Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-08
THE CUSTOM HOUSE SENSATION

flying bricks.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE SENSATION.
A New Phase of the COlIectOrship Case
Interview With Mr.. Beckett-What
He Says About the Shotgun.
There was new phase in the custom
house sensation yesterday, and another
feature of the case was developed. The
denial by United States District
Attorney Darnell that he took a
shotgun to his office Wednesday morning,
and that he ever threatened to shoot
| Collector Pleasant created brief excite
ment, inasmuch as it was currently
rumored that responsible parties had seen
| the attorney go up the custom house steps
with gun his hands. The purpose for
which it was to be used, however, was
| unknown.
In order to obtain complete history
of the affair, a MORNING NEWS reporter
| called upon Mr.. Beckett, to whom refer
ence was made in the interview with Mr..
Darnell, printed in yesterdays paper. Mr..
Beckett willingly assented to. an inter-
| view, and in reply to the questions
/ ''You have read the interview with Mr..
Darnell in the MORNING NEwS?' said
''Yes, sir"
"Have you anything to say in reference
| to the statements made in regard to Col
| lectOr PleasantY' was asked.
81 have this to state: Ihave been acting
| as an attorney in the matter of Peasants
| bond; l have searched the records of the
| Clerk of the Superior Court to ascertain
the worth Of his bOndsmen. The results of
my labors in that respect are embodied in
| the certificates of the Clerk of the Supe-
| riOr Court and of the various county Off
! w Inf 10 fn fox
| able property. The certificates of the Su-
| periOr Court Clerk were made after a
| thorough verit1catiOn of the results of my
! labOrs, by his deputy and other clerks at
| tached to his office. These statements
! show that Peasants bOndsmen residing
in this county are worth fully $150,000
| over all their debts and liabilities. | have
taken no part in any personal quarrels
between Mr.. Darnell and Collector Pleas
| ant. My only duties in the premises were
purely of a professional character"
''Did Mr.. Darnell state to you that he
would shoot Collector Pleasant and clear
out his entire office?'
''NOt in those words. He said if the
id villains made any charge against
his personal integrity, that he would get
his shot gun and put load of shot into
them. He did not mention Pleasant by
name.'
"DO you believe he referred to Pleas
ant in making that statement!'
''NO doubt of it-either Pleasant or his
deputy. Mr.. Darnell was very angry
upon that occasion, and his memory is
probably at fault as to some things he did
say. l remarked to him that presumed
whatever charges, if any, Pleasant made
would be made officially, and their truth
or falsity could be easily demonstrated.
He replied that he would not meet such
charges officially. He would meet them
as Darnell first, and put load of shot
into the Cd id scoundrels.''
''Have you anything to say in reference
to the charge that you visited perhaps
every office in the custom house to obtain
information detrimental to Mr.. Darnell to
be conveyed to Peasants friends?"
''That is not true. | made no inquiries
at all concerning Mr.. Darnell. That is
not part of my business, There was in
formation volunteered to me, which was
simply in reference to what Pleasant al
ready knew"
''What about the shot gun?''
"lf you wish to ascertain the facts
about the shotgun 90 to Magistrate Mo-
lima, j. j. Abrams, Esq, Mr.. Besselieu.
at &. Z. Stultz's store, and Mr.. John A.
GoeUte, who saw Mr.. Darnell get off the
street ears, at the custom house, with
gun in his hands, which he carried into the
building. do not know whether it was
shotgun or a rifle, but these gentlemen
can probably tell you if you wish the
information, | have no personal knowI-
edge of that matter"
"Mr. Darnell, / understand. stated TO
you that he should protect his personal
character if it took shOtguns to do it?''
she did not use those words, but he
said repeatedly that he would put a load
of shot into them, evidently referring to
the parties in the Revenue Collectors
office, If they assailed either his official or
personal hOh0r.n
''What was your connection a.
caseF' with the
all Wos ~ ~ 4"" el witt, Mr. DarnelI at
torpA~ .egularly employed as an at
y by Pleasant, and did my duty as
faithfully as L could. My whole object
was to demonstrate that Peasants bond
was one against which no reasonable OBJ
lection could be urged. l was impressed
with the belief that this had been fully
demonstrated to the satisfaction of any
fair-minded man. Mr.. DarnelI in the
exercise of his judgment saw fit to disap-
prove the bond. 1t is not for me to ques-
tion his motives in doing so.''
"On what grounds do you understand
that Mr.. Darnell refused to approve the
bondT'
81 was not aware that he had absolute
ly disapproved the bond until after its ac-
ceptance by Judge McCay. | do not
deem 1t proper to give my opinion as to
his reasons. He acted in a semi-iudicial
capacity and it would be unbecoming in
me to question the integrity of his mo-
tives.''
"You are charged, | understand, with
attempting to produce misunderstanding
and bad feeling between Mr.. Darnen and
Peasants friendsT'
''lf it is demonstrated that Mr. Darnell
is mistaken as to having brought a gun to
his office Wednesday morning, it NAV
easily be inferred that he may be mistaken
as to other facts. / have not sought to
produce any misunderstanding between
Mr.. Darnell and Peasants friends. l
have nothing against Mr.. DarnelI,
personally, and as | have already stated,
my duties were of a strictly professional
character, although / do not hesitate to
say that my personal sympathies are with
the man who used every eXerti0n to pro-
cure bond, and who, in my Judgment,
succeeding in giving one with sureties as
solvent as those of any other Federal Off
cial in Georgia. | have nothing to con-
ceal. | am an lrishman and am gifted
with an Irishman's love of fair play.
Although, perhaps, my sympathies may
be unduly enlisted in favor of the man
underneath
AS to MIR. DarnelPs personal references
to Mr.. Beckett, he said:
81 have lived in Savannah over eighteen
years; my personal and officials reputa-
tions are established, and l can afford to
allow any slurs thrown out by Mr.. Oar
hell to go unanswered. While my pOliti-
cal relations have not always been in ac-
cord with the majority of the people here,
doubt whether any one can be found who
will assert that my course has been other
than that of an honorable man."
The reporter called upon Magistrate
Molina, who, on being asked what he
knew about the shotgun matter, said /.
'All can say is, saw Mr.. DarneH get
off the car in front of the custom house
Wednesday morning and go toward the
building with gun in his hand. don't
know whether it was shotgun or not. j.
j. Abrams was with me and / called
his attention to the matter"
Mr.. GOette stated that he saw Mr..
Darnell carry gun up the steps of the
custom house about O'clock that MORN
ing.
Dr. W. G. Houser, of Wadley, also
stated that he was sitting upon the Gus
tom house steps with Mr.. s. L. Peterson
and saw Mr.. Darnell go into the building
with Spencer rife.