The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-31
AuDfToRIAL INVESTIGATION.
A LITTLE MORE LIGHT UPON THE
Willis MILITIA CLAIMS.
A Full List sf n0gks Missing from the
Auditors Otylce.

terday. a quorum present.
Mr., T.. f. Herwig was present and desired
10 make statement, which he did in sub
stance as follows
To Mr.. Aldige-W hen, as a committee, we
we're examining the Auditor and Treasurer q
offices, Mr.. Weymouth and the other other OK
perts appointed had carte blanche to exam
inc everything in both Offices. There were
no promises made to Clinton by myself,
though | understood that promises were
made, and understood that from outside par
ties; therefore presume that II was done.
NEVER OWNED A CLAIM
IN any way that came from the Board Of
Audit, though had some claims in 1873 for
tho employees and clerical force Of the Senate,
amounting to $4,000 or $4,000. There was no
appropriation at the time, and Clinton could
not issue the warrants; there was made, how
ever, an appropriation In the general appro-
priation BILL and left my vouchers there.
That appropriation was subsequently, en-
joined, and was prevented from getting my
warrants. which were legal. according to act
No. IL, of 1873
Regarding the "George Anderson claim
Of s172000 funded In New York, never knew
that such claim existed until il was pre-
scented 10 the Board of Audit. refused to
approve it at first, but afterwards signed IL
under protest don't know who Geo. Amber
son Isl and am as innocent as you are as re-
CARDS that matter Tho Board Of Audit
passed on the claim. and had the dishonor TO
be the chairman of that committee. The
claim was presented to the board in 1876. be-
fore the extra session. and the vouchers were
presented to the Auditor to issue warrants
for. presume no didn't issue them. It was
passed upon by majority of the board,
though IL went first to the subcommittee.
Twitehell was one of the subcommittee and
Souer another, ! believe Twltchel is now
the custodian Of all the books and records of
the Board Of Audit.
In regard to the package of papers said to
have been captured while on The way 10 nv
six weeks ago, when / walked out Of the
State-House. | had q package of private
papers. and, after stepping out, handed them
TO q boy. They wero then captured, / be-
and were examined by Judge Miltenberger
aud he handed them TO me, saying they were
not State property. | never took any State
from the State-House Of any de-
scription.
Regarding the testimony Of Mr.. Beatty, /
testimony In the court in The Clinton trial and
nothing else, that being the trial of
THE STATE VS.. CLINTON.
That testimony was perhaps left ut my
brothers Office. The reason he was not paid
was because l consulted Field, and he said 1t
would have to come out of the expenses of the
court and that / could not pay 1t out of the
Senate funds.
10 Mr. Aldige-The papers reported to be
the .'Hetwig papers we're notion their way to
my house.
James Lewis (colored) took the stand to
make personal explanation, and stated In
substance: "Mr. President and gentlemen.
my attention has been called to testimony as
to my having warrants for the Plaquemines.
upon IT is chat they were illegal. The con
struction might be that | connived Mt the
issue of the warrants. ] desire to state that
II. J. Moran, the former owner of tho
plaaHem mine nss sn ams sent me h,, bills
In the regular way by. the Governor, Lieut.
enant Governor. Speaker of the House and
the various committees. ] went and got the
Attorney General'sopinion on them, and gave
and he would have the warrants made out.
That was In 1876. They were made out in
sums Of 800 each, except one for Sill. My
action in the matter was simply favor.-a
friend or q mere agent. When ] went to Mr..
Johnson about them he told me to leave them
In the Office. There was no objection raised
by the Auditor.
Max Stern called and sworn-was in the
Auditors Office from March 3, 1873. until the
latter part of March, 1877; held various posi-
lions.
WAS BOND CLERK,
clerk assistant secretary, and
atterly first book-keeper; kept the bond
books for while; made the entries for the
last funding; this was owing TO the absence
Of Mr. Sholtz, in May, 1876; both bond books |
were there in the Office then. Don't know
where they are now. Saw them there last
January. No one in the Office was refused ac-
eess to them. 1t is not within my knowledge
that any books have been taken away. /
iont say that they were missing, and don't |
know that any were packed up and sent away. |
There were none destroyed to my knowledge |
saw tho 1876 appropriation book there in |
January or February. 1t Is to my knowledge |
hat books and documents were packed up in
,he office. Cannot tell. however, where they |
IAN be found. |
Did not keep the warrant book in 1876, and |
10 not know that warrants were Illegally is |
sued or issued against fraudulent vouchers. |
Had access to the vault. Never in 1876 saw |
my blank consols there. Have no knowledge |
hat any books were taken from the Auditors |
office, or who took them away. My clerical |
iuties discontinued from January l., 1877. |
From that date Sholtz was chief clerk; Eaton,
clerk; Hill, the examiner; Ro- |
,enfelder, voucher clerk; Victor, tax clerk; |
lanes, the assistant bookkeeper; Ragio, bond |
Jerk, and O'Brien, warrant clerk. They were |
I'LL there until the 24th of March, / being the |
,nly one that didn't stay
UNTIL THE END. |
Never made out orders for the settlement Of |
AK collectors. Mr.. Sholtz had the general |
direction of the clerical force, Mr.. Johnson |
ldvising him. Don't know that Sholtz took |
way any papers with him. The Auditor s |
eport for the year 1876 has been prepared;
lon't know where it is. So far as the general |
,oolx- keepers work was concerned, It was |
'eady within one day, and perhaps needed |
,nly the correction of a few items.
To Mr.. Keeting (Rep.e Was chief book
Keeper from October l. The general book |
teeper's books show the daily receipts and |
and if the books are properly |
,ept they should balance, three of them, each |
With the other We checked daily when j |
vas there, with three books, and at the close
II the year.
To Mr.. Aldige-The amounts brought for |