New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-16
THE CHARGES AND COMMISSIONS CASES.
ARREST OF ALMoN W. GRIswoLD or COMPLAINT
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT Withdrawals
STATEMENT


ARREST OF ALMoN W. GRIswoLD on COMPLAINT
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT Withdrawals
STATEMENT
Almon w. GriswOld lawyer, of No. 120
broadway was arrested and aITalgncd before United
States Commissioner Shields yesterday, charge OF
causing false protest to be made N support OF claim
against Government for the amount OF an alleged ex
ress paid by August Richard on gOods imported
by the steamer Persia August IS, 1SGl. The COM
plalnt was made 10y Special Treasury Agent Curtis
whose statements regard to similar charges aud CON-
missions cases recently before Congressional commit
tee caused much interest large number of officials
and lawyers in attendance In Commissioner
Shields room, where Mr. Griswold arraigned. s.
c. Clarke and c. A. Runkle appeared as the
counsel Of Mr.. Gnswold They declared the
defendants willingness 10 proceed with the
investigation. Assistant District-Attorney Clark
said that the principal witness for the Government
could not be found, and he asked permission TO with
draw the complaint The defendants counsel said they
were willing TO consent ponement or make any
other to give the Government time TO pre-
pare. This was declined and the Commissioner dis
missed the case.
MI Griswold has sent THE TRIBUNE letter regard
ing his connection with the charges and coamssions
cases. He writes that when the allegatio1s Of
in Washington, he made no answer TO them
ST SsT to n S them in court After waiting
twelve days for Government 10 take action III the
u
iret Aitorney In this he said thai important
his clients that immediate action should be taken to
inquire into the In tier for the INFORMATION
OF the Committee on Appropriations. lie asked
therefore that, by consent, an order should
he entered by Judge Blatca ford, directing that
all the invoices, entries, papers ana protests To-
gether with the statements OF the amounts as adjusted
by the referee each case he returned to MI DaVc
mort To whom the originally referred, win
Instructions to make most searching Investigation,
10 take and report all the testimony wmch might De
altered together with his findings to whether any
mistakes had been made i'll the adjustments; alsO
whether the protests IN OF these cases were raise
and fraudulent, or were genuine ana egal IOI ING III
formation and action OF the court
To this communication Mr.. GriswOd writes that he
received no reply lie then gave notice 10 the ieieree
that he would 20 before the referee with the trl OF
some new cases TO determine the question whether lere
was fraud in them. The case Of Eenauld, Francois q
Co. against Augustus Scbell WAS the Tst one taken De-
fore the referee, JOhu DavenpOrtOn tuesday morning
the Government was represented by Assistant District
Attorney Clark General w. NJ Curtis and MIR. NeYn. Mr.
rswold that the thai every possible tecln
cal objection inteTpOsed by the Government hf'
CLARK denied possession service OF tue bill OF par
icuars WHICH, Mr.. GriswOd states, was In the posses
sion OF the DistrctAtOrney last Friday and was then
delivered to Mr. NeyD whose receipt for II was received
In evidence. Ihe adjourned until frdGy, on
the statement OF Mr. Clark that he mad engagement
In Albany OH Wednesday. $3.50
was Informed by United States Commissioner Shields
that General Curtis had made an AFFIDAVIT charging hln
with fraudulent act IN relation 10 protest upon
which warrant for his arrest had been Is
Iued, returnablc at l O'Clock yesterday. lie
was not arrested on the warrant, but gave lis
parole Of honor 10 appear Az the appointed hoIr nc
appeared ready 10 with the examination, nut the
Government was not ready. The complaint was
hnally dismissed Mr.. Clark's engagement Ia AlDapy
aid not prevent him from appearing IN the
the charge sgainst him by General Curtis Is utterly
false and that these Droceedings on the
part OF the Government Will not deter him IRON prose
outing these cases and showing that those in which he
Is