Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-02
WASHINGTON, D. G., FRIDAY. APRIL 1880.

THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY.


The House committee on the DiStsict of &C.
lumbia continued to-day the investigation of the
charges made by Treasurer Gilflian against the
District Commissioners.
John J. Bogue was sworn and testified that
when he left the employment OF the District he
went into the drawback and insurance bust
ness: he had been In FOrsythe's Office and drew
up q lot of applications for drawbacks: such
claims for draw backs as he had he turned over
to Mr. Dickson and divided the commissions; all
the employees OF surveyor Forsythe's office were
dismissed at one time, witness among the num-
Der; Commissioner Bryan sent witness back TO
the Office, and for this reason witness turned
over TO Mr Dickson such claims as he had-one
hundred Or more.
VIM Dickson testified that during the inves-
tigatiOD several witnesses had been interf0-
gated concerning his private business; he was
willing to answer all questions the committee
might ask, and would place the books and re-
cords OF his office at the disposal of the commit
tee; he thought an attempt had been made to
aSSaii his business character, and he wanted to
meet such aspersions. Some years ago witness
said that he had been an attorney TO pay Spe-
cial assessment taxes; all his clients who paid
such taxes he advised to pay under protest,
because he thought that Congress would at
some stage pass bill to relieve the property
holders who had been swindled. BY reason of
this. when the relief bill was passed he secured
large number OF drawback claims Every
complaint filed by Witness for erroneous as
sessments was either upon the written, eX-
pressed or implied authority OF the
notice when he endorsed the Thomas Wall
drawback certificate, that Wallis widow had not
signed her name as eXeCutr1X: had he noticed il
he would not have endorsed it until she had
signed as eXecutriX; he knew though that Cath
crime Wall was the executriX OF Thomas Wall.
because he had seen the viii of Thomas Wall SO
naming her; witness did not think that he had
filed over 1000 complaints for erroneous assess
mentS: but in all cases he had either the written
or verbal authority OF the property owner
Concerning. the Pagan drawback certificate
witness said 1t was endorsed by FaganS nephew.
with the authority however of Pagan; the
nephew tranSactS business for the uncle, and
his signature is accepted for Fagan's by banks
id lbs CITY IT. to checks ,s witness read letter
self. stating that at the time OF her drawback
settlement she was sick. and unable to come TO
witness Office, and that she had requested
her husband TO sign her name for her.
Witness continuing testified that one Troxall
had delivered to him the claim OF Mary c.. Adj
ans for drawback; il was accompanied with
power OF attorney and an affidavit that She was
the owner OF the property; the claim was col
tected. subsequently witness discovered the
claim was based on misrepresentation, and he
returned the money to Fitch, Fox & Brown,
who We're the attorneys for the estate OF Mary
{. Adams, the latter being deceased. Witnessed
was questioned touching drawback which had
been issued in the name OF Samuel L. Davis.
tie did not KNOW that the Davis drawback was
forgery; witness named several cases where
demands had been made upon him to pay back
the amount OF drawbacks which had been OBJ
lalneu IN an irregular manner. Treasurer Gil
hllan in one case demanded a refund and the
District commissioners in one case. Witness
bought from William TrOXafl drawbacks issued
In the name OF Samuel L. Davis in August last:
every certificate is under a cloud witness pur-
chased from TrOXall
Witness gave the following as the full list of
drawbacks he purchased from Troxall:-Wm.
Gibson, Mrs. NJ. C. Hernden, James w. Handy.
Seth Schtll, ThoS. Green, j. \. A. Ockerhausen,
s. ThOs. Brown, Ellen Deeble, w. II. Tenney,
J. w. Deener, |. E. Thomas. r. J. D0Dbins,
Jesse Pitcher, w. II. Morrill,, D. E. w. Carter,
T. Staub, Catherine Staub, Mary Fechter. w. A.
Johnston, Mary G. Adams, w. III. Cooley, Charles
l.. Davis William Russell VIM. Wheatley Geo
kOhler and S. A. johnson.
The committee, at IL o'clock adjourned until
tomorrow,