Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-10-10
AFEw.sAMPLE REFoRME RS.

Don Piatt, editor Of the Washing
ton Capital, the leading democratic
paper there, is out in the following
card, which he prints in large type
and double-leads.
To The Public: Daring the first session of the
last Congress was summoned, much against my
will, to give testimony before the Committee of
Investigation concerning the alleged frauds In the
no evidence to offer as 10 such frauds. KNEW OF
none, and so stated to the committee. had been
employed by Cowles \ Brega to procure the con-
the transaction that was not fair and honest.
Pressed by the committee, however, gave my
suspicious. said at the time that such suspi-
4 Brcga and Col. Ingalls, contented themselves
with simple denial. Ishould. in accordance with
Justice Dogberry' advice to the watch, have let
| thanked God was rid of some knaves
But such course did not suit these gentlemen,
and. turning upon me, they heaped on my head
Under these circumstances, took up the IN
vestigation where 1t was dropped by the Commit
now find myself possessed Of the evidence did
not have as a witness.
/ know, and hold myself ready to prove:
That Col. Rufus Ingalls, was in the pay Of
Messrs. Cowlcs 4 Brega, receiving from them a
cash valuation for his services.
That he was in such employ when he sat upon
that Commission reported in favor Of the Cowles
& Brega process.
That he was so employed when, as member Of
1 the second Commission, he again Joined in a re-
port favorable to their process.
That he was their paid agent when, as Acting
Quartermaster General, he violated the law 10 al
| have the proof, and hold myself prepared t.
| produce the same, that Messre. Cowles Il Brega
with corrupt intent to influence Col. Randolph y
eminent to pay Gen. Marcy. Gen. McClellani
4 father-in-law, percentage upon the contracts
procured from the Government-G Marcy be
| ing Chairman OF the Committee that approved o
! Cowles Brega's process Mt Philafelphia.
have the proof that books were altered or de-
stroyed for the purpose of concealing these fraud
ulent transactions; that witnesses were run ava!
to Canada to escape appearance before the Invest
igating Committee. and that the testimony o
Messrs. Cowles \ Brega. and Ingalls, is tissue o
falsehoods from beginning to end.
All of which is respectfully submitted to tn
War Department and the Grand Jury for thci
judicial consideration.
This moth business was developed
by Clymer, in the hope Of catching
General Belknap in it, but when il
was discovered that it was trans
action in the Quartermaster Generals
Office, for which Secretary BelknaI
had substantially no responsibility
and that Gen. Marcy, Inspector Gen.
eral, Gen. ingalls,, Acting Quarter
master General, Gen. Mcclellan and
Don Piatt, all red hot democratic re-
formers, except ingalls,, nom partisan
had corner on that job, it was drop.
ped like hot potato by Clymcr's
Committee.
Don Piatt and General Mcclellan
were acting as attorneys in the mat
ter, both getting large fees for their
valuable aid in introducing the Ex-
Termination. At least, thentestimony
went so far as that, when it was in
continently stopped.
This illumination of Don Piatt's
will undoubtedly receive proper at
tention at the hands of a Washington
grand jury, and perhaps from COM
mittec of Congress, and then we shall
see what we shall see.
In the meantime it remains to be
seen how well Little Mac will run for
Governor of New Jersey, handicap
ped with this moth Exterminator
| Attachment.