The New York Herald Newspaper, December 28, 1868, Page 6

THE INTERNAL REVENUE FRAUDS, Congressman Van Wyck's Bucket of Whitewash Upset. MR. BINCKLEY’S REPLY. ‘The following is Mr. Binckley’s reply to the report presented to Congress by Mr. Van Wyck in relation to the revenue frauds:— ” ‘The cheerful ailence with which I have borne in- erdinate misrepresentation, detraction, and ridicule from the press at large, is broken now only because the opportunities of one assailant enabled him yes- terday morning to publish his slander by authority of one of the Houses of Congress, Accordingly, in this, the solitary instance in which I have deemed it becoming to the motives which I profess for me to aefend myself, I studiously confine my expressions to the very matter thus put in hand, and even on that shall say no more than I suppose to be ade- quate to a complete vindication of my own honor. A document is before me with a caption denoting igclosures of revenue frauds, which thus sets out:— “Mr. Van Wyck, from the Committee on Retrench- ment, submitted the following report.” No signa- tures are appended, and I am informed that Mr. Van Wyck claims’ the exclusive authorship, and, it would seem, must bear the sole personal, if not oficial, responsibility of @ paper the like of which must seldom have gone into the archivea of any regularly organized government; that the so called report is not the product of the committee is obvious from the gross contrast of its Matter as a whole with the known resourced of that committee for the disclosure of revenue frauds. In the colloquial phrase , of the day, this “report” is a bucket of whitewash—a truth which must be so well known to the majority of that Committee, that I might leave my defence to be an inevitable incident of their own against the use of thelr name to impart dignity to Unis extraor- dinary publication; but I am reminded that on a former occasion this game Mr, Van Wyck was suf- fered to remain a member of the House, notwith- standing his colleagues on @ committee had con- victed him in open session of making a fraudulent report. After this much it would be ridiculous, when my bDusiness is with such a representative, to remind the reader that the respect with which itis the duty of the people to regard official declarations, arises chiefy from the principle that they are mace on the faith of an oath of office. Among very many ethers the following misrepresentations touching myself may be offered by way of example:— ‘That I ever promised the Committee on Retrench- ment to give them the result of my labors in investi- gating revenue frauds; that I ever trifed with the committee, or used towards them any duplicity; that the committee adjourned my ‘‘examination ” at my request, or that time was extended for the purpose of meeting my wishes; that I ever “fed” from New York; that! have since my return been legally subpcenaed, or that I have refused to attend the committee; that I have done no service as So- licitor of internal Revenue for two months back; that I brought the government in debt by con- tracting with or employing anybody except as I paid them out of my limited fund; that frauds were brought to my notice in the sphere of my oficial duty that I refused to act on; that my “only mission and all my moments,” or that any part of my mission was to “obtain affdavits. to form a pre- text for the removal of Commissioner Rollins; that Tever had any assistant whatever in any just sense of the term, except that for a brief period | felt ob- liged to recognize the co-operation of a distinguished member of the New York bar; that I had, in any de- gree, or with any person, at any time, any privity, co-operation, or understanding, but what was strictly subservient to the ends of criminal justice as ad- ministered in court. Each of these is a misrepre- sentation, and by that word I here mean a represen- tation deliberately made opposite to the truth by a person who knew it was untrue when he made it. ‘There is a shorter name for the same thing. ‘The fol- lowing passage is a gratuity which merits the dis- tinction of that uncommon diagust which Mr. Van Wyck must have intended to raise in me. I accord it to him:— “The fact that so astute an individual as Mr. Binckley, with the use of thousands among his co- conspirators, to be lavished on men who testify for # consideration, promising indemnity for past crimes and protection for future offen romising oficial positions as an inducement to testify; sending mes- sengers to State Prisons and Penitenttaries, with prospective pardons to those who would furnish criminating evidence; that these desperate means could not furnish @ single affidavit, ts the highest testimonial of the honesty and faithfulness of Commissioner Koliins,¥ &c, With deep mortifica- tion would Mr. Rollins contemplate this quotation as his ‘highest testimonial.” Elsewhere Mr. Van Wyck, quoting the testimony of # shuddering outcast, brought to nis presence irom the jaii in which oppression had immured him expressly qualify hima for such purposes, to the effect that he had been induced by others to prefer charges against Mr, District Attorney Courtney upon “impressions made on his mind” by me, thus ex- as if he had never heard anything before on és the subject:— “What a ternble picture does this present of a base conspiracy, inviting the commission of crimes. Even the blackest purjury to destroy a faithfal public oficer—the reputation of an honest man !"’ Few beings yet living on this side of the Styx have ever perverted truth with more unconsbious here exemplified. ch’s charges npared to those against the same “faithful ¢ ” sworn before this Mr. Van Wyck, in common with the rest of the committee, long ve- fore | ever gave or received any ‘“‘impressions’’ about the “honest man” referred to, were Mr. Van Wyck says also that T have occa- sioned an expense to the government of $25,000. He has here licensed himself more moderately, The current collections of revenue since the 29th of August last, when my operations publicly began in New York, have increased many millions of dollars, What propor- tion of this increase cun be plausibly refer to any other cause than offivial circamspection éstimu- Jaied by those operations! He might not be charg- ing me with violating public economy were he to aver that I had expended hundred of thousands of dollars, But the fact is, hat nearly the whole of the estimated expense goes for a judicial proceeding from which I was authoriatively excluded, uj procurement for the purpoye and with the act effect of making {t’a shan, before I had concluded the examination of my frat cd@led witness, This dir. Van Wyck knew, beeause I tod him the facts my- self, and so did two of his ownzealous adherents, in wy presence, upon their own kyowledge, Bat | need not go further in tis “report.” Wher- ever} am spoken Of in it 1 ai slandered by it, It speaks tothe people from the halls of legisiation. Now, | have a report to make. I'propose to verify it by no bigher authentication than my humble naine, For Lean conceive no calamity which could drive me to accept Whe inward huinillativa of an issue of veracity with this hireling of conlederated thieves or with any person whatever who wyuid corroborate his testimony or profess a belief infis honesty. If any one doubts my statements let tim doubt and welcome—t is his mistake, not ming Enough will believe them to satisfy me. During my second visit to New York I received a sniumons from the Cominittee