Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-24
The District Investigation.

TESTIMONY TO-DAY.
The investigation of the charges made against
the District Commissioners by Treasurer Gilf1l-
Ian was resumed to-day by the House commit
tee on the District of Columbia.
Mr. Beall corrected testimony which he gave
yesterday by stating that taxes paid on per
cent certificates did not involve any loss 10 tne
Mr Alexander, through Mr. Aldrich, asked
Mr. Bean II he ever acted as an agent OF tne
stated that he acted in such capacity TO
the extent Of collecting amounts due on deeds
OF trust
husband In his lifetime owned property which
was assessed for special improvements; draw
back certificates were issued therefor. Witness
which had been issued to her husband and pur-
porting to contain his endorsement. Witness
said she did not think the endorsement was her
husbands; She @ would 9, not @ swear that the sg
she swear that it was her husbands signature,
though she thought it was not.
Mr.. BeaD was again recalled, and presented
such papers as he had in his possession touch.
ing the drawbacks issued MeSsrs. Grouse and
Lamb. Witness said that there were in his pos
session five or six cases OF drawbacks which are
known to be forgefes oqt that each Of them
ers. Witness called the attention of Mr.. Dick
son to the forged Grouse endorsement, but up
to this time no restitution had been made, nor
did witness know OF any steps that had been
taken to compel restitution. Witness was eX-
amined at length touching the books in his
office, and the manner In which they were kept,
&c, Witness explained that all the connections
he had with the First National Bank Of New
York was to advise that corporation when pay
ment was made OF assessments against property
upon which the bank held the tax lein certif1-
Gates.
Or. Grouse testified that he owned property
on Capitol Hill; had not paid the assessments
thereon, and has no recollection of ever receiv-
Mr.. Bealls office told witness that he was en-
titled to drawback. Witness signed transfer
of the claim for collection only, but had never
received any money on account thereof. Wit
ness called at Mr.. Beall'S Office and was told
that the matter was In doubt as to whether
witness was the proper person to receive the
drawback, inasmuch as the property was in litf-
cation. Witness knew Thomas Quinn; he was
employed at one time in Beall's Office. Witness
signed the transfer of his claim, he Thinks at
the request OF Thomas Quinn and young man
named Troxall. Witness further testified that
he never paid the assessment against his prop
perty, but that there was trustees sale of 1t
by one Hoffman, who may have paid the
assessment. The whole matter is still in litiga-
ton.
Mrs Snyder was recalled, and shown other
signatures alleged to be her husbands, but she
failed to positively identity them as such; If the
signatures were her late husbands, they were
certainly signed Under the influence of liquor,
and in such way that witness failed to recog-
Mr.. Beail was again recalled, and testified that
no effort had ever been made within his knowl-
edge to get back any amounts paid on forged
certificates.
w. o. Roome was recalled, and questioned
concerning the Grouse and Lamb forgerfes. He
said that two subOrdinates in his Office, who have
been dismissed, were, in his judgment, respon-
sible for both transactions and that one of these
clerks was now under Indictment. Witness said
the letters which he wrote upon which the
Grouse and Lamb assessments had been paid
had been abstracted from the files, and that
singularly enough, witnesses messenger failed
to copy hem in his letter-preSs book; the mes
seDger had access to witneSSeSs papers at all
hours of the day and night.
At - O'Clock the committee adjourned until
Friday next.
THE FOLLOWING LETTER
addressed to the committee was filed with
Chairman HuntOn:-Geatlenlen: Having exer-
ctsed my constitutional right as citizen Of the
United States in petitionfng the House of Rep
resentatives, and my petition having been re-
ferred to this honorable committee. desire to
be informed at your earliest convenience
whether opportunity will be afforded me to
offer proofs in support of the charges have
made in my petition, before the close Of the
pending investigation into District affairs.
likewise deem 1t my duty to advise your honor
able committee that have important facts in
my possession clearly contradicting the state
ments of certain witnesses already examined.
Yours respectfully, COLUMBUS ALEXANDER.