The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-14
THE FRENCH INVESTIGATION
Evidence in Support Of the Charge Of
Erench's Cruelty to His Men.
Clerks Compelled to Work When Members
of Their Families We're Sick OF Dying
Some Damaging Testimony.

ton OIL witnesses. Inc ufSG WlUneSS Ctll0u was
George W. Smith, of Lebanon, painter by
trade, who was in the railway mail service from
October 2l. 1873, until June "a, 1873. He testi-
fed that he was subjected to a number of petty
annoyances and exactions, having their origin in
his carrying pouch with brass loek-tor
which he did not have the key, and which should
have beer opened in this city-through to Gin
cinnati. The matter was reported to Washing
ton by Chris Werrick, who said it was no mat
ter Of his, but by Mr.. Frenchs order. There
was quite a squabbe about it, and Congressman
Cason, who attempted to have the witness right
ed, finally said he could do nothing unless he
had more support. Senator Morton was then
informed of the facts, who said he would not see
Indiana SOLDIER imposed upon in such triding
matters. He did attend to it, and there
was no further trouble about it. After
that French and witness met, and
French said to witness: ''You came out
successful" to which witness replied Eyes,
with the backing had l got out all right"
Witness told French 'as long as Governor Nor
ton is above ground don't expect to be imposed
upon" He testified that in February, 1879 his
wife was taken dangerously sick and he wrote to
French telling him that if she grew he
would have to lay off few days. French re
piled that he must continue his run until he
relieved him. No answer was vouchsafed to
this request and his wife growing worse he left
the car in the middle of his run. When the
witness was asked by the commission if he was
punished for doing so he said that he was dis
missed the service in 1873 Previous to this
dismissal his path made rough in several
ways He was assigned to run where he was
further away from his family and received less
salary He said that eight to twelve men, all
formerly soldiers, himself among them, were dis
charged, soon after Senator Morten's death, to
make way for younger men, favorites of French.
He was given reason for his discharge, but
was simply ordered by French to give up his
keys. He was injured once by an accident at
Chicago and his pay was deducted during the
time he was unable to make his run.
49, The witness was recalled in the afternoon and
gave the following as the names of the soldiers
whose discharge closely followed Senator Nor
TONS DEATH j. b. Gettes, Frank K. Jellefe
Rice, on the c., L. & c.; Wicker W. T. Foster,
Conrad Gehring Louis Kern, John Baker, w. S.
Young, Harry Phillips Gee w Smith (himself)
and Hooker, of the Vandalia. Three of these
have been reinstated-Jelleffe Baker and Kern. }
MEN COMPELLED TO WORK.
W. H. Phillips, of this city, testified that he
was in the postal service four years. his first run
being between Kankakee and Cincinnati. His
children were sick with scarlet fever and asked
French to allow him permission to leave his run
He was refused, as there was one to relieve
him. He made his run, and when he returned
home his little boz was dead Afterwards his
father-in-law died, and he was "docked" half a
months pay for staying at homo to bury him.
At this same time Mr. Story, one Of Freneh's IA
who Ilefa a H.
ern route to Frenchs division, and who had been
hunting and fishing in Northern Miehi-
gan for three months drew full pay
for all the time he was absent.
Mr.. Milestone, the paymaster, expressed his in
dignaton and told witness that he thought it
was an outrage. He corroborated Smiths state
ment about the discharge of old soldiers after
Senator MortOns death. lie was discharged
without being given any reason therefor, and
the men appointed to fill the vacancies were
mostly young some Of them boys.
In the afternoon DR.. VIM. H. Wishard, the
WE'LL known physician, formerly coroner, was
examined. He said have practiced medicine
for forty four years. In June 1882, called
to see VIM. Glossbrenner, in this city. ! asked
him his occupation. He told me he was in
the mail serviee-run from Indianapolis to
Jacksonville, [ found him very nervous
and unable to sleep-a condition of nervous
pFostration. I tried to give him rest by bromides
aud hydrate of chloral, and partially succeeded
He was called out again on the road. On his
Found him worse. l tried to get him permission
to lay over. He was so nearly insane that an
other physician called in by me decided with me
that it was not safe to leave him with his family
We made out the case of insanity but did not
send him. He improved, and gradually got bet
ter After he gave ne history of the amount
of labor he did and his loss of sleep, L advised
him to have the authorities throw off at least
onethird of his work My conclusion at the time
was that he was overworked, and that no man
could safely do the amount of work that he did
Question by c. Jay French-Did he say that
this work was imposed by my direct orders?
Answer asked why he did it, and he said the
authorities required it.
By Mr.. French-Did you say he was running
on the day train the night?
Answer think he said he was running on
both day and night, overlapping in some way.
Mr.. BoYD's GRIEVANCES
ID. NJ. Bradbury appeared as attorney for VIM
l.. Boyd and asked leave to read a statement
by that gentleman As Mr.. Boyd was present
the court refused to allow Mr. Bradbury to read
the paper and the witness was sworn and put
upon the stand. As the written statement en-
bodies all the points of his testimony, and is
more concise, the reporter reproduces it here
Gentlemen of the Commissions My first commission
In the mail railway service dated April % 1878
upon the receipt of which entered the service at
DOC. The commission named $500 as the salary with
an accompanying order, however increasing the pay
70 tne sum OF pl.Oo0. On thus ran SIX months. On
October %, 1878, was again commissioned for a
period of six months, at a salary of 81 600. On
March 25 1879, was regularly commissioned. This
commission was sent to French see letter of Mr.
Thomas NJ. Browne, dated April IA, 1879. This
commission withheld, as hereinafter stated April
81 1879, was again commissioned; this time for
three months al the same rate, 81 600 On July II ,
1879, was commissioned for six months &c this
period the department at Washington reported my
examination satisfactory, shown by the letter Of
Hon. Thomas M. Browne dated Aug. II, 1879
The complaint make is this: That with a salts
factory esse examination and record and with the
report to my representative in Congress by the de-
partnent officers that was entitled to a regular
mission st ralary of 81, $50. was, by the with
holding Of my commission by Mr. French kept on
salary of 5000 for period of about eighteen months
may add that, in common with about all the other
men under Mr.. French regard his treatment of the
harsh and tyrannical, imposing fines where
unnecessary and refusing to hear explanations from
injured pa3,fies VIM l., RoYD