The San Francisco call., 1899-05-28
GRAVE FRAUD in
EXAMINATIONS FOR
THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Up Condition OF
Affairs That Is Alleged to Ex=
iSt i'm Southern Arizona.

ing. On the morning Of thel6th OF March,
1895. Deputy Collector Aguirre said to the
papers came from Washington by that
rprning's mail there W.hi'i be no
had not arrived from Washington It is
also in evidence that Collector ChenoWeth
on the morning of the 18th of March. 1898.
took the envelope containing the examin-
alton apers back TO the postofiice before
the arrival of the morning mail and put
thenl m" the Custom mouse ppst01ft e
box; and then, after the arrival OF the
mail went TO the Custom-house and re-
turned the key which he had borrowed.
and said that he could not open the box
and for the official to go and see If he
could get the mail
The official went to the postoffice and
opened the box without any difficulty
whatever, and there among the mail mat
ter was the envelope containing the eX-
animation papers, which had arrived once
before, on the 14th day of March, 1898
The three seals on the envelope had been
carefully cut with some sharp instru-
ment. then reheated and stuck together
again, but in such manner as to mutt
late the impression on the seals and 9TH
erwise to give away the crime. Also, the
Nogales postmark, dating the arrival of
the package. March IA, had been tam
pered with, the original date rubbed out
in part and the figure &C. marked in with
a lead-penc1l, making the date read
March 16." This envelope has been care
fully preserved, and is now in the office of
the Civil Service Commission at Wash
ington ID. c. 1t is further in evidence
that Mrs. Chenoweth and Mrs. Aguirre
while in the examination room did not
appear to be working the problems, but
seemed to be copying from other papers,
and went through the ordeal much
quicker than the soldier from Huachuca
and Mr.. Hitchcock, who participated in
the examination.
Mr. Chenoweth was in the room where
the eXamina ton was being held during
the whole of the time that Mrs. Cheno-
weth and Mrs. Aguirre were being exam
ined. and when the three retired new
guard was put on to remain until the
other applicants had finished working
their problems, etc.
1t is also in evidence that Collector
Chenoweth, after the facts of this gigan-
tic fraud became known, prepared paper
for the signatures of the customs officials,
stating that there was no fraud practiced
or attempted to be pracuced in the eX-
amina ton. Scme of the officials who are
charged with being parties to the fraud
signed the paper, but others refused to
do so, even when an attempt was made
To intimdate them which threats We're
backed up by the presence of profess
sional gunfghter, whom Chenoweth took
along with him when he demanded that
the paper be signed.
1t can be stated as a fact of public his
tory that about the middle Of the past
. summer Mrs. Chenoweth was sworn in as
cashier of the CuStOm-houSe, and is now
on the pay roll as such, and, at the same
time ii is announced by Custom-house
brokers who pay large amounts of money
into the Custom-house that Mrs Cheno-
weth has never acted as cashier and has
never received or recepted for any sum
or sums whatever. Mrs. Aguirre was as
signed to some position in the Custom
house and went on the pay roll at a later
date.
Mr.. Higgins cal.ed on Mr. Mickey and
Mrs. Chenoweth to stand a re-eXamina-
ton, but they refused to participate there
in. He also asked Mr.. Chenoweth TO send
for ]. j. Chatham in order to give him
/ a re-examination, but Mr.. Chenoweth re-
fused to send for Chatham.
1t is well known here that other flag
rant charges have been made against
these same officials and reported investi-
! cations made. This may be so. but it is
believed here that if the Investigations
have been made the merits of the case
have never reached the department at
Washington.
This community is satisfied that the
present investigation instigated by Mr..
Higgins of the Civil Service Commission
will be honestly, fairly and faithfully
done
Mr. Chenoweth offered to bet not long
since the sum of $500 that nothing would
come of the investigation, alleging that a
pull at Washington would fix the matter
1 ND and nothing would come Of