The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-03
BEFORE THE BAR.
~ Kx.COLLECTOR or PORT STANDS
TRIAL AND GIFTS A VERDICT.


It has been known for some time past that
the late United States grand jury had present
cd to the United States Circuit Court an lho,cl
ment Ok ex Collector Or the Port Geo. ~ otn.tn
Indeed, the day the bin was returned .ne -,
that It had been found leaked out. but altnoukp
this was some weeks ago. and while tne go,
1ector filed his Office the nature ana eha1
OF the charge has been carefully kept eonoea.oo
by the United States district attorney anu III
officers OF the court. and this not"i.neeano
the fact that the accused had given ING p,opo
and required guarantee that ne Wou'u 49, -.
when summoned TO stand trial. AM 80 -
could result from giving the facts 20 ~ pup',o'
~ has been usual In ordinary cases. u may %
rar,arked. however, that the Indictment OF
fyua.om. House official Ia apparently not an
ordinary case for several other persons who
held or still hold positions In the Granite Build
ing have been accused by the grand jury, and
their offenses. too. are carefully hidden from
the public.
Yesterday the charge against Smith came
out, there being no longer any opportunity 81
hiding IT, and he was brought before the bar o.
the court
The case was brought up very quietly. and
few persons outside OF the officers OF the court
and the witnesses knew that 1t had been fixed
until It was called In open court.
Without delay the jury was impaneied and
the case opened, the United States district at
torney appearing for the prosecution and Capt
Richardson for the defence.
The Indictment was read and then. for the
first time since it, finding. the charge was made
known. Il was that Geo. T.. Smith had know
ingly presented for payment fraudulent claims
against the United States. and the specifications
were that he had forwarded to Washington GER
tain pay rolls containing the names OF persons
who had rendered no services for the amounts
with which they were credited.
The first witness examined was
"a. CONANT,
who testified az follows: was appointed to a
position In the Custom House last September.
i received my appointment from Geo. L. Smith
who was then Collector. My appointment con-
Hnued through three months. l never per-
formed any service. was told by the Collector
when he appointed me that he would send for
me when he wanted me. I held myself In
readiness to go to work. but was never called
upon. i was paid by Mr.. Bloomfield. the
auditor. signed the rolls. never paid any
money to any one for getting me the appoint
ment and never divided my salary with any
one.
Gross -examined-Th Collector informed me
that he would send for me when he wan ed me
K the custom two or three
discharged In December. / was always ready
to 60 to workawhen sentdfor. l Was awaiting
10 10 the district attorne1NMy pay was d 50 a
day.
A. o. BOYLE
sworn-I was put on the laborers' roll In Sep
tGnber, and remained on Ii for the time that the
Orleans Relief Committee was engaged liz dis
tributing the r vernment ratIons. Did not
perform any service IN ths Custom. House
mittee. was paid as q laborer by the Custom
House taoriu 8. obtained my pay certif-
cate from the chief wsigher.
under the appointment In question was to the
Orleans Relief OJmu,ittee. / was discharged
In October. In the latter. part of November
duties 40 clerk Tor the office Of the specla
agent
DAN "A. ROSE
sworn During the epidemic was employed t
distribute the rations OF the Orleans Helie
Committee. Received pay on the laborers' roll
Had charge of the government rations. Was
detailed by Collector Smith to take care OF them
and used to ouen and close the room In which
they. were; always remained after everybody
CeGronsess-examined- the. relief committee
was through was discharged.
WIN. LACEY
sworn.--w Was appointed by Collector Smith o.
ranort II Mr. OHstelanOs' Office. was on two
Wpeks In October and one In November. did
NO work at oil IN ., the q s,s Custom House.
The district attorney rose and stated that the
case for the prosecution was closed. and eaid
further that be osa an ns bs
Ion. unable to do It, and there should be YER.
dict 81 aeauittal. .a,.o, :, - .uo.oa., :,
ira di-trict attorney would not do that but
thought there was no case. y, T.,
Capt. Richardson then called upon Mr.. Smith
After being sworn Mr.. Smith said In sub
stance: The iaborers' ron is sworn to by, everi
10 comes to me after 1t is prepared, and for
ward il to the proper cffieer. That is all have
" Witness MY produced blank form of the roll te
show that in no place on 1t was his signature
a. to oonants appointment, as inspector
denartnent al Washington to employ extr.
men to take the place " those absent On account
q They we're we're required 70 report
them ceased. II Conant did not do his duty /
was because there was no duty for him to per
FORM In II ver and a.
TO Rose and Boyle. the government sent here
10000 rafions for me to distribute | had NJ
authority to employ men dor tne but IL
numbers OF extra men are accessory for, weigh
IND and handling iron and salt and othe
heavy articles, and his is the only department
from which Icould draw men for extra duty.
instructed him to ttail all the men necess ar.
II ass ist the Orleans Relief Committee In theii
distribution and he assigped me quite q, mum nm
hours day and were paid twenty five cents al
hour, but / believe that after the committee
came into the possession OF FUNDS they wer
given extra compensation.
CAPT. r. L. RICHARDSON
then took the stand and oorroborated the testi
mony of Mr.. smith as to the assignment o
Rose, Boy and others TO duty with the Orlean
Relief Committee Witness was chairman 3
COMMITTEES. ard applied 70 Mr.. smith for assist
This closed tie case entirely and the dlstric
attorney reiterated that he thought the jur!
should return u verdict of not guilty, and sucl
was the verdict the jury did return withou
leaving their seats.
The friends OF Mr.. Smith EXPRESSED consid
cradle satisfaction because of the result OF the
trial, not only on his individual account, but
also because they consider 1t q victory over Kel
loRg. to whom thav attribute all his troubles.
After the trial William Lacey volunteered the
following statement to the reporter OF the Dem
CCRAT:
Yesterday 7 went into TTnitad Efataa District