The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-01

Tho testimony OF GEORGE NJ. PINNEY, late
chief clerk to Paymastcr SpALDiNG. on the
trial Of the san francisco chronicle for
alleged libel upon ErFrGY SARGENT has re-
,eaied the manner and the methods by
which the Treasury was plundcrcd, through
corrupt contracts at the Mare Island Navy
Yard, with the completely Of SEcoR ROBE
son. There Is still another feature of this
testimony, which cannot be overlooked 10y
the House Of Representatives at the APP
preaching session OF Congress.
HORACE F.PAGE Of Placerville represented
the Second District Of California i'm the last
two Congresses, and is reelected. He il re-
garded as one of the tools with which EFFI-
UY SARGENT works. PINNEY. as an active
agent Of the Ring. advanced money to aid
PAGES election in 1872, and subsequently, to
enable him TO make the necessary deposits
a. a bidder under the rose. for mail con-
tracts. while member Of Congress. Here Is
the story as told by PISNEy on the stand:
Ancr the nomination OF Tael ia is7, accompanied
him to various portions Of the district We had
suons a. to what ne would do for in the event his
election. lie proposed me. had spent some time
working for him. and had paid all my own expenses
that he would like to do something for when he
90 Washington. He would like to have ioin him ana
Il, said he knew something about the mail contract bust
ness. and % he was elected lie wouli have himsofnalc
mciubcr % fhc cn-r,. .ional Committee Post Offices
ami Post Road. u knew that men mnlc money out OF
such contracts, and thought We could make money On
own count n not would break the Postal Rim.
The Kin. referred To the lrNrLti RIM lie expect
cd 60 gci on the committee through the influence of h-
fueut-, S.RGtSr AMI GohH,v who were intimate with
tie speaker OF the iou~. of Representative g. BtANt
In unt 90 hrt he put IN ths very committee. fust
lie predicted En- lie said he had cuunl,nc, IN nc
and would leave II with me To- protect him politically.
was 70 protect his reputation. which would suffer 10 u
IN wn that he had anything 90 DO with such COM
tracts The thins drag.ed along until the tall o'
i-73. when met fssE at the Grant Central Hot, IN
Oakland AMI promised him 10 to Washington 10 meet
him IN D,com hor
He had no money at the time, and loaned him s2O'o
gold coin 10 carry the scheme Lent him $3.50 b, ,dcs
g. pay his hills ~ the hotel In Dec mher received
that letter among nay papers These letters Aitorwsrd
into the hands ct Mr., IISNrY by my direction. and
have never seen tO IA since. Anon. them letters
from s.EGtNr. GoHnAa, and from CArL These ri.
tcrs were purchased hy the California Rns Tor sl2N
during fiNNtr absence
A copy Of letter from PINNEY to PACE
was produced and identified, in which the
same subject is continued. 1t reads as fol-
lows.
"sAN FRAScisco IAN 20. is74 -Frini P,Gr Tho
other iav when scn'n- your celth,d check fOr s-t1
promised more ull explanation my failure
for Washington Tie delay IN .oniiue the crrtifoi
oheek has been explained. ant you w get the - Or
sent in time Whatever can be made out OF IT, u any
tllu. iHr az am concerned shall - you fuer,
fore calculate that have It, lam making mnucl
here, ana II any time you need SOD 800
ne ten days notice and II shall b, at YOU"