The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-11-17
SLIPPERY JOHN.
And the treasury Custedtan
CfOOkedn01S.

Cf00kedness.
The Washington Sunday Gazette Of
the 9th inst. published what purperts
to be portion of the testimony given
by w. Paul Brown before the csm.
mittse appointed by Secretary Win
dom to investigate the mstods Of dis
bursing the contingent fund Of the
Treasury Department. Mr.. Brown
was employed in tho cabinet shop OF
the Treasury Department, and swore
that he was detailed by Frank Hessler
the Superintendent, to perform Ger.
tain labor on dwelling house recent
ly constructed by Secretary Shermas,
and now occupied by him. Mr.. Brown
submitted the following memoranda
~ part of his testimony before the
committee:
Work done by me. w. Paul Brown,
in Government time and paid for by
the Government, while employed in
the United States Treasury Depart.
ment, by order Of Mr.. Frank Hesslsr.
Making SIX large dosrs for Secreta-
~ Sherman, charged to Second Az.
June Is and IA, 1s7s-Workinx ON
Secretary Shernan's stables; charged
to Organization Divisien.
July II, 1878-Werking on Sscre-
tary Sherman's stables; charged to
Registers Office.
Aug. 29,1S7S-Wsrking two Gig hths
Of day On Secretary Sherman's house
and 20 feet Of sash cord; charged to
Bureau Of Statistics. Working FIVE.
eights OF day on Secretary Sherman's 9
house; charged to Registers office.
Working hve.sights Of day on Sec
rstsry Shernaa's stable; charged to
Rsgistsr's Office.
Sept, l8, 1878-Working six. tbs
of . day On Secretary Sherman's sta
BILE; charged to National Bank Re-
demptisn Agency.
Sept Is, 8,187S-Working four -eighths
of q day ON Secretary Sherman's sta
BILE; charged to Marine Hospital.
Oct.31 1S7S-Workiag three. eighths
honse; charged to Registers fle-
,oom.
Nov. 9,1S78-Working three. sighths
of a day At Secretary Shermans house ;
charged to making drawing boards
for Supervising Architects Office.
Jan. IL, 1879-Workipg ene-eighth
Of day on Secretary Sherman's sta.
ble, repairing down spout charged
to National Bank Redemption Agen-
cy.
June 8, 1879-Making and fitting
fly screens fer stable windows and
doors: charged to National Bank Re-
demption Agency.
June 6, 1S79-Working four.eig hths
Of day repairing doors for manure
pits tor Secretary Sherman charged
to Marine Hospital.
Brown also swore he had done work
on Sherman's house while employed
in the Treasury Department, in addi.
ton to that above described, of which
he kept NO record. Whom the report
of the Treasury Investigating Com.
mittee was called for by the Senate, 9
melton to include tho testimony or
which the report was based, was De.
feated on the ground that it consisted
mainly Of newspaper reports and
statements not made under oath. Ths
testimony is not Of this character, but
On the contrary, was all given under
oath. The committee fully expected
10 proceed with the inquiry, and were
surprised to learn that their unfinish
ed labsrs had been brought summari
ly to q close. So much has been said
about the character Of the testimony
taken by the committee, that it 10 like
ly another effort will be made when
Congress assemblies to secure it's pub.
LEGATION, and it is altogether likely
that the investigation will be continu
ed by q committee of the House Of
Representatives. Mr.. Pitney, who
was the Custodian of the Treasury
building, and who was discharged in
consequence Of the revelations made
before the Investigating committee
alleges that he acted under the orders
Of his superior officers, and that he
has been sacrificed to screen them
He also alleges that he possesses doc
umentary and other evidence that will
clear him and place the responsibility
for irregularities where it properly
belongs.
This testimony is rather rough and
damaging to the late Secretary, as j,
shows why he was 90 very anxious to
have the report Of the Pitnsy frauds
made public with the testimony sup.
pressed. Senator Sherman having
denied the statements made by Brown,
the latter returns to the charge with
another statement in which he de.
clarss that he did the work mentioned
in his former statement, and that his
testimony Wss taken BY the Pitney