The New York herald., 1878-11-28
SUPERVISING ARCHITECT HILL.
COLLECTOR SMITH, OF CHICAGO, STATES THE
ORIGIN OF THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF
ALLEGED FRAUDS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERN
MENT IN ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

ALLEGED FRAUDS on THE FEDERAL GOVERN
MENr IN ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
tBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
CHICAGO Nov %. 1878.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The Sunday HERALD has Washington special rela-
tive to the recent action OF the Grand Jury of the
Northern district Of Illinois which makes free and
unjust use OF my name The allegation of snpervis-
ing Architect Hill, that the indictments out of
the ambition of Collector Smith OF Chicago. to
troll the federal patronage of that city is unwar-
ranted by the facts Nearly year several men.
strangers to me- lodged complaint against the
contractor and officers of the government of
fraud. and said that unless I made official
inquiry they would go before the House Of
Representatives. promptly reported the situation
to the Secretary of the Treasury and he directed
to make an investigation ! did with the aid of
Henry v. Thompson Assistant District Attorney, and
reported the result to the Secretary With that my
agency in the matter ended. After attempt to kill
the report by high official Secretary Sherman de-
cided that the allegations ought to be inquired into
by Grand Jury and referred the papers to the Jn-
dietary Department. In course of time IL Grand Jury
regularly cmpanclled and entered upon an inde
pendent investigation which extended period
of four weeks. Result-This jury of twentythre
men voted unanimously TO indict Hill. The jury
composed OF some of the best i'll the
State, and declared by the press of this city
cmpaneiled here am assured that every one of the
members is in the habit Of voting the republican
the matter. and did not appear before the jury.
and Assistant District Attorney Thompson was cx-
cluded there could have been no personal feeling or
ambitious purpose in control. In word have had
part in the action OF the jury To attempt self
exculpaton in grave matter of alleged wrong doing
by charging interested motives somebody clse is
not unusual: but in this it will not serve
AIR. Hills purpose in this community. There
ar people VINO car never think OF public
, Off htinU
sinister motives II have called the attention OF
the Secretary of the Treasury to apparent frauds to
false payrolls. imperfect vouchers and irrespon
sibe system OF official accountability has been be-
cause have felt it my duty to DO So Persons who
selves by accusing OF ambitious motives. They
must answer to the public. If out OF this greater
accountability in the administration of public affairs
and higher sense of official honor shall obtain
shall be fully satisfied. 1t only remains for me
to- say that have no candidate for Mr.
Hills place the place of any other OH
cia and that have never asked the President
to appoint any man to office. have scrupulously
avoided this in order that might impugn my
motives. Whether the testimony before the Grand
Jury sufficient to warrant the Indictment Of Hill
was q question which, by law it was the exclusive
province Of the Grand Jury to decide They have de-
cided it by ndicting him. Whether he is guilty or
innocent time will disclose and the extent OF my mis-
doing in directing attention to these frauds can be
better estimated when the testimony shall have been
read in open court and verdict rendered. Then it
will be made clear whether the Indictment against
WILLIAM HENRY SMITH.
| CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY To DEFRAUD THE GOV
ERNMENT---A. WARRANT FROM ILLINOIS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81, 1878.
This morning Deputy Marshal Stlwel, of the
Northern Illinois District, arrived here with
certified copy of the indictment recently found by the
United States District Court at Chicago, charging
J. G. Hill, Supervising Architect of the Treasury,
and A. G. Mills. contractor. and others, with
| spiracy to defraud the government. He had also
warrants for the arrest Of Messrs. Hil and Mills.
| and on presenting them to Chief Justice Cartier
| bench warrants were issued aud served by
| Deputy Marshal Williams. who had the accused
| parties in court ut two o'clock.
ADMITTED BAIL.
The bail fixed in Chicago 5000 each, and the
same amount fixed here for their appearance to
| answer December Ii. which was given about three
| O'Clock. Mcssrs. Robert c. Hewitt and Samuel Geas
went on Mr.. Mills bonds; Lester A. Bartlett became
| surety for Architect Hill.