The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-15
LOCAL MATTERS.
The Charges ASainst Collector Russell
Not Sustained. sEE7E.s


IN the Russell investigation Special Agent
Webster, Of the United States Treasury De-
partment, Yesterday received the depositions
OF Messrs. Fielding Jones and Z. {. FAINT,
late IDENTITIES in the office OF the collector
Sampson 2. Bailey. Esq, OF Fauquier, and
Rush burgess, Esq, ex-co!lector. The
main. charles sought to be established by
Messrs. Bailey and FAINT were that, while
chief deputy to Mr., Burgess, Mr.. Russell
had consented to and assisted Mr.. Burgess
in turning to his own use Government
funds, and that Mr. Russell dismissed Fant
and Jones I'm order to fulfil a promise to his
bondsmen to appoint persons by them to be
designated. -.>., ,as rs"
Mr.. Bailey. who has all along acted O
frank and manly part in the prosecution,
deposed thai OF his own knowledge he could
say nothing. Nearly all that he knew on
the subject was told him by Messrs. G. w.
Burr and Rush Burgess in July last, and
that the latter took him Bailey to his house
and detailed the transactions OF the office,
showing Russell at fault, and furnished wit
ness with certain stubs and documents
which were yesterday produced before MIR.
Webster.
Mr.. Burgess Yesterday admitted THAT while
laboring under some excitement he had
said things against Mr.. Russell which he
could not substantiate. His evidence ex-
onerated Mr.. Russell, and the latter, while
expecting to find him Il chief accuser, was
gratihed to hear from him statement which
was practically vindication.
Mr.. FAINT insisted that he understood Mr..
Russell to say to him soon after Russell sue
ceeded Collector White that he would have
to make room for persons to be named by
his bondsmen. That Mr.. Russell denies.
What he did say. rs he states, was that he
felt under obligations to those who had be-
come surety for him to appoint or retain no
non-residents OF the district, and that he did
not remove any but such non-residents, and
in their places put FirginianS, residents OF
this district.
Mr.. Webster is a discreet and patient Off
Ger. What he will report to the Govern
mcnt OF course is not known, but it is
hardly possible, under all the circumstances,
for him to do otherwise than state that the
charges are not sustained. Mr.. Bailey has
dropped them, so far as he is concerned,
and will write letter explaining how he
was misled.
Mr.. FAINT abandoned his part in the accu-
sations except rs to that one which refers
to Mr.. Russelfs conversation with him in
relation to appointments. AS to that, he
will, upon arriving at Washington, write
letter 10 the Department requesting to with
draw that charge.
The whole prosecution has, in other
words, collapsed.
Messrs. Fant and Bailey returned home
last evening.
Mr.. Webster will remain here to-day and
receive from Mr.. Russell full and complete
narrative OF the occurrences in question, so
when the decision is made it may be with
all the facts before the Department, and be
final and conclusive. "n
As the fight was begun against AIR. Rus
sell on the ground that he had removed
Eirginians and appointed carpet-baggers,
Mr.. Russell means to submit the following
list Of his deputies: 49,. ..'i."
Henry l.. Chandler, John S. Rady, Clio.
Burton, w. II. Eggborn, j. A. Chisholm,
W. S., Wood, IL. r. Howard, Emmett
Crump, S. i. Clarkson, w. II. Lester, f.
H. Smith, John w. PoindeXter. all born in
Virginia; B. &: Cook and. &C. Shatier, New
York; r. NJ. Manly: Vermont; D. w. Bo-
hannon, New Hampshire; /. J. Hawks,
Maine; s. j. Quinn, South Carolina; Dan.
Stevens and James L. Capston, Of Ireland
making total OF twelve Virginians, five
northern men, and one South Carolinian,
and two Irish nobemen. Those not Vir-
ginians have resided here over ten years.
except one, and that one has been here over
six. and has invested $4,000 in zeal pro-
perty. ...-