The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-13
CHAIRMAN BROWN
Doesn't Think He Endorsed Dunton
But Isn't Sure.

To correspondent of the Boston Herald,
Chairman S. S. Brown on Tuesday made the
following statement:
'TYou may say that the first now recollect of
hearing or learning anything about the Dunton
matters was when saw the statement in the pa
pers that he had been appointed postmaster at
Lncolnville Centre while he was in Jail. l at
once looked upon my list, which l brought home
with me from Washington of the candidates had
presented to Mr.. Stevenson for appointment, for
the purpose of ascertaining whether L had rec
commended any such appointment. l found upon
my list no such name. l did find on my list the
name of f. NJ Dunton at Montyile Centre, and
supposed the two names became confonded in
the public mind and the papers didn't know what
they were talking about | will add that intend
ed 10 put upon this list all the names that | pre-
Senteu for appointment and when left Washing
ton supposed that list contained all the appoint
ments mad presented Learning later from the
such an appointment had been made wrote at
once to Mr.. Stevenson substantially what L have
now stated informed him that had no recol-
lection OF the case; that regretted the occur
renee, but did not regard myself responsible
for it. In about "a hours after had sent my let
tel to Mr. Stevenson received letter from him
notifying me Of the appointment and calling my
attention to what the papers are saying and ask
ing me to investigate the matter and let him
know what the facts of the case were. replied
to his letter, giving such further information as
had learned up to that time. have written him
again today Mr.. Steyenson's letter referred to is
dated Aug. s. and i'll it he says that MIR. Dunton
was appointed postmaster at Lincolnville Centre
on the 18th ult upon the recommendation of your
self and others. 1 saw one or two men from Wal
do county the day on which received the letter
and learned from them that Mr.. Dunten was GER
tany in jail i'll Portland for some offence connected
with the post offices that his petition and indOrSe-
mentS were obtained while he was in good standing
in the community My method in presenting
cases for appointments to Mr.. Stevenson while
was in Washington, was to examine such papers
as people wrote to me- and such as related to per-
sons whom was acquainted with, and, from my
knowledge OF the persons who recommended the
various appointments and my personal knowledge
of the applicant, | decided in each case who the
proper person was to be appointed before | car
red the papers to Mr. Stevenson'S room. l do
not know what the papers in the Dunton case
show as to my action In the matter. presented
a great many papers to Mr.. Stevenson for appoint
ment which | did not indorSe in any way but
simply Statedto to him who should receive the ap-
pOintment, and he wrote that name on the papers
letters l received when in Washington, and
which brought home with me- and / ind among
those letters not one alluding in any way to the
Dunton case. From the fact that had no recol-
lection of the case and knew nothing of it when |
went to Washington and the fact that find no
mention of the case in the letters have it does
not seem as ii j presented the case. have no
doubt that Mr. Stevenson believes | presented
about the same time as other appointments
which did suggest. | know that other gentle
men from Maine were there at the same time and
presented other cases for appointment 1t is not
impossible L did present it, but If | did it was
because l found it properly recommended by
names in whom had confidence, 1t seems to me
that the persons seriously at fault are Mr. Dun
toms neighb0rS who signed his petition and failed
to inform the department or me of his crime.
propose to go to Washington in few days and
examine the DuntOn papers,