Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, March 20 1876.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT INvEsTIGATIoN-sEcRE-


TARY BRIsTow BEFORE THE COMMITTEE


HISTORY OF THE MULE CLAIM AND HIS CON-


NEcTIoN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF FISHER,


THE PARTNER OF EVANS.


Secretary Bristow voluntarily appeared before the
Committee Expenditures in tho War Department
to-day and made a statement under In relation
to letter which appeared IN the New YORK
HERALD Saturday, dated Louisville, March II.
lation a mule He sad he had reason believe
the letter written In Louisville, but IN WASH
ngton, ne having been advised some weeks ago that
the statement would be made. He ought say he did
deem 1t any part OF his duty to undertake the
preparation OF the case the duties In whfh n
gagged being merely professional the way argument
He never had slightest suspect tho
ness of tho casc the integrity OF the party In
whose behalf 1t prosecuted. The parties
citizens OF Kontucky. residing in Clarke county,
mote from his place OF residence one Of the claim
ants SINCE deceased He had Intimate pleasant
lations with him in the Kentucky Senato--Harrson
Thompson.


The Secretary hero in the spring summer of
1878 business having no connection at that time
with the government having resigned tho Office OF
Solicitor General In 1872 Ben d. Groome
gagged him argue the an1 gave
him q statement OF II, saying his firm
were engaged In stock raising and had invested
much money in the purchase Of mules but owing to
the collapse OF the rebellion the government refused
10 tako the animals In consequence of this tho
frmd ha sustained heavy loss, having
invested 100000 account Of the purchase. Mr..
Groomo said they would pay him no fee
n they did succeed in procuring the
payment OF the claim. or AT all events
t,av IN onlv n fac Tha
said to Groome that his habit accept con-
tngent fees but in OF the dilemma which the
firm found themselves and the desire have hts pro-
fessonal services he would argue tho before the
Court Of Claims, or before tho Supreme Court II it
should 60 there Groome agreeing to pay him the ex-
penses incurred In coming here and compensation
OF ten per In tho event OF the claim being
allowed by the Court OF Claims Thomas J. ID. Fuller,
a resident solicitor in Washington, formerly member
OF Congress- and who Auditor Comptroller
under Buchanans administration, prepared the case.
The Secretary took Fulers brief Of the case on
that brief he prepared his legal argument The only
questions raised there on points OF law
Mr. Goorth, the Assistant Attorney General, made no
question to the facts. which seemed to be con-
elusive. The facts the firm had the mules the
proper points to be shipped, and some Of them
the tram at the time the government refused them
There a consequences sudden depreciation the
value OF the mules The low prices which they
compelled 10 sell them ncontrovertibe, and even
Chief Justice Drake. who dlssented did so only
question Of law There involved in the case two
very interesting questions Of law The majority
Court gave judgment slOs 75o The Secretary be.
iievcd then, aud now believed, the judgment
was night Tho case was argued by him In
1879 and the judgment rendered January s. 1874
The case had been referred TO Court OF Claims by
the War Department ana payment made from the
fund under the control ofthat department The Secre-
tary had nothing more TO do with the than 20
argue IL before the Court OF CLAIMS Mr. Groome paid
him as his Zee $l0,S70.


The Secretary said that since the publication In tho
HERALD he had procured the original papers on which
payment made, which he ycad to the committee
one Of the papers showed that Attorney General
Williams informed the Secretary OF War that no appeal
would be taken from the Judgment OF the Court OF
CLAIMS to the Supreme Court The money was paid
to John A. Thompson, BENJAMIN b. Groome and
others The Secretary repeated he engaged IN the
only professionally, for which he received pay
already stated. HIS Zee paid by a check on
Riggs X Co. What compensation Mr. Fuller received
he did not know. The statement that the Secretary
received half the claim was unqualidedly false. He
repeated, tho claim impressed him with Its being
mertorous and just


Mr. Bristow, on cross examination, reported that at
the time he argued the he had no connection what
ever with the government having before that resigned
the Office Of Solicitor General Hc did nos regard the
fec OF ten per cent as unusual Hc had been
told the fec was not up to the usual maxi
mum. In conclusion the Secretary intimated
that he would be very glad tho committee would an.
dertakc how such stories as that IN tho
HERALD obtained circulation. The chairman replied
that they could undertake such work at tho
time, but they would be happy during this examina-
ton 20 have such information disclosed and would
be glad to have the secre,ary's operation In
this or any other such Secretary Brlstow said
that since the publication OF the letter in the HERALD
he had made inquiry and ascertaned mat Mr.. Groome