The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-03
MINISTER SEWARD'S TRIAL.
ARTICLES OFTMPE1 CHMENT PREPARED
ny SPRINGER'S CONHITTEE
Accused OF IrJusuce, Tyranny. ENtortIon,
Bribery, Embez1lcment, Dcfrnudirg the
Treasury, Violations OF treaty aud or Inw.

has prepared against George +. Seward hnvo
not yet been published in any consecutive form,
although the evidence on which they nre based
has been from time to time given to tho public
A careful reading OF the evidence shows that n
prima faclo case has been made out under each
OF tho charges. although many OF them arc
barred. so far as the criminal law is concerned
by tho statute Of limitations. All tho mcmbcrs
OF the Committee agree rs to the facts. Those
articles are substantially as follows. Their
adoption will bo the pending business to-mor-
row nfter the reading OF the journals:
Article I.-That George f. Seward. whilc Con-
sul-Goncral at Shanghai. and as such. Judge
OF tho Consular Court "a court having all the
powers OF United States district and circuit
courts. and the common law jurisdiction OF
State courts. including probate busncss). was
Eulty OF inlusice, tyranny. extortiOn. and
bribery IN this. To- wit:
First Spociilc lcaton-That ho corruptly re-
ccvcd from tho executor 500 taels equal to
500. for advice in tho settlement of an estate OF
one u X. Spedding while acting as Judge and
pendlng an application of the executor for an
allowance OF per cent. 10 him for his the OK
ecutor 81 services when the law allowed him only
per cent. Seward allowed the per cent and
received the 800 tacls which the executor
charged 10 the estate and Seward allowed the
account against tho protest of the legntees.
Second Speciilcntion-That Seward. aR Judge,
released from prison without trial or effort to
procure evidence one Benjamin Pearce noto-
Third Specification = That Seward, being
Judge OF said court, allowed tho clerk of tn
court. o. B. Bradford. 70 try persons for crimes
and m misdemeanors. On one occasion Bradford
caused scvon sailors from an American ship 10
bo arrested and brought before him. whom he
sent to prison Tor alleged desertion from tho
ship. for sixty days. on bread and water nj
hard labor. without taking any evidence in tho
cnse that one OF the sailors requested tho mar
shal 10 take him before Seward which ne did
The sailor said he wanted to make n complaint
OF cruel treaiment on the ship aud to protest
against BTndford's sentence Seward said to
him that IL he was not satisfied no would add
thirty days to his sentence. which he did and
the sailor was accordingly committed 10 prison.
without hearing or trial. for ninety days.
which time he actually served. while the others
seryed sixty days. all on bread and wator. at
Fourth specincation-That Seward allowed
one George S Porter. the clerk Of the court to
SIT in the trial of an American citizen namod
crime ~ murder; that Porter. without jurisdic-
ton. tried Lynch and sent him to prison for
sslNtv DAYS. whlch sentence was carried into ef-
!!ect: SeWArl beipg nj tho consulate. but not at
the trial and well knowing the facts.
- Filth Specification That Seward allowed ono
q. B. bradford. clerk Of the court, to hear aud
try civil cases involving large property rights.
well know ing that Bradford had no Jurisdiction
Article II.-That Seward had in his custody
100000 belonging to the Government known IA
the Scaman's Relief Fund. which he loaned 10
divers persons, with interest at IL per cont.
to secure the loans. and appropriating the in
tereet to his own uso. and by tho law being
guilty OF emhezZlement OF tho funds so loaned.
That no caused tho mortgage to be forecosed in
his own court, he. sitting as Judge. decreed
foreclosure and sale. purchased tho property at
inc sales and confirmed the titles in himself
:, Article llI.-That no took active interest in
the construction OF the Woosung railroad and
used his official influence TO promote the same
IN violation Of the treaty between China and ihe
United States and against tho protest of the
Article Iv.-Thnt we'll knowing that O. b.
Bradford. his Nlco Consul General. had. in vio-
with A. A. Hayes and others for tho construc.
ton OF said railroad. and had obtained the con
sont OF the Chinese authorities 10 purchase the
right OF way. &c.. falsely informing said au-
ihorties that the road was 10 be a common
highway or carriqgewny. Seward aided and
nasisted Bradford and others while making
such false representations TO procure said right
of way and secure tho consru ation Of said rail
road. acnnsi the protests oith Chinese authori-
ies ana IN violation oi mo express provisions OF
AriicieS That Seward took and converted to
his own use tho fees and salary which the mar
shall Of his court was entitled 10y law to receive
md paid said marshal a salary which was much
less than the amount received by Seward. who
tho difference to his own use and
sent false vouchers 10 tho Treasury for money
recei pted for by the marshal which moneys tho |
marshal did not receive. Tho statute makes
Article YI-That Seward made an agreement
with one Richard PhUnix tho marshal OF his |
and WAS TO sign vouchers for his |
salary allowed by law and for the fees due him. |
Nulcn ltENl sNlhfl ulu lees were largely IN x
,ess OF the compensation paid Phdnix 10y Sew.
ard, who well knows these facts, and forwarded |
such false vouchers 10 tho Treasury for moneys |
-eceiptcd for by PhpnX. but not received 10y |
lim. but Appropriated 10y Seward TO his own |
use. being thereby guilty OF embezzlement Of |
hs IH S%GuPI so HEpTopss%sd 70 ne use
Government. in this; That all the receipts |
md e1penditpres OF moncys at the Con
hat United States currency was during |
hat timo greatly deprecated; that Seward |
pretended that his receipts were in de-
lursements. he converted into gold and Mexi- |
AN dollars. charging tho difference TO the Gov
,rnment and sending false vouchers therefor to |
ne Treasury which premiums were never in |
act paid. thereby deirauding tho Treasury OF |
Article VIII The same facts IA to his re- |
,eipls and expenditures as postal agent at |
raordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to |
nina received for the first quarter of 1876 the |
alary belonging TO the Consul General at |
shanghai he. not having rendered any service
ls such Consul and not entitled to the salnry |
hereof causing vouchers to be sent forward in |
he name OF o. b. Bradford. who receipted for
uch salary and paid the same to Seward
Article N.-lhnt Seward. while Minister TO
Ihina received for the first quarter OF 1876 the
alary Of Minister 10 China and Consul General
i Shanghai the salary Of Minister amounting
o 81 G37 SO. and Of Consul General 81 2ig gS
ie not having rendered any service rs Consul
Article XI.-That Seward. while Minister TO
'hina. suspended John Q. Meyers from tho
thoritv o} isw w2icb soyard w vGf a. wi'hout
Article NII.-That Seward, while Minister 10
'hina,well knowing that o B. Bradford had been
ieneral and had at Seward's instance and for
lis benefit sent forward and had approved false
ouehers' ETC. suspended John G. Movers from
ihich suspension and removal was without au-
lorty Of law and made solely for the purpose
fenahling seward and Bradford to sccrcte and
ODreul a !