New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-11
COLLECTOR HOUGHTONS CASE.
THE DEFENDANT EXPLAINS his ACTION AND CON
TRADICTs GOVERNMENT TESTIMONY.

| THE DEFENDANT EXPLAINS his ACTION AND CON-
TRADICrs GOVERNMENT TESTIMONY.
| TRENTON, n. j., Oct. 10.-In the United
States Court this morning the trial OF c. HOughtOn
ch lrged with rendering false returns to the Government
rs Collector OF the Port of Perth AmbOy was resumed.
The examination Of Hou9htOn himself was continued.
He denied that said the detectives that the signing
Of the rolls was oversight. He said he promised
by the detectives that he should have an
opportunity to make statement, and had never said
that he could not explain the alleged inaccuracies 1t
was the practice of the office charge the incdon
expenses to the boat account. There specific
orders as to this matter; 1t the custom and
known 10 the Department. He had authority from
Washington to employ temporary boatmen.
An order from Washington read to the effect that
II WAS not necessary have the adavits OF temporary
boatmen to their accounts The Deputy Collector, the
witness sad in the habit Of opening the correspond
epce The disbursement of public funds 10 meet Incl
dental expenses was sanctioned by the Department.
No a,ch conversation az detailed by Smith In which lie
stated that upon his obiectnS to making ont the rolls
witness told him to make them our, that he the
head of the Office and alone responsibility to ok
place Ii was preposterous He never said that he was
entitled To all the 6dmeasurenen fees and never pro
posed divide them. From June, 1881 TO june 1882,
300 bills OF sale drawn. There nothing in the
case preventing the Collector from drawing these bills
and now President OF the State College OF Pennsy vana
was sworn. lie explained now he came to go 70 Perth
Amboy IN May IL was al request OF Colonel Hough
tom who Lad told him that the affairs of the office a.
perth Amboy were be investigated. He was present
when Mr. Chalker told Colonel H0ughton, after an ex-
planation the statement that OF the payrols
Ia Houghton's writing take IL all back" Referring
10 the charge that the Colonel had made out of these
rolls witness had heard Smith say at that time that he
had all the payols according 10 the orders OF
Colonel HOughton, and then Colonel HoughtOn said
have never instructed you 10 DO anything Of the
kind" Colonel Houghton also said at the time that he
never had divided certain fees with Smith. Witness
heard HoughtOn say distinctly that the fees legal
no entitled TO the whole; II not legal he could not
have any witness stated that he heard Colonel Houg
ton tell Mr. Chakcr Frazer. the detective, at the
examination, that the allowance made TO Hopper was
not addition his salary but to mis- necessary
expenses In taking charge Of the boats and going aud
down the district.
Colonel Houghton was recalled and continued his
testimony lie positively denied the statement made by
Emmons in regard 10 moneys paid by him witnessl. He
testified calling Smiths attention IN August $40, 10
certain irregularities In the eash-book. letter from
smith read, admitting the made and humbly
asking HOughton TO overlook all these errors and
promising that nothing OF the kind should
again. Another instance was stated wherein Smith
collected illegal fees for admeasGI and told Of
the illegaty Of the matter by Houghton who advised
him TO refund It.