of said Office is hereby accepted.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't, w. b. WooDs,
US. Circuit Judge.
To F. c. Humphreys, Pensacola, Fa--..
October 2, 1876.
Witness said Judge Woods was
visiting at Newark, O., at the time,
and that he sent his letter resigning
the Office by mail and received the
reply by mail.
The chairman-This is another let
ter from him, dated at Newark, o.,
Oct. 2, 1876, and reads as follows -
"Dedr SRI enclose the acceptance
of your resignation as shipping COM
missioner. The vacancy can only be
filed by the Circuit Court, and until
can come to Pensacola to open court
for that purpose, the duties Of the Of
flee " ill have to be discharged by the
collector. Respectfully yours,
w. B. WooDs."
Maj. f. G. Humphreys, Pensacola, Fla.
The witness hands letter to the
chairman.
Question-The letter which you
now hand to me is signed "Hiram
Potter, Jr., collector Of customs" Is
he collector Of customs at Pensacola
Ans.-Yes.
Qucstion-This letter you received
from him at the time it bears date,
l OCl. -, 1StOs Aus.- i c5.
| The chairman-It reads as follows !:
CUsToM HOUSE, PENSACOLA, Collec-
tors Office, Oct. 5, 1S76-.Sir:. am in
formed by Judge Wood that he has
accepted your resignation as United
States shipping commissioner, and
that it devolves upon me to assume
the duties of the Office until regular
appointment shall be made by the
circuit court. respectfully request,
therefore, that you turn over to me
snch public books, papers, records,
etc, as may pertain to the business.
remain, very respectfully, your obe-
dient servant,
HIRAM Porter, Jr., collector of GUS
toms.
To +. g. Humphreys, Esq. Pensa-
cola, Fla.
/ Question-Did you so turn over to
him all public property that he refers
to in this document !? Ans.-No, sir.
There was no public properly. 1t
was all my private property. The
blanks and books pertaining 10 the
Office were purchased by myself and
l did not turn them over to Mr.. Rot
ter.
i Ouestion-Were there any records
in the office? Ans.-No, sir; except
what belonged to me individually,
but he assumed the duties from that
date, and has been discharging them
ever since.
Qucstion-Havc you had anything
to do with the Office, in any way,
since? Ans.-No,sir nothing at all.
Qucstion-Have you discharged
any of its functions or assumed to be
shipping commissioner in any way
Ans.-No, sir.
Question-You have not done SO
since the 9TH Of October, 1876? Ans
No, sir.
BY Cooper-You didn't turn ovel
the books1 Ans.-No, sir. had ,
lot of blanks on hand, but they wer'
my private property, purchased il
New York.
i Mr.. Teller They were purchase,
with your own money? Ans.-M,
Town money .yna sir