Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-10-26
FAILED TO APPEAR.
Supervisor Of Elections Davenport Of
New York Not Present
Before Congressional Investigating Committee
The Outlines Of the Evideace.

NEw YORK, oct. s3.--John 1. Daven-
port, chief supervisor of elections. was alb
sent again from the meeting Of the special
Congressional committee appointed TO in
vesfigate him and his methods, held in the
post Office today.
Sergeant-at-Arms Coskley, who served
two subpoenas On MIR. Davenport, said he
had heard nothing of him since the meeting
last week.
Ex-United States Assistant District At
torney =. A. Walker testified that during
his term of office AS nited States attorney,
Mr. Davenport presented some accounts 10
him. He looked over the accounts enough
TO see so.ne things that he wished to ask
about and so toll Mr.. Davenport. The
latter urged tina; he ACT ON the accounts.
lie told Mr. Davenport that if be ~onid hN
a ia. in which TIM accounts coull be sub
nitteA to Judge Brown. he would he pres
ent anj make his inquiries into the accounts
in open court.
Mr. Dseen sand the witness, with
drew the accounts from his Office, and he
dill not hear of them again Witness said
that MIR. Davenport was in the habit of hav-
ing men arrested and held under exorbltant
bail. In the fall of lSss there was one
ease in which the defendants bail was fixed
at $50. .o0U He was a man who had been
at work in the custom house, being arrested
for illegal registration. Judge Brown later
reduced bail 10 $1,000.
When asked about Mr.. Dayenport's
methods of issuing warrants, Mr.. Walker
said: at ha. been the rule of the circuit
court since 1875, that all warrants for ar
rest should be approved by the United
States district attorney. heard of Mr..
Davenports warrants flying around in eases
in which had given no approval, found
Mr.. Davenport had blank warrants made
out with my name printed in one corner as
signing them told Mr., Davenport that
this must stop, that the rule of the court
must be followed and that must see the
warrants,
He replied that the rule of the court was
of no consequence and that he would con-
tinue issuing warrants but would in future
leave my name OFF. Instead of sending the
warrants to the United States marshafs
office to have them served he deputized
men himself who served them"
A. j. Rose, assistant United States attor
ney under Mr. Walker aud held over under
nlted States Attorney Mitchell until No
vember, 1870 testified that he had been
requested by MIR. Mitchell. when the latter
came into office, to pass upon some ac-
counts of Mr.. Davenport, presented to MIR.
Walker He told Mr.. Mitchell that Mr..
Walker did not think the accounts altogether
legal, and he would like to b" excused from
having anything to do with them. 40
Mr.. Mitchell told him he did not want
him to examine the accounts but simply be
present in court so that Judge Brown could
certify to the presence of the United States
district attorney in court when he approved
the accounts Witness did as instructed
by Mr. Mitchell.
Judge Brown remarked to the witness
that he guessed the accounts were all cor
rect. Witness replied that of his own know
ledge he knew nothing about the accounts.
Tie had been instructed by Mr.. Mitchell TO
be present Judge Brown, said the witness,
made some casual remarks about the claims
being very large but approved them The
accounts were for S3l ,03o. Mr.. Rose
further testified that he knew of 1888 arrests
bv John Davenport in which only three
were convicted.
Henry ID. EIotchkiss, attorney for some
of those who had been arrested, testified
that on one occasion he offered bail to Mr..
Davenport for one of his clients which was
indisputed as to its suffieiency. Mr.. Daven-
port fatty refused TO accept the bail, saying
that under the law he had "a hours in which
To consider n bond offered before accept
ing it.
THAT is only in cases where YOU have
doubt as to the sufliciency of the bond,
said Judge Wallace according to the wit
ness If YOU refuse to take the bond
Offered to YOU in this case it is nothing
more than an outrage. direct you to ac-
c.pt the bail." Mr. Davenport accepted
the bail offered.
Louis c. Farrell, who brought the Day
enport records from the treasury depart
ment and who is employed in the treasury
department, was familiar with allowing Mr..
Davenports accounts at the treasury de-
partment, was examined.
lie received the certificate of Judge
Brown attached to some account. These
certificates were not to the effect that the
work which accounts were turned in for,
had actually been performed but the
Judge was satisfied from the oath
of Mr.. Davenport that such was the case.
There had been some dissatisfaction in the
treasury department as to the wording of
these certificates and in some cases there
was considerable correspondence between
Mr.. Davenport and Judge Brown and the
treasury department before they were al
lowed.
Mr.. Farrell went over the various ac-
counts allowed Mr.. Davenport since May
II. 1889, the total of which was slol, ,l2s.
The committee adjourned till tomorrow.