The New York herald., 1878-11-30
FRAUDS ON THE GOVERNMENT.

SUPERVISING ARCHITECT POTTER CHARGED WITH
CoNsPIRING TO DEFRAUD-CoNGREssMA
cIARKsoN N. POTTER BECOMES HIS BONDS
MAN.
William A. Potter, Of the persons charged with
conspirng to defraud in the erection OF the federal
building at Chicago, was brought before United
States Commissioner Osborne, yesterday, on war
rant Of removal by Deputy Marshal stillwell Of the
Chicago District Court The defendant was accom-
panied by his brother Congressman Carkson N.
Potter. and his nephew. james P. Lowery. Mr..
Clarlson n Potter became surety in $4,000 for the
appearance Of his brother. and he. with the de-
fendant went before Judge Choate. in the District
Court who took the acknowledgment. Mr.. Clarkson
n Potter who anxious to get through with the
proceedings as quickly as possible signed the bail
bond in blank, and it was afterward perfected by
Commissioner Osborne.
The defendant is ex-supervsing architect Of the
Treasury Department. and. according to the indct-
ment found by the Chicago federal Grand Jury copy
Of which Marshal Stiwe produced. it is charged that
John NJ. Muller, A. G. Mills. James g. Hill. Edward
Burling George G. Prussing. William A. Potter.
George Reed and A. C. Wheaton were parties to the
alleged conspiracy. Muller was stone contractor.
Mills first assistant in the architects Office Hill
snperyisng architect Buring superintendent Of
struction, Prussing assistant superintendent Reed
foreman and Muller assistant in the early days OF the
alleges that the defendants conspired the LIST of
September, 1876. to defraud the government Of
on account OF stone furnished by Muller in
the building of the new Court House; that the
frauds were committed the contracts for
stone, for hauling and labor. The character
Of the fraud is then set forth and 1t Is
alleged that in the stone contract the defendants
claimed and obtained from the United States pay
ment according to .stock' measurement, when the
contract really called for met measurement thus
fraudulently obtaining about $25.000 from the gov
ernment In the saving department 1t is alleged that
there fraud upon the government Of s125,000,
and that the defendants received that amount beyond
that to which they were entitled. That Muller and
Mills. on the 10th of September 1875 caused to be
presented the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Collector of Customs of Chicago the bill for the stone
and that Hill Burling and Prussng certified and ap-
proved such bill. The indictment further alleges
fraud to the extent Of $650000 the labor contract
and $4,000 on the hauling contract.
WHAT POTTER SAYS
Mr.. Potter, in interview with HERALD re
porter stated that he resigned his position super
vsing architect the last day of July. and that
such resignation accepted; that the offence
which he Is charged with Is alleged to have been
committed on the 10th September. For the sake OF
consistency he supposed he had been indicted, for
he had followed the example of his predecessor Mr.
Muller and his Mr.. Hill, had followed the
same practice Mr.. Potter's name Ia not mentioned
in the Indictment in connection with any specific act
The trial Is set down to take place on the third
Monday in December in Chicago.