Year: 1871

ham
- foolish as tohave pressed Murphy Grswolds case to
trisli


hlo mind respecting the Dix Special Commission. Lot
ma state the following faots When in my investiga-
fiona had Of probable to report to the Do
narment sent copies Of ell adavits and other docu-
mopts with brief, and letter recommending proper
disposition Of the matter. the Secretary approved
the latter, no would indorse 1t, and refer 1t
TO the Advocate General TO be either forwarded
to the General commanding the Military Department In
which the action lay for trial by or TO the
United States Attorney for disposal before the civh
This the invariable rule and In no instance
that recall was departed from, except In Murphy


Griswold In this case, after the papers had passed
through the secretarys ooe instead Of being referred
to the Bureau Of Military Justice they were sent before
this Special Committee who required TO perform
the usual functions Of the anu
say whether had made cut spch case OF proDso0
cause warranted Its being brought to trial ina' "
all. Now bearing In mind how fmperfecty the eVioenoo
had been arranged, any respectfully able DistriceAV
torney would have set himself work to perfect H. nave
cleared ND all the mysterious absences OF wnesses and
gone into court with his in proper state or Pre
entation All that be said. therefore, In the prom
ises that this Special Committee had crude case pro-
sened to then, by overworked counsel oFposeu "
lawyers Of the greatest ability, who at MS pest "ere
competent to vanqush him.





ing of the Committee but nobody questions the oocu
ment. Gen. Dix and Mr. etrebeigh know personally
fin fact the latter gentleman was appointed at my TO
quest after Senator Morgan had refused 70 serve anu
Judge Pierrepont had gone to Europe} and wouia DO
heve anything to which either Of them would put hS
name Under the circumstances, they eouia NOT per
hama have decided otherwise than as they did. Ihey
not required to say whether the hats and caps were
GOOD or bad In quality and the effort Of the defense was
confined to showing that they were no worse tnan
he sanplcs produced before the Commission as
The Government standards. You have seen what
the committees Of merchants the atlantis, and Burr ana
his foreman Dodd thought Of that matter when they
inspected the deliveries at the Quartermssters depot
with the samples they then The ssbstitutton Of
one of the oonractor's opn hats for the Government
sample at any time before the COMMISSIONS session,
would have altered the whole aspect OF Affairs would it
mott Now 1t is true that $500 was paid to one OF my
trusted employees Robert Murray asserts 1t was In
his presence lie not possible that the nefarous bargain
included the doing of just this acti do MT know
whether 1t was done OF not; have heard 1t was.


The only substantial allegations in this persons card
to the Republican party and myself are, believe an
swered above for his innuendo that anybody ever
seriously made him numerous propositions on my be-
half to sell him these papers, when had refused
from his enemies the sum Of 10000 once and dplo-
1nauo and other Offices at various times, 1t is alb
surd. He docs not believe 1t himself. have heard,
since my letter Of Friday appeared, that there
is a set of copies Of these papers in somebody's
possession. 1t may be OF that know nothing.
am satisfied that he placed no value on their
possession, for, knowing pretty thoroughly the
style Of man 1 had to deal with, and what he was
capable Of doing to nure (see his card for example,


had taken theprecaution to ascertain all about his
views purposes plans regard to this bone OF con-
tention between his enemies and himself know great
deal more of him and his views than he imagnes


Now one last word. You have already stated that l
neither asked for a cent have you promised me
cent for the possession Of the Murphy papers You may
also, II you please, add that have neither asked
you nor any other person for office, that never ex
changed five words with Senator Fenton In my e that


hardly attended even primary meeting and that
while voted for Republican candidate, from
John p Hale Grant, have never sought place or In
Huence in the party If had cared for Office could
have had pretty wide choice Of them since the war; and


need not have bought Of this PERSONS enemies at
the price Of those papers, but ofce-hoding is not my
role until another great war brings out another crop
of contractors the country Is once moro helpless at
their feet bleeding at every vein and Ia need OF sons
who are willing the odum Of foul names, and
the ner of personal the sake Of her dear se
Won will not be likely to find in the Blue Book the name
of hhNhi o. oh0oii'


Netc- York, Sept "a, 1871


Is COL. OLCOTT A BLACKMAILER1


We have charged Mr.. Murphy with treason
to the Republican party afiliaton with the Tammany
Ring and gross frauds upon the soldiers and the Govern
mept and in each case have proved 1t by testimony
which he does not affect to dispute. His response
to the last charge s to call Col Olcott backmailer As
Col Olcott is not politician at ALL has never pursued
the devious ways official favor and never thrust him
sen upon public attention, the mere camor which the
mortay wounded Collector raises against the man who
has brought him low itself create prejudice In the
minds Of impartial unless they are shown the fasity
of the charges 1t is worth WHILE therefore, TO give this
Jospnh Holt Judge AdyOcatC-ten-
era Of the Army who, Col Ocotts official superior
during the time when the proved shoddy contractor
Thomas Murphy, calls him backmaler, may be sup
posed to know whether he was or not Whoever knows
dge-Advocste-Gen Holt or knows sught OF his
reputation need nothing further than the following


WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,


WASHINGTON. D. G., Sept. 2s 1855. 5
Col. a. g. oLcoTT, Commissioner Of Var Department.


SIR Your letter announcing that Is your purpose at
early day to sever your connection with the war De


cannot permit the occasion to pass without frankly
expressing TO you my high appreciation or ihs services
responsible position from which are about to retire
These services-the results Of which have been CON
faithfuness to duty You have been the means Of
Snd swndss for whom vsOr and Of
your investigations have been continual terror. You
ests Of the but have also accomplished
much toward the b OF S saSse Of Gs 9e


affords pleasure to cay that 50 far a. my observation
has extended have done your work thoroughly and
Nth toheh IN the Interests Of fraud and crime you have
been so often and so groundlessly assailed.


Of action and enterprise. upon which you propose 70


J. Holt advocate General


The Department with which Col. olcott had the most
to do was that of the and among
the men whom he prosecuted most vigorously
Of Gen. Meigss immediate and trusted subordinates,
several Of them among the highest in rank.


af he nao Gan Mot ar AZ
would not to be disposed to lavish praises upon the
blackmaer who was striking down his officers Here