The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-28
TREASURY DEFECTIVE WILLIAMS.
TIE Author of the Letter Rejecting on ths
Character OF speaker Randall.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9Th. l.. williams, the
Treasury detective who was tho author Of the
slanderous letter against Speaker Randall
upon which the Speaker demanded an invosti-
cation to-day. is a special pet Of the Fraudulent
Administration. It is alleged that he and his
brother were largely instrumental in bringing
over portion Of the Bristow delegation at the
Cincinnati Convention to Hayes.
just before March 4, 1877. Williams was sent
TO Canada TO look after smuggling along the
border He was given $4,000 in cash from the
Secret Service fund to work with. Ho went to
Montreal and represented himself as n mer-
chant from the United States, and with the
Government money in his possession began the
purchase Of kid gloves. He thus established n
credit with q leading house in Montreal and
subsequently made large purchases, amounting
IN all TO nearly f2O.OOO and gave in payment
Bank Of & oSIo 81 one TS Tor e 6o end Ee
other for t13 455 These checks wore accepted
as good by the, Montreal firm. They, proved to
be bogus. and were protested. Willinma had
not dollar to his credit in the National Ex-
change Bank OF Columbus. Ohio.
rections he, gave. and as soon ns they, crossed
the border they were seized by pnl Of Williams
as smugRed goods and sold. and Williams and
cceds. The merchants Of Montreal were swim
died as well as.the United States, The goods
chants In good faith. They did not know that
they were to DO smuggled into tho United
States. They simply sold them as they would to
any customer who satisfied them that he had
tho cash or the equivalent to pay therefor. Tho
United States made nothing by the operation,
and detected no smugglers, hut simply enabled
Williams to swindle the Montreal merchants
and give him an opportunity to claim and ro-
ccive some moiety money.
The Canadian authorities have transmitted
here TO Sir Edward Thornton all the proofs Of
this transaction. and hayo demanded through
the British Minister of our Government the
payment OF damages done British subjects by
AN accredited agent Of tho United States Gov
ernment Thus far the Fraudulent Secretary
OF the Treasury has stood by Williams, and
claims that no was justified in using bogus
checks 70 accomplish the purpose OF his mis-
sion to detect smuggling .,u,,o,o, ~, ., 1870
sR In reference to the letter OF Special Agent w. l.
Williams to me- of sept a. 1870 which appeared in the
not the supe tvisng Special Agent at that time Will
HANGS letter was never under Official consideration
ot DEPUTY First Comptroller WIN. llcmphii Jones. on
Its receipt made thorough invc stcaOn ot the records
relative " williams charges aud found them so TAR as
you were concerned absolutely false.
On the Htl oi March, 1879. Williams had private In
erview with senator John sherman at h residence out
Of which interview grew letter iLom Williams 10 the
mcnt. including myself rhat part OF Williams LETTER TO
the Secretary relative to absurly false a. his
appeared ~ justify the assumption that Secretary
sherman approved the methods Of Williams. and failing
o get hearing furnished number oi personal friends
who had been Informed OF the OF the sherman
letter with copies OF the letter Of sept as evidence
Of Williams unre liability aud untruthiulne@
have no knowledgc as 60 how Willams's letter TO me
became bubble but as have already stated, Tar
are concerned. IT'S untrue IN tact and Inference
Late Supervising Special Agent 4. = Treasury.
To Hon SAMUEL J. ksNoAlL Speaker House Of Repre-
sentauVeA