The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-07-16

Will L - ~ ~ > 9AAAs
How General Garfield Appears
I'm Court.
g<- rs-l S4n-
George u. Chitfenden vas the agent
" lobbyist who procured for DeGoiyer
< Mcclellan. Of Chicago. their contract
% Isv wooden pavemenfs in the streets
,f Washington The payements were
rotten. but the profits were enormous
Or these profits Chittenien claimed IS
per cent. or about Si00OO- for his
share in the Job But DeGoIyer x Nc
cIellsn. who had cheerfully paid James
A. Garfield hiS fee Of 5.D11 refused
To pay the larger sum demanded by the
agent. and Chirtenden brought suit
against them in the Cook coun'v courts
The contractors did not dispute Chit
renden'- services. Through their counsel
ex-senator DooIitfle- they set up . Pc
rnlisr defense-ti.<t Ghifiendens claim
Was void and against public policy he
cause he had obtained the contrart BY
improper influences. having bribed GAR
field. the chairman on appropriations
The payment OF $500 70 Garfield. IL
was held was not for -fhe arguments Of
szid Garfield n LAWYER. but for his in
finence as . member OF congress having
power over th1 appropriations to DC
made
The plaintiff. Chifenien. through his
c0uuseI- Emory A. StorFs. demurred TO
these pleas. The defendants Joined in
the demurrer. and on May ~. 1875 ex-
senator poolirrie submitted the follow
ing points to Judge Fzrwell, Of the
Cook county circuit court.
The pleas are good They set out IN
Substsnce thai the contrsct was oofiin-
ed by the plaintiff Of the board Of public
works Of the District by Improper IN
fiuences that fhe contract was ia part
Ito the amount Of 5OOJ1 square yards
upon its face. contingent upon . IN
rure appropriation 10 he made by con-
xress: that the plaintiff employed James
A. Garfield. then being = member ol
congress and chairman ON sppropriA-
tions OF he house Of representatives.
agreeing 70 pay him contingent Zee o
5000. provided he would obtain tn
-aii contrarf Of fhe board of public
work rhsi by his influence and per~ua
SION h siit procure the ssme- for which
fse received the sum Of 5000 that ~
r-rwlr.l bill wss reported from tn
~om nirtee or which he was chairman
and dIi PASS rhe house. and pass con
rreSs ani become = law sppropriafin-
rhe sum Of On l2sl 90 ont " which m
fssvmemf under ssii contract cnnit b
raid for Nv slid bnsri ~ rn''iir s1rk~
rsast the pliinfid ani the defendant ans
rlse saitl fairfield anil the member~ o
aid board of pnblir works well knew >
the time ofhiS said employment. aud .
.he ti,n. cfhi~ service ~ procuring ssis
contract that -sii a. lrfi Id from his Of
ficiaI position. did anil would have 20
tent Influence in procuring the psssag
. Df such appropriation 70 carry said con
tract into effect by said board OF publ
works and that bv means Of the prem
ICES the said c0nfrlrt was. IN fari. obtain
: ei by improper influences l.gainst publi
: policy and j. void
It.i- No sufficient answer 10 say th1
\ Garlieli was II the same time . membc
!. Of the legal profession Ills being
member Of congress n the same time
r any ers ployment ss counsel upon con
u rinrenr fee. or otherwise. To obtain
N contrxrf from board Of pnb.ic officers
J. dependent upon the future action
! congress to fulfill. j. against public POI
q icy and void
r. That the plaintiff Chi;fenden We
knew and intended that the influence
General Garfield, n member ~ cof
rress. vasf 20 be used In procuring IN
contract. rather than his Arguments -
Y counselor Al law is evident from NJ
letter 20 the defendants. set out IN the
<peciaI pea. in which he says. -Ih
influence OF General Garfield hss bee
e secured by Yesterday last night and 4
d.x'S rabars He rsrries the purse I
she United States the chairman 81 q
committee on zprro7ristionS-and
: the a rDngesf m1n in congress aud vii
& our friend NV de,uani J. to-day. ~
N less than one hundred thousard more
~ two hundred in all Everything =
r. the Ee-f shape. the connections compile
D. and have rrason- 90 believe. ssti~far
- ory. can hardly realize n
= We have General t.artield with NJ u
a rsre. and very gratifying All the a
n preparations VI the district come fro'
~ him
e Jaslre Tarwcli overruleh the demu
rer -n-tainei the pleas. AMI held that y
~ rnosr.rt va against public policy =,
~ voiI. because Il h2i been corruptiy o
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