Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-07-21


Com missioner of the General Land
Office to-day transmitted to the
Secretary of the Interior the appeal
made by Messrs. Brooks & Good.
fellow, attorneys for the claimants,
from the Secretary's decision of
Feb. 81, 1873, in that portion of the
rancho Aqua Caliente in Sonoma
county, California, confirmed to
M. G. Vallejo.
New Yark APp"iatinents - Oiher
News.
WASHINGTON, July 20th.--Gen.
Charles X. Graham, Of New York
city, has been appointed Surveyor
of Customs at that port, vice Gen.
E. A. Merritt, appointed Collector
of Customs.
Hon. James Tanner, Collec-
tor of Taxes, Brooklyn, Gen.
eral J. G. Robinson, and other
msmb bers of the Grand Army of the
Republic say the report that their
organization is concerned in seek.
Ing a change of officers in this
State, or is having anything to do
Will tue lhdJtcI, 10 laiSc'
Mexican silver dollars and
United States trade dollars are
purchased as bullion at the Phila-
dslphia mint and the assay office
at New YORK at the equivalent of
the London rate for silver on the
day of purchase, less one-half per
cent. per ounce, payable in stand
ard silver dollars. 1t is expected
that the New Orleans mint will be
ready to commence purchasing
Mexican and trade dollars on the
above terms about the 1st of Au-
gust proximo.
The Fis Johu Porter Tri.I.
NEW YORK, July 2Oth.-The most
important testimony in favor of
Fitz John Porter was that given
yesterday by the witness Smith,
formerly on Portel's staff. 1t was
upon the evidence of this witness,
chiefly, If not entirely, that Porter
was convicted in the original trial.
AT that time he testified that in
an interview with Porter he saw
treason in Porter's eye, and 1t was
his description of Porter and of his
manner which alono went to the
point of giving q dishoporable mo-
tive for Porter's acts. Now he ad-
mits that when he thus swore
away Porter's honor he did not
mean that he believed him to be a
traitor, but he was himself labor
ing under excitement because Poi Q
had snubDed him. He,also, in cross
examination, admitted that he
was mistaken in the former trial in
supposing that Porter received
Pope's order of 4:30 P. NJ. at 5
o'clock. He now substantially
confirms the statements made by
General Ruggles, chief of Pope's
staff, and several Others, all con-
firming Porter's claim that it did
not reach him until so near dark
that it could not be obeyed. The
same witness further discredited
General Pope by declaring that he
protested to Pope himself against
the use, in an anti-Porter PAM
phlet protesting to review the case,
of what purported TO be an extract
from StOnewall Jackson's report of
his operations on the Goth of
August. The witness pointed out
to Pope that this extract related to
operations of the 30th, which de-
stroyed it as evidence against Por-
ter. The extract was furnished by
General Schriver, of McDowelPs
staff. The witness also fixes Pope's
responsibility for the disappearance
of four important dispatches from
Porter, which the latter claims
would establish his own fidelity,
The scene during Smiths cxamin-
alton was exciting and marked.
Smith was about three feet distant
from Porter and the glitter
ing black eyes of the latter were
turned on him with the strictest
attention and almost without in
terruption during the long exam
ination. Porter has the look, or
dinarily, of an amiable man
and his eyes, which are large and
bright, have a kindly expression;
but, as he regarded this man, who
had been instrumental in swearing
away his good name and fame his
expression was very severe. Prac.
tically all the testimony is now in