The New York herald., 1878-03-01

most OF the State officers succeeded in collecting for
himself from the revenues OF South Carolina about
s22 900 ~ reward for his services 10 the republican
politicians.
This took place after Scott had gone out OF ONCE
and while Governor, and my testimony OF the
facts before the investigating committee is In sub
stance as folows:-whilc was Governor, curing the
legislative session Of 1872 1873. Major Merrill had
a bill introduced in the Legislature appropriating tho
sum OF $3.50 reward In each case
where person had boen proved to have engaged in
Ku Kluxism and had been prosecuted to conviction.
The whole amount Appropriated under the bill was
s35 600 and It was provided that each person who
laid claim to any part OF this sum as reward for his
services should present his proof in proper form
before the Governor, VINO, In each case should draw
his warrant on the Treasurer Tor the amount found
to be due. This Lili obbied through the
General Assembly by Major Merrill in person,
assisted by several United States deputy mar
shas who had served under him. He was also ably
seconded his efforts have tho bill passed BY Mr.
d. IL Chambcrlain, who was acting as his legal conn.
sci, and who at tha, tms was a law partner OF tho
Hon. s. w. Melton. then Attorney General OF the
STATE. II was openly charged at the time that brbes
being used secure the passage OF tho bill the
progress OF which was opposed very strongly by the
democratic members. James n Bowley. colorcd man,
then chairman OF the Ways and Means Committee Of the
order the fund amounting 10 1000 for favor
able report on the bill from his committee. Other
members both OF the Senate and House, received
smaller sums Tor their votes In favor Of The bill.
After the bill had passed approved 1t and IL became
a law Mr. d. H. Chamberlain then came 10 me as the
counsel OF Major Morrill, and stated to me that lie was
authorized by Major Merrill to make the proposition
TO me thai IL would award the whole amount appro-
pristed s3s ooo) to Major Merrill he Muor Msrrill)
would pay ont OF the fund So 900 for my own use
and benefit. answered Mr.. On imDerlan that could
accept his proposition. told him that The Gen.
eral Assembly, although they had really passed
the bill ior tho especial emoument of Merrill,
haa neveri heless worded 1t as TO allow other
parties to present their claims before mo Tor I'll
animation, and that it would not be just TO them
to award the whole to Merrill without even an
examination OF their claims therefore declined his
proposal Mr.. Chamberlain then suggested that
should appoint commission OF lawyers whose duty
IL should be TO examine all the claims presented, to
decide on their and to certify tho result
He saId that If would appoint such commission
aud would appoint him (Chamberain) as q member
OF 1t, with two or three others whom ne
named he (Chamberlain) would see to 1t that
report would be made by them aw ardng
the whole amount to Merrill, aud that could then
adopt report and pay him all the money aud my
self escape all blame responsibility In the premises.
He also said that the S., 600 offered by Merrill
would be paid II would take the he suggested
at length consented to proposition and appol nted
the commission Messrs. q. d. Melton and J. ID.
Pope, very respectable democratic lawyers of
Columbia and, at Chambsrain's suggestion,
also appointed himself, James A. Dunbar.
a former law partner Of his (Mr Chamberlain's) aud
Hon. N. b. Elliott. referred to his commission all
the claims which had been forwarded to me, included
among ich were cuims from Major Merrill, su0l-
oient to more than double tho that had been ap
propriated After the commission had deliberated tor
somo ume and had refused to entertain
the view advocated by Mr. Chamberlain u. to award
the whole sum TO Mr.. MerrilD. Mr. Chamberlain
came TO me and asked mo 10 whatever Influence l
possessed over Major c. D. Melton, one of tho DEM
ocratic commissioners. positively refused even 10
attempt thing, as | knew. and so told Mr..
Chamberlain, that not Tor moment would MAJOR
Melton isten to me II proposed 10 him anything
that was wrong In this interview Chamberlain told
me that Dunbar ana Elliott wero TO receive each
ST. from Merrill for casting thor votes 10 his favor
before the commission. Finally, after an intorval
OF two months, perhaps tho commission re-
ported 10 me (or would not act the simple report
OF majority OF them) in favor OF paying Merrill somo
81, 500 out OF the lund. and to apporton the re-
maindcr among the other claimants I adopted
the report OF the commission, and In accordance
Herewith | drew ,he warrants Tor tho payment of
tie moneys. After l had delivered TO Merrill
his warrants be handod mo back two warrants,
amounting to So 000 as also another Tor 81 800 to 90
handed by me to Bowley, chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee. He then told me now much IL had
cost him have the bill passed and to secure the
votes OF members of tho Senate and House and also OF
some OF the members of tho legal commission who
made the awards.
AN ABoRTIvE INVESTIGATION
remember that some years ago there
mcnt the Uuitod States Senate, motion OF Sena
tor Randolph, o! Now Jersey to have investigation
made into charge that Merrill had received money
for his services officer from tho State of south
Carolina, but the whole matter fell through
count OF difficulty OF o0tainting sulicon: test.
mony prove the facts charged, and the payment
OF the money was finally regarded as simple gratuity
voted by the State. f. J. MOSES.
THE EVIDENCE AT CoLUMBIA--THE RECEIPTS
SHOWING THE PAYMENT OF MONEY TO MAJOR
MERErLL-rELL-TALE DOCUMENTS YET con-
CEALED.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALDl
COLUMBIA, 5. G., Feb. 2s, 1878.
Tho sreceirt book" in the State Treasurer's Office
slows that Major Merrill paid the following
amounts on the dates specided:-
July d. 1871, he paid 81, 500 by Governor Scott
drawn the armed force fund. The receipt is signed
by the Governors private secretary, John Heart
On January 6, 1872, Merrill was paid $500 the
samc account by order OF Governor Scott Tho re-
ccipl signed "Lewls Merrill. Brevet Colonel
U. ) A."
diligent search faot TO discover anything
more but having ascertained that the desired
vouchers in the hands OF the investigating Com
reply was hrst hearty anathema directed against r.
J. Moses, who, he said. WIS evidently violating his
oatn witness by talking 10 some in New York.
He Then sand that all the vouchers and other docu-
ments concerning Merrill IN the hands OF the
committee who propose TO report on the whole mat