The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-17
$4,000 Paid to a Returning BOarder-
Presid MT Hayes No flied Of the Fact
But Does Nothing.

| brother to let the protest stand.
| $4,000 Paid to q Returning BOarder-
| Presid mt Hayes No flied of the Fact
But Does Nothing.
VIM. Simpson was then sworn:
! / reside in New Orleans. at No. SO Mag
azine street, and am coffee and tea mer-
chant. came here in 1862 and nave resided
! here ever since. | was in United States SER
| vice during the whole war. | am a native
| of New York. | came here under General
Banks, in the enmmiSsarV department.
| had served one year in Virginia, and was
| afterward on Gen. Banks staff. | was af-
| terward in the cotton trade up to 1867; then
| [ went in Col. Casey's department.. | was
private secretary. The Collector then made
| me cashier of customs and remained there
seven years, until discharged by Collector
| King when he got in.
| l have information from friend that
| money was paid TO memb Der of the Return
| ing Boards. This friend is employed in the
| Custom HOusa. AS it was given to me con-
| tidentially trust you will excuse me. for,
as gentleman, cannot give his name. 1t
would De violating confidence. He gave
| me the information last August, about noon
| day, in front of the Custom House.
Mr. Reed objected unless the name of the
| IersOn furnishing the Information be given
| as il was only hear say. He said that Con-
gress not being in session it was impossible
| for the committee to compel parties to give
| names, and, therefore, he hid not see what
good would come of it, He was satisfied
| the committee stood against him two to one
Mr.. Blackburn said he would appeal to the
| liberality of Mr.. Reed. as latitude had been
| given him in the examination of Harris
| Mr. Stenger said that, inasmuch as Mr.
! Reed had stated that the committee stood
| against him to l, he wished it to be I'M
| dtrstood THAT the committee was no to Z
| affair. He wanted TO get at the bottom
| facts, aud as fhis had been within the know
! ledge OF the President OF the United States
| the Secretary of the Treasury and the Col
| lector of Gus omS and they had ample
| time to contradict it aud did not, he there
| fore felt that the testimony ought to be
| admitted. [SensatiOn in the audience
There was little passage at arms and
| the witness went on: We met accidentlv al
| the door of the Custom-house. We were
| friends for many years. Both of us were
| out of situations and were canv2ssing ouI
affairs generally. Ny friend said, Billy, [
saw in Gov. KellOgg's office the night the
| returns were signed, member of the Re-
turning Board, before he signed the returns
DEMAND $lOOOO.'
He said, Il saw it; $4,000 were paid in
cash, and note OF $1,000 given. The man
is now in the CustOm-house, and you and
are on the street."
There are three mem bers of the Returnin Q
Board in the Custom-house now-Ander-
son, Ken her and Wells.
| wrote letter to Rutherford B. HAYES
This is the letter. Witness then read the
following:
To His Excellency r. B. Hayes:
''Of course, you cannot personally becOn-
versant with every detail concerning your
numerous Subordinates. and l write there
fore, when tell you that one Of the members
of the Returning Board demanded and receiu-
| Ell ten thousand dollars before signing the re
turns Ihdee IL from an eye l1itReSS ($5000
bsing paid in cash, and $4,000 in an obliga-
ton, a note } you cannot wonder at the dis
gust and Indignation of an honest citiz m
who has impcried his life and given twelve
of his best years in the defense and service
of his country, when iJ is all considered of
no value when placed iii contrast with trea-
son and perjury.
WIN. SIMPSON.
mo. $50 Magazine street, N. o.
Enclosed in my letter were the following
incloSure received by me.
A letter was then read from Gen. n. p.
Banks, indorSing witness as soldier, and
another from o. ID. Conger to Secretary
Sherman recommending witness to the
consideration OF the Secretary of the Treas
ury.l
i enclosed those letters directly to the
President, with one from w. Il. Hunt, a
law or of This city. | received the follow
ing reply from the President:
''EXECUTIVE MANsIOE(
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1S4
DEAR SIR--I am directed by the Presi-
dent to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of the eleventh inst, whi oh
has been referred to the Secretary of the
Treasury, to whom any further letters upon
the subject should be addressed.
Very truly yours,
s'W. r. ROGERS, Private Secretary.
"Mr. VIM. Simpson, $40 Magazine street,
New Orleans, La.
The following letter to the witness from
the Treasury Departm ent was then read:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1873.
To William Simpson, Esq, No. $40 Maya
zine street, New Orleans, La:
SIR am directed by the Secretary to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the eleventh ultimo, relative to your re-
moval from the New Orleans Custom House,
at New Orleans, La, addressed to the Pres
ident and referred by him to this Depart
ment, and to inform you that it has been
referred to the Acting Collector of Customs
at that port, TO whom you should apply.
Very respectfully.
FIX. UFToN, Chief CIelk.T
heard nothing more of the matter until
received the following;
COLLECTORS OFFICE, CUsToM-HoUsE.l
New Orleans, April "a, 1873.
w IA. simpson, Esq, NO. 049 Magazine
street, New Orleans:
DEAR SIR very much desire an inter-
view with you in relation to some paper S
which | have in my possession. If it will
not Inconvenience You, be pleased to call
at the office of the Collector of Customs
to-day or tomorrow. Please answer by
bearer. VERY respectfully,
'THos. c. ANDERSON
To which / replied:
t'NEw ORLEANS, April %, 1878.
''Thos c. Anderson, Acting Collector:
"DEAR SIR-In reply to your note would
say that my business ties me down in the
morning until o'clock at night; any in
terviews you may desire to have with me
l will cheerfully grant you at ray store.
the necessity which prevents
my compliance with your request, I am,
very respectfully,
VIM. SIMPSON"
l was not candidate or applicant at the
time l wrote the letter to the President.