Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-21
But Gets Out Of an Ugly Scrape
Through Political Influence.
OTHER CASES OF MISFEASANCE.
Landl Decisions by the Secretary Of
the Interior.
WHITE HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS.
A Miscellaneous Budget Of Capital
Notes.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Brewster is being
severely criticised on account of discrimi-
nation in the prosecution of certain cases
under his control. 1t is charged that he
allowed political influence to put heavy
clogs upon the wheels of justice. A trust
worthy official gives the particulars of
three marked instances of undue favor
shown by the attorney general. Soon after
John Sherman was made secretary of the
treasury he had his nephew, John Sherman,
appointed United States marshal at Santa
Fe. n. NJ. This nephew. it appears, raised
the vouchers in his Office. and thereby mis-
appropriated government funds entrusted
to his keeping. In April of this year he
was indicted for these offenses, and
prosecution by the district
attorney ordered. Immediately after the
news of the Indictment was received here,
Senator John Sherman and Don Cameron
called at the department of justice and
secured a settlement in the case against
the Sherman nephew By agreeing to pay
the amount of money misappropriated.
The attorney general thereupon ordered
the cases to be discontinued. This is what
lawyers call compounding felony. It
was afterward discovered that the amount
paid by Sherman and Cameron only cov-
cred the sum called for in young Sher-
mans false vouchers. His accounts were
found to be crooked in other
particulars. so that the government
would incur loss. Young Sherman's
clerk, D. R. Osborne, who was
500 month, was unpaid. The furniture
in the marshal's office was of the most ex-
pensive character. When the new mar
shal, Morrison, came to take charge of the
Office, young Sherman claimed the furni-
ture was his own. He tried to use it in
payment of debt to the First National
bank in Santa Fe, but Osborne had gotten
in ahead on judgment for his salary be-
fore the furniture could be sold to satisfy
the judgment. The new marshal found
the furniture belonged to the government,
and so held it.
The second case was that of
Valentine Dell, who was ap-
marshal for the western district of Ar
kansas upon the recommendation of Carl
Schurz and John Sherman. He was ap-
pointed just after the Chicago convention
as a supposed reward for faithfulness to
Sherman. Dell was German, personal
friend of Schurz, and displaced Gen. Up
ham, one of the few officials in Arkansas
h
he went out of Office. Dell acted so conspi-
ciously when he had been in his place for
a short time, that his bondsmen refused
to act any longer, and new bondsmen had
to be found. Charges were soon preferred
against him for gross dishonesty. Gar
field just before he died, made
a memorandum to remove him and ap-
point in his place Judge Bates, of Arkan-
sas, former member of congress. Presi.
dent Arthur carried this out when he came
into Office. Col. John Love of the first
auditors Office, was sent down to examine
Delrs accounts. He recommended his in
'dictment and prosecution. He was indict-
ed upon charges of forgery and false
vouchers. His accounts were also con-
fused. Now, through Schurz's and Sher-
mans Interference, Dell's crime has been
compromised upon the payment of 81, 500,
although this does not begin to cover the
amount stolen. The order has also
gone forth from the attorney general
that the suspended accounts shall be set
tied up on this basis.
The third case is that of Internal Reve-
nue. Collector Pleasants, of Savannah. Ga.
This case will be called up in the senate to-
morrow, by Joe Brown, in a resolution of
inquiry. Pleasants is colored man. lie
secured Office upon the recommendation of
James Atkins, who was nominated for
United States district judge in Georgia
last year, and whose confirmation was
prevented by Senator Logan and others
upon the establishment of the fact that he
was deserter from the confederate
army. The senate thought deserter from
any army was not good material for a
judge. Atkins ran for congress this sum-
mer. He came to the collector to borrow
money for campaign expenses. He said
he would pay him after the election. Pleas
ants, having no money of his own, lent At
kins in all $1,000 of government money.
Recently the treasury Investigated this
transaction, found it true, and that there
was now deficit in the collectors accounts
of exactly $1,000. Atkins said it was do
mated and SO did not pay. Gen. Raum has
recommended the peremtory removal of the
collector, and his prosecution by the de.
partment of justice. Brewster has
taken no action in the matter, how
ever, because Inc United
States attorney in Georgia, Bisbee, is q
friend of Plasants, and he has asked the
attorney general to do nothing.
COMMISSIONER OF THE DISTRICT.
The probability is being strengthened
that there will be a contest over the con
firmatlon of j. Olmsteed, the president
nominee for the commissionership of the
District of Columbia. The opposition has
grown partially from letters sent the diff
ferent senators calling attention to the
Jact that Mr.Clmsteed was formerly con
nected with tEs celebrated real estate rirs