The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-19
POSSIBLE TROUBLE AHEAD.
dDvENTURER GREEN'S ATTiCK UPON
SIR EDWdRD THORNTON
A Puzzicr for the senate-The british Minis
tees Di-aiiowsnco OF u Claim Against One
of the Epbemcrni Governments of Me xico

of the Ephesnerai Cove ernments of Mexico.
WASHINGTON. Feb 1s.-Therc slipped into
the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. on FRI
day. petition which, II not handled carefully
may get the United States into diplomatic
wrange with England. 1t ia petition for an
investigation of the Mexican awards. especially
Of the connection of Sir Edward Thornton as
referee with tho same. Corrupt and base mo-
tivcs are alleged against the British Minister,
and n specific charge Of bribery Is laid against
one of his clerks. To give clear understand
ing Of this most unusual casc. IL is necessary to
first speak Of the history OF the person making
tho charge. and Of his particular grievance
against England's Ambassador. His name is
Alfred A. Green. He is said To be an American
adventurcr. whose sphere OF operations extends
over North American. He was in Mexico ut tho
timo of tho Mexican war; and says he
was colonel in tho service OF that
country. In fact, a portion OF his claim
Of over 100000 against the Mexican
Government was for such service In her behalf
In Mexico he boro the reputation Of an adven-
turer as he has since done in California and in
Washington. He had claim against Mexico.
mostly for loss said to have becn sustained by
him through the destruction and depreciation
OF silver mines. The claim was disallowcd by
Sir Edward Thornton. Soon after this decision
was made known 10 Green, about year ago. he
forced himself into Sir Edwards presence, at
the residence OF the British Legation, and yehe-
menty accused the Minister of having mali
ciously brought citizen Of tho United States
from aniuence to poverty. He accused him Of
bearing II deadly hatred against all Americans.
and with an attempt at tragedy called ON Sir
| whose ruin he had brought about. With this he
| took u small vial from his pocket and swallowed
ihe contents. Sir Edward very practically sent
| for police officer. and Green was carried away
II anything but q dying condition; He re-
/ yiyed rapidly. after seeing, that his effort
| amin"t!"n was subsequently made Of the REM
| h4nts 0i the supposed poison in the vial, by
VIII which It was dlscoyercd that the deadly poson
From that time Green was not heard OF.
except once. when. in 81, Louis. he attempt to
gst Soms mWSpey WHHy out out & El 9ne ot the susc.ssiu
600 from the Mexican Government was recently
received. tho House. passed bill which was
| tri1ution OF the same among the cla.:aants Who
had received awards. I:.;; 80; week Senator Conk-
uuns c"h-u ''- ril up in the Senate. and Senator
fraud in The award 70 suSsiantiatc % ate his E obSc
tion. he read despatch from man named
Slaughter. Of Alabama Under the r,lcs OF the
IN the city, and spencer introduced eiihcr
| when Mr. Conkling called the Till up the next
| day he said; senator not now here lSpencerl
| made objection TO the hill yesterday. but | am
informed that thcr. Is NO wish to insist upon
| that objection. Although very reluctantly dis
| posed To Iu-s a. or oven uu allegation OF fraud,
think 1t Is true at this stage " the proceeding
the senate could hardly, even with time under
take Ia Investigate a quest On Of that sort. which
, seems 10 have been passed upon.
-. Stevenson objected. saying that n gentle
man a. high standing from Mobile Ala. mean
mo siau Ter. had informed him that hc had in
a tonh h6n here 'hsoute proof Of fraud in ono
claim of 500 0cv. Consequently on ea, Mr Tonkling
he bopcT The s s"natnrs Observation-Disclosures
would soon produces his proof. This was on
ON Friday Spencer introduced petition re:
gnrding the Mexican aware oy oyWdaarv WIinyn ,ire r
mttec. without hardly any on present bnrihg Bong
aware Of the contents Of tho do. 'uh'ht: i hls
petition Of Green's sets out with l'c assertion
that Sir Edward Thornton bears a II. ohR prclu-
dice against the United States. no was
through thus prejudice. wholly inca! ahie OF
other Government N"Nt. it makes gen, RAJ
charge u corrupt motives ON the part Of q.
British Minister, saying that in all eases whore
the claims were large, and certain management
used. they were allowed; There il also spe-
ciilc charge that clerk Of Sir Elward's re-
connection with the awards
Whether Slaughter and Green arc In collu-
sion j. not clearly known. Both prosecuted un-
successfully claims against the Mexican Gov
rrnmcnt before the commission. At all events
10th are end 'nyoring o defeat the pas sage Of the
are chars ng irlul. Senator EdmundS. chair
man ui IN" judiciary Committee, was last night
Informed oi the harat"r uf Tho petition. ana Of
~" character 81 N" man making II. lie said.
inter hearing tn iaet-. that no greater outrage
could be- committed than slnndcrlng the Brush
Minister 10y u'h means. He do,s not know
however, how tn. Senate can deccntly get cut of
this prcdlcamcnt.