Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-03-03
sUrLER' 5 ANSWER.
4 PITY Reply 20 the Charge OF Being :
DSfauitSr.


BosE0S, Aareb 2-ihe Publication u !
ietIeE from Gen. koseersns setting forth that
discrepancies were found IA Gen. halter.
soidiers' hoine accounts amounting to 0,eI
S10o.0o0. has bFoa-hi oat sharp reply fron
8stler. a. follosss
LOWELL. Mass, March. lss5 -GEN. ~. 5.
RoskckkSs, CHAIsAAN CoATSiTIEK OS Mn
fEAK1 AFFAlks, hoUsk or REPRESENTA- 1Ef ~.
MAsuISGrON. u. g.: 1 acknowledge the re-
eelpt of gOOrs Of yesterday, showing certain
supposed discrepancies IN my accounts
a. actiug treasurer Of the National III me,
and aB@Wefed Il. saying that 4 have no
papers but what l supposed 10 be daph-
caieS OF allat acre fleJ al ashin gtOn. VII
telegraph you to-aignt' Aean-
time / have recelyed yOaFs stating that the
error, which your accountant claimed was ia
les2, was, ~ fact. IA iosl, aud
Was preparing 10 make tie examination 10
show where i the mistake. had got - far
TO mud where there was an apparent error
made against me tai- time IA your statement
ia single Transaction of betwoen $4,000
aud So O1Ds when IN Sunday morning
newspaper | ind that the records of
your committee are telegraphed a. special
matter To lournd which have had occas-
ION 10 sue for hbe.. and into whose hands, II
would seem 10 the public, the committee
were playing and exhibiting their records,
when they were MOI complete, a. If attempt
ing 10 charge with wrong doing one of whom
they say there seems TO be no evidence of
wrong. and that II Is probable that the mat
tiers IN dispute may be explainable, as charges
equal in amount in the same accounts have
been already explained.
do not believe, General, that this great
wrong has been done me by your suggestion
or with your knowledge, because / am an
older. bat not a better soldier, and am Ger
tain brother soldier would not willingly
permit the honor of comrade TO be tar
nished until II became matter OF absolute
necessity. or would lend himself ia any way
TO circulate charges against Il brother
soldier through the newspapers, founded or
unfounded, until judicial determination had
settled the question Of guilt or innocence
Since the matter has gone 10 the public from
your committee-room | have no interest
whether this matter goes into your com
mittee's report or not. and should take
no further steps, If time permitted me
me do 10 so, which | told you il did not, 10
vindicate myself or my associates of the late
board of managers; because, if. as you claim,
these errors are apparent upon the face of
the reports, il was rs gross negligence for
the auditing committee of the board of man
ayers TO permit such errors 10 exist as for
me 10 make them. The National Home for
disabled soldiers, being "a corporate body,
all these matters can be fully carefully. con-
scientiousiy, and without interference of
newspaper reporters Investigated. | have
the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
BENJAMIN L. BUrLEB.
Il. 81 know that you will redeem your
promise and allow my answer to 90 with the
report of the committee. B. F.B.
This charge against Ben Butler has been
made AT intervals during the last six years,
and he has also been Intercepted about it
by a committee of Congress. He then said
that he deposited the money with his private
funds and could not distinguish il. He has
always said whenever referred TO on the
subject that he would draw n check
for whatever sum was found wanting.
Discussing the matter Sunday he said: 81
am not going to be put in the position of
man working without pay for fourteen years
IN taking charge of property to the extent of
many millions. ana then heid responsible
nine years after for mistakes in accounts. if
any there be. The courts of Justice are
open, and | don't propose TO permanently
leave tins neighborhood until l try one or two
lawsuits"
WASHINGTON CITY, March 2-Gen. Slocum
says with reference to the charges against
Butler that an apparent discrepancy exists,
but as far as he knows there is nothing that
Gen. Butler cannot explain at the proper