The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19
VICTIM OF A JOB"
Collector McLennan's Story of
His Troubles.
PURSUED BY HIS ENEMIES.
He Acted - Agent and Banker for IN
1llitorote Man - The ThreShing
Machine Transactions.

c. L. McLennan, deputy collector Of
customs a: Blame, who was arrested FRI
day on a warrant sworn out before United
States Commissioner Emery, arrived in
this city yesterday in custody of United
States Deputy Marshal r. Delanty. They
came here for examination before Com
missioner Emery, but the case was not
ready for hearing and they returned to
Port Townsend on the Edith last night to
consult with Collector WATSON, intending
to come to Seattle again tomorrow.
When asked to state his side of the case
Mr.. McLennan talked freely concerning
the circumstances which led to his arrest.
An outline of the charge against him is
given in the following telegram from Port
Townsend last evening.
One Of the charges against Deputy Collector OF
Customs c. l. McLennan. of Blaine, 10 that he
allowed threshing machine of foreign manu-
facture, on which there wac q government duty
OF $13l, to pass through his Office. He, 1t 10
said, collected S8l and allowed the importer to
take the machine with the understanding that
he (the importer) should pay the balance BE-
fore the close of the month.
The additional duty was not paid. McLsnnan
did not report the transaction to the head Office
In Port Townsend, a. by law required. Some of
those persons who were most interested In get
tine the machine through the Office and who so
licited of McLennan the courtesy of waiting q
few days for the balance Of the duty, were the
persons who complained to the authorities of
the transaction 40 being illegal.
Mr.. McLennen said that his arrest was
the result OF certain transactions in Blaine.
in which he had prevented some parties
from robbing an old man named Horace
Brewster. Brewster had been assisted by
him TO secure patent to his homestead,
and other parties had tried to rob the old
man not only of his homestead but of his
stock and everything he possessed. and
these circumstances accounted for the fact
that the would-be robbers wanted to get
even with him.
He says the threshing machine alluded
to was imported by Brewster long time
before he was made collector there. and no
duty had ever been paid upon it. Brews-
ter can neither read nor write. and having
been befriended by Mr.. McLennon, made
the latter sort of banker for him. When
interviewed last evening Mr.. McLennan
had in his pocket number Of Brewster's
valuable papers. including the patent to
the latter's homestead. He said that
Brewster gave him some money to take
care of, and drew on it from time to time.
He says the parties who lodged the COM
plant against him knew that he had this
money. and alleged that it had been paid
to him as part of the duty on the thresh-
ing machine.
Mr.. McLennon said he had never COL
lected any duty on the machine. and was
entirely innocent of the charge brought
against him, which he expected to show
on the examination. He had quantity
OF books and papers with him to support
his side OF the case; said he was being
treated like a gentleman and not like a
telon, and was confident of his discharge.