New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-02
NJ. w. COOPER ACCUSED.
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE

CUSTOM HOUSE INV ESllUAllNo
COMMITTEE
S. w. BAssETr swEARs THAT THE APPRAISER
TRIED TO INDUCE HIM BY PROMISES AND
THREATS TO COMMIT PERJURY.
Ey-Sccretary Charles S. Fairchild, who ala not
attend yesterday the meeting OF the Cus'o"'
House Investigating Commission, missed the
most sensational day thus far Of the INVESTIGATION
Stephen W. Bassctt, who has Lecn coniidcn'ial
secrctarv 70 the Appraiser for many years, and
who served in that capacity for the present APP
praiser Marvelle w. Cooper, made a statement De-
fore the commission which directly at variance
with the testimony previously given by the Ap-
praiser ard Marshal j. Corbett. the Assistant APP
praser. Nj. Cooper had declared that he olu
not know how the correspondence relating 10 the
suspension of James c. Wiswall had got out, and
Mr.. Corbett practically said the same thing.
When Mr. Bassett first called he declared
that the correspondence was given out at the
order of tho Appraiser. Bassett read a statement
which pretended TO he daily history of hap
penings during the time when an investigation
was being made to who let reporter have
the correspondence The statement made
up of shorthand notes. 1t was as follows:
Tho Appraiser received a letter the Secretary Of
the Treasury directing him make investigation OF
the way in which the correspondence came out MI
Cooper immediately into consultation with MI.
Stevens Deputy Assistant Appraiser. Seeing that
was present time. he said that he had
been make investigation and asked me TO
affidavit the effect that knew nothing about
matter. On April % Stevens, the Deputy Assistant
Appraiser prepared Of questions for various ocer
In the enaronent TO answer Appraiser handed me
transcript Stevenss handwriting, giving the questions
expected to answer They were such questohs
as did you allow any other than a Government
aNarfa rpailp
Has any one obtain copies OF ohcia lettefs
Have you any knowledge or any information as I" now
the copies Of the letters were obtanedF'
MAKING SERIOUS CHARGES.
was expected TO these questions in the mega
tive could make the affidavit that the Appraiser
wanted me TO- i told that he had better excuse me-
He said that could not do it; that must MAKE an
andavtt. said that he was anxious 10 nave Mo
service free from suspicion. There would be no harm
no continued in nv saying the correspondence did
NOT come from ofce. replied that it would mean
perury and that decline TO do IT. On the morn
ing Of Monday May !. Mr.. Cooper said to me: Il VIII
h.ye n examine you.n told him did not see how u
possble for me TO statement that he desired
Then he said that suspicion would attach I" me-
replied Very WELL II that is the case can't heip II.
On Tuesday May z, Corbett came into the room De-
,ha Anpraser arrived. He said he wanted 10 ehahse
his testimony that it was not correct. ne "an'eu ~
u, Rad that the papers that he had seen ana hsu u
comics Of had and copied by direction Oh ue
Anpraiser He wanted this change made In MS nfs'
oasdovt He acknowledged having given the reporter
copies Of the correspondence, and that IL was poSio,
that they had been shown "lf this gets OUT ss'u
"your testimony will place you In a Raise po'iuoh'
He wanted to II could not moxe .he cn"pses
,or him He was informed that as he had made the
statement under oath he would FIRST nave 70 aSA e
Approiser. Then he said IL feel like going 70 'ne
c.c-avv and telling him my whole connection win tne
business and II 1 have violated the regulations WI"
tender him my resignation, If he desires "
When the Appraiser came In Mr. 'ofoe'' .u
VIA. he desired TO DO but the Appraiser would not e'
oame down and had another talk with the ApplslSe'
about his testimony He said that he wahteo 10 ohns
ma of his answers certain question 30 mat " S"o
not apear that had said what was not uue' AZ
tass time tina testimony changed accordingly I'M
uart char ged where he said he hdd no. give" V
thia correspondence lie changed the lntusge 80 "a'
n would not be strong wednesday morning Nay Q,
-. .ro.,,on came III again between Mr.. Cooper and
n1v..n told Mr.. Cooper that Corbett had given MS
awsy; that he acknowledged that he had furnished
10 the reporters copies Of the correspondence ana h"
- n,a been ayen out with his (Coopcr's) authority
s.d "Mr Cooper, Corbet swears to one thing one day
and TO smother the next' He repheo ihs' - n0,t
Of your business. Mr. Coroett can .ahe ,
himself. An anidavt from you Is Gil 'ha' any
Won are INV confidential clerk You have charge OF 'c
correspondence with statement we VIII KNOCK
odt OF the whole business. am goou s"esei m, ,' -
and ] have got out Of COCO many NOES oeofe '
AN ALLEGED CONVERSATION
In the afternoon the Appraiser, Stevens and Corbet
had long conference in the Appraisers private room
r,o,bett came out and 81 will 60 and see II eau
get those letters" The Appraiser Informed me oeior'
leaving the Office that Corbet had recovered the cor
,espoudence and that the way was clear for me L
make the affidavit. lie handed to me another list o
ouestions In Stevens's handwriting and requested me u
look them and be ready to answer them by the mex
day. as he anxious 10 get this report on me mex
nornnr the Appraiser asked to come 20 his desk a
sit beside him. He asked the list OF questions
real them over and he said: You certainly can an
swer them" / replied Mr. Cooper. prefer not to hav
anything 10 do with the now" "You decline
then -, he said. i replied II do.' Then he said
II will recommend your removal" SAD; very g'oa
you can do ~ II you Ike"
On Monday, May the Appraiser called me to his des
and said that get of his report and ssk
ma ~ stll declined to the statement. told hin
tina, did ''we, then. will have TO report the fac
70 the Secretary and when the investigating Commute
comes which will be very soon you Will see tina
YOU have made mistake. II you will only make th
adayi, everything be all right, and when we get gu
of once able provide better place for you
I an sorry that you have made this mistake"
1 still declined 10 comply. Then he went up stair
and Stevens, but returned in few minutes to ask m
TO bring nv notebook and he would dictate his rt
port. lie read from rough draft OF letter In stevens
handwriting, hiding 1t under sheet OF paper, thnkn
that it would keep from seeing IT, The letter was
the Secretary OF the TT asury. Part OF II was;
III have that having no personal knowledge
10 how the copies Of letters were obtained nave caie
before me and Intercepted under oath Assistant Apprase
BURKE Assistant Appraiser COrbett, Deputy Appiaist
Stevens and also those employees in immediate OniC
who have anything do with official correspondence
namely: Mr.. Rose chief clerk; Mr. Bassett, conhdent
clerk and Mr.. Gray recording clerk The testimony
ell those officials taken in detail and transmit
same herewith with the exception OF Mr. Bassets wi
was requested under oath such questions as
shou,d ask him relative TO certain letters and other
formation concerning customs officials published In Ii
DRY Goods Chronicle, April 49, 1893 This he refused
do postponed the completion OF this report FOR sever
days I'm the hope that Mr. Bassett would reconsider
refusal to make the affidavit and do So have decid
to delay this report longer and therefore forward
herewith for your consideration and with the sta'ene
of the other officers mentioned.
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
Upon the following day wrote the following letef
thu Secretary OF the Treasury: at has come 10 II
knowledge local Appraiser Mr.. TOPPER has ma
report to you in Of the publication OF certa
information concerning the administration OF his dep
rnent at this port wherein he states other thin