New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-28
SPECIAL AGENTS ACQUITTED.
CAprs BRACKET AND CHALKER GO FREE.
THE JURY DECIDE AT oScE-wHAT MR. DRAcKErr
CALLS PERSECUTION.

DECIDE Al ONNb-"HA' N'''
CALLS PERSECUTION
Ambrose III. Purdy made an entertaining
speech Yesterday to the jury in the trial OF Captains
Bracett and halker in the United states Circuit Court
He alluded to the misortuues that had arisen from the
suit OF Messrs. Lidell, Watson Girdwood against
Messrs Houston Jackson TO recover fee OF Soooo
paid to the defendants. The five persons named
with Captains Chslker and Bracket, Two OF
the witnesses on the trial. had all been
indicted and as far as could be Of hem was
guilty OF ANYTHING He considered all the trouble due to
the fact that ono member Of the firm thought the rec
paid was too largo He said that the only testimony
bearing the alleged bribery was that or one man VINO
said that the special agents told him that $3ooo had
come to the department when 1t acknowledged that
nearly that had been paid to the Govern
ment in settlement for alleged undervaluations
Assistant District-Attorney Foster called the
attention OF the jury TO the facts brought
ont in the evidence for the prosecution and Judge Bene
dict gave instructions to the law The Jury lett the
seats but Immediately returned They were unanimous
on the first ballot favor Of the acquitta OF both the
defendants. The ex-specal agents were Immediately
surrounded by group of jurymen and spectators who
congratulated them upon the result Of the trial
ait has been q persecution" said Captain Bracket to
TRIBUNE reporter from first 10 last, and only Ne
cause I have done my duty There never was public
officer who has worked consistently than To pro-
tect my reputation and during all my twentyseyen
wears of service this is the first time have
been accused II grew ont OF affair that
had as chief special agent with the firm of Watson
Grdwood linen importers, Of No 10 leonarl'sL ABOUT
two years received information that convinced me
that their impOrations being undetermined com
municated with Appraiser Keichum. and at my sugges
ton he detained large shipment that came for them by
the State OF Georgia in December 1888. ! held ire
goods can't identify lots according TO thelr
invoices after they have been delivered. These goods
were all examined by the appraiser AMI on the evidence
Of the trade generally they advanced about 10 per
cent An advance OF not moro than 10 per cent Is
legally regarded as m error without the presumption of
fraud But where goods advanced be-
yond that figure 30 per moro cent Is added
ma n penalty. This was done In the case OF watson
GrdwOod During the nine months thaI i H we
kept up the system Of espionage ana heir lhpor
tntiOns all decided 10 be UNDERMINED ahd were
si t socofed with Apprascr Keichnm in max
this inspection. In March, 1851 he made report 10
the Secretary the Treasury, which was forwarded 10y
me, OF results Of this Investigation 80 lar as u ha
then IN June Mr.. Grid wood called on me ana d
that he had paid large ices 10 Ms lawyers anu pr"htS
to protect his rights, aud asked me how much
OF this sum had gone to the Treasury De
partnent lie says this was not the queslOh ne pt 10
me- but know u was He says lie asked me now nuc
OF 1t went to the Treasury officials But even II ihis hn
been his language should have understood II prtcsey
did. As matter or course supposed he wanted to
know how much had been paid on account OF these al
vances by his representatives, 10 me
answered that didn't remember precisely but Thought
il was between 81 900 and $1,000. and turning To Cap
tain Chaker. asked MN ~ that WASH npont ooIrsc5
Chaker wered that he thought 20. but he added
Roger NJ. sherman, one 81 my lawyers
went 20 Washington and obtained from the
files OF the Treasury Department certified copies ot let
tiers written GirdwOOd the Secretary Of the
Treasury asking this same question that he hai put 10
me And the secretary reply "a him wa reference To
Collector Robertson or 10 me- This correspondence was
dated before his visit In June, showing that he
simply carrying the Instructions or the depart
ment the fiud out what lac wanted to know.
Now Nj. GirdwOOd charges that lie suspected that NY
admission that between 81 900 and 5000 had Teen
ceived by US meant that IL ha been corruptly
taken by myself aud Chatter. OF course the owl
dence dispOses that aspcsion and the verdict
nrus our innocence. Aud THAI absolutely all the
they had against me-
During the riots S63 and tho Quarantine riot Of
1864 Captain Bracket captain OF police stationed
city Hall His services In those exciting days Won
him promotion He remained on the force until lSbS,
when at the instance OF many the leading lire inNur
ance companies he became Fire Mtr-baL Two years
later lcslated OF this Office the passage 81
the Tweed Charter. In August, 1870 Collector
Grinnell appointed him Inspector ~
customs shortly after his appointment the remark
Mason discovered, and the confided
spectOr Bracket Millions ofimpOrte goods that had
vet paid duty lay warehouses. The merchants
them they required. Captain Brhckcts
his fni eman had accomplished these robberies by
from the warrro0us on sundays boxes OF silks
aud other valuable goods, and substituting In Their
places similarly shaped boxes OF little value. lie
made his report 10 Noah Davis then United
states District Attorney, aud Mason was In
found. In January 1871, largely reward Tor this
service Secretary Boutwell, made Captain Brackett
special agent OF the department In July 1876, when
Congress ordered the number ~ special agents reduced
from nfty.thrce twenty there were eight In New
York Seven dismissed and Captain Bracket was