New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-29
REMOVAL OF MISS CHRISTIE.
NO FOUNDATION FOR CHARGES OF FRAUD.
ALL THE FACTS REGARDING THE CONTRACT MADE
BY HER FATHER.

TO the Edftor or The Trt0ure.
SIR: In recent issue of The Ne,p- York
Times there appeared o dispatch from Washington de-
signed to justify the removal OF Miss s. l. Christie from
the Nyack Post Office. This dispatch alleges gross
fraud upon the Government by my deceased father,
A. L. Christie, and guilty completely the part or his
assistant Miss Christie who his successor in the
Nyack Post ONCE, in Folyng loss TO the Post Office De-
partment of $1,000 for which the Postmaser-Gen-
eral-misled by false statements and perverted facts
has made formal demand upon me as executor OF my
fathers estate. The good name or father needs no
vndication here Nyack where nc lived respected and
honored of integrity for nearly half century,
and died regretted by all who knew him. bnt such wide
publicity has been given this charge against him and
his daughter that beg space in TIE TRIBUNE to set
forth the facts upon which this false and infamous
charge made From these facts it will be that
what is made TO appear crime was most unselhsh
and praseworhy effort OF Postmaster Christie to give
Nyao better and much needed improvement OF the de-
fective mail services.
In 1865 Nyack had only an outgoing mail at $3.50
and an incoming mail at 6:30p M, which went by
stage and from Piermont and by the Northern Rail
road to and from NewYork city, Considering the size
and business of the place and its nearness TO New-fork
this felt by the postmaster and by tho citizens OF
Nyack to meagre mail service Several OF the
leading citizens. among whom are now remembered
Though there Others whose names cannot now he
recalled william Voorhis d. l. Rlauyelt president OF
tho Rockland County Bank; and the Rev. l." d. Mans
field president OF the Rockand County Institute, who
joined with the postmaster in request to the Post Office
Department that appropriation be made for the mos
senger service TO moro mail each way daily
This request was cheerfuly granted and tho annual
allowance limited to 500. The route by which this
mail service was to be secured was TO be left to the
discretion OF the postmaster the Post Oce authorities
only caring that the service be satisfactory to Nyack
and early mail could be received by the Northern
Railroad Mr. Christie decided to send and receive 1t by
ferry connecting with the Hudson River Railroad at
Tarrytown. This plan gave Nyack mail from New
York and from the North at m. and one to New
York and to the North late In the afternoon. This
arrangement great convenience To the business
OF Nyaek. IL should be noted that notwithstand
ing the inexpensive character OF this service-ony CD
cents a day-it carried nearly all the mail matter of
Nyack
The connection of Mr.. Coidington, about whom
said, with this service follows: For $500
the extreme limit of the Government-the postmaster
could get take the contract. The plan there
seemed likely to fail, when Mr. Christie mentioned
the difficulty to OF the Post Office officials in New
York city, and suggested that II Mr. Christie were
willing that the service performed Though not
eligible himself to take the contract being postmlser)
he might let some else take it, and 1t added:
That the way these things generally done" Mr.
