The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-18
TREASURY INVESTIGATION.
Testimony Given by Geo. II. johnson
ana Geo. G. NOrcrOss.

Testimony Given by Geo. II. johnson
| ana Geo. g. Norcross.
The committee to investigate the aff.irs OF the
State Treasury met yesterday. Present. Senate
White, chairman, and Representative Keeting,
Geo. b. johnson was the first witness called
and in reply to the questions propounded by tn
chairman stated that he was
THE AUDITOR OF THE STATE
in 1875, and in that year owned State warrants
did not remember the exact amount, and ooult
not say whether or not 1t was az much as $40, 900
Dashed great many, but had no idea Of the
amount.
| To MIR. Keeting-Saw no preference given al
| the Treasurer's office; had hard work sometimes
| himself to get his warrants cashed The war.
rants witness had Dashed we're not purchased
but were those he had advanced money on, and
Ia some cases they were those that he had paid
par for. Some were for State officials, including
the officials In the state-House. including Cows
Antoine and Kellogg, DssIonde, the various
clerks. Speaker Estilette. G. L. Hall, who was
chairman OF some committee at the time, as well
es others.
To the Chairman--That WAS during 1876 Prior
to being Auditor, was q clerk in the tax oollec-
tors office. May have Dashed warrants against
the general fund Of 1875. though don't know
TO WHAT AMOUNT.
In some cases on his own account and others not.
Made advances on warrants, bat did not know
that he indorsed warrants unless he had an in ter
est in them.
Sometimes parties leaving the city would leave
their warrants with witness for collection,
and in collecting he would ndorse them
To Mr.. KeetiDg- warrants Dashed for clerks
10 bis office amounting sometimes to $1,000 month
Would make out one warrant for the entire
monthly salary Of the clerks and draw the money.
which would be paid to the clerks in the presence
OF representative OF the treasury department.
GEO. Q. NoHoRoss CALLED.
In 1876 was employed in the Custom House.
Have not been there in five months. Left there
the first day OF January. / think. In 1876 col
never kept any account OF them. ! speculated
In them on my own account in some instances.
and collected for others in other cases, and wi tn
few exceptions collected them individually. /
went to the Treasnrers Office, but never stayed
there moro than twenty minutes at one time in
my life. When had warrants | generally fled
them in the Treasurer's office aud took memo
randum. leaving the warrants with the Treas
urer. Checks were not in all cases made to my
order, and sometimes Endorsed checks for others:
believe collected one or two warrants for Mr.
Herwig. but don't think collected one where he
was financially interes ted; kept no record of
traneacuonS except u memorandum, aud when
the
OBLIGATION WAS CANCELLED,
the memorandum was also; don't know the
amount OF my transactions in 1876; don't think il
would amount to $4,000.
Mr.. White If the books should show that you
were the final payee of warrants or checks
amounting to $4,000 or $4,000. how would you
explain 1t?
Mr.. Norcross-I could only do it by the check,
themselves, as each one was presented to me;
could do that though.
Mr.. White-I did not say that the books make
such showing, but merely stated hypothetical
case.
The Witness-Two thirds of the amount. the
books will show, was, judge, for my own &C
count.
To Mr.. Keeting-I took warrants az we'll AZ
vouchers as collateral security. For instance,
took the Stokes vouchers, those from Dula and
others. When l presented vouchers Mr.. John
son would ask me how | wanted the warrants
made out, that is, in what amounts, and In making
them out they would, of course, be in my name.
Nobody brought me Information from the State
Treasury. went there myself. Have seen
other parties there often; always thought that
Joe Hernandez and Newman
GOT THE BEST OF ME
in getting money, and told Dubuclet so. gener-
ally made about ten trips to the treasury for
nothing to one where / got any money. Know
Mr.. Auguste; he never gave me any information
In regard to the Herbert testimony the witness
stated that Mr.. Herbert came to him, saying he
was about to get married, and asked me to get
bis warrant Dashed; said he was willing to give
$780,. did the services. and charged him for 1t;
think got $2l for the commission, and that is
what 10 charged for. Don't know OF any one
having been paid money in the Tressurer's ffioe
Herbert made some remark about having to
pay $25 to get the warrant Dashed, and thought