Christie then asked neighbour Mr.. COddneton to take
the contract TO which he asserted upon condition that
Mr.. Christie swould him relieved from all care and
loss in the matter. Acting for Mr.. Coddngton. as II
agreed that he should, Mr.. Christie employed the
messengers and paid tbem and Mr.. CodlngtoD, being
the nominal contractor. signed the quarterly receipts
both while he lived Nyack and after his removal to
Brooklyn. During the winter when the Hudson was
frozen and connection with Tarrytown stopped
the extra malls sent by the Northern Railroad
daily to and from New York When the mails went by
TarrytOwn Mr.. Christie compelled to send mes
senger by ferry over the Hudson day pay his
fare TO carry mails from the boat and to and
from the trains all for the CD cents Though the ferry
company did insist the full fare 60 cents day
conducted at considerable loss. any
one must seq and many citizens who knew the cir
cIms,auces at the time well remember. The Northern
Rairoad-not then Obliged. 10 take the mails by
any traiawoud not take any responsibility OF the extra
moils. Mr.. Christie had TO get some railroad EN-
ploye look after these two extra mails and see Ia their
safe conveyance 10 and from the mail van a New-lOrk
Does any one believe that the United States Govern
ment was dcfraudcd by Mr. Christie who kept all this
machinery for cents dHy' 10 Is not GUS
tonary TO find fault with mail contractor II he makes
something on his contract Ought any 10 find fault
with n contractor OR. Christie. though not nOminaly'
was virtually responsible, who the Government
and tho public n personal loss. Mr.. Christie did
After completion Of the Northern Railroad 10 NYack
the mails were still sent ana received iOf years Oy the
way raytown. the hours were FAR more fayorable
New ork morning mails could he received O'Clock
Tut not until ii o'clock by the other line. The arrange
ment continued till 1879. when II ceased IL cost the
Government 5000 but Nj. Christie much more. The
arrangement stood years longer, but was not
awaited OF and not paid for THIS route To laryO~n has
and when her attention was called 70 .he nia,et ~ h1
interview with county mail contractor In whose way u
somehow 10 stand Miss Christie wrote tue letter
referred TO by the inspector proof OF soine fraud-u
ia difficult TO how or why ami 0ninended the
which has not been In operation for two years 10 any
honorable, fair minded man this transaction shows nom
Ing OF aud fraudulent Intent but rather nm o0lging
unsc,ish disposition on tue part or my iaer 10 serve
the public whose servant he was ana 80 iar rom recev
ing aud defamation at the hand OF ono OF MS
neizhbors and the Government. his devotion I" duty
should be applau aed and bis good name defended
exlgencleS
tnde honor: Because the democrats needed tne
tee OF which Dir. Humphrey, the new appontee.
Chairman 70 Fay on se 6ennc 1 y b"n
ored father and drive from the Nyack Post Oiice
his daughter who succeeded him and who bad more than
found it's way to Washington, supposed through ono
of the who recommended tie Government 10 grant
the appropriation for this much needed mail service and
who profted by it greater facilities for his own extern
wres the post office from rs present incumbent by Sian
derng both the living and the dead . 49,, .
Inspector Bradley. who came osensibly TO Nyack 10
ascertain If any fraud had been committed In the Iost
Office spent his time with the orgnaiors of this imam
Gus SANDER and gave Miss Christie hint that any
charge made against her and no opportunity 70 de-
fend herself or her deceased father aIhnst these
charges Tho only question OF any significance which he
asked Miss Christie was: Did YOU have fnl charge OF
the post Office when you were assistant p0slmas.sii
To which she answered: "No." Bat notwithstanding
this he declares In bis report that Mss Christie @11e
business. and was virtually postmaster As there nad
ton contract Miss Christie became postmaster 1t
for these consplrators to MAKE her re-
bradley disregarded her testimony and affirmed what
she had denied 49,,
IL should not DO overlooked that Inspector Bradley
puts the charge OF raud two distinct grounds which
pracica neutraizc each other 1) That tue Codding
ION contract fraudulent because he neither per
formed service nor received pay % tDat Mr. christie
agreed 10 transfer the mails from Tarrytown to Nyack
without expense TO the department. but nowIthstand-
ing this agreement he took pay which OF these frauds
Is The trDe raudf Both be the genuine Original
Jacobs" The first no frand. for TIE service pah
for was performed faithfully The second was no fraud
for no srch provision the part of Mr. Christie was
ever made. And Superintendent jackson. VINO was |
quoted as saying TO Inspector Bradley tha no enaree
Was to DO for the transfer Df the mail from iary
town. authorizes 10 say that he mstOos tue arrange
meut Mt Peekski for the one ut TAfrytown. o.,-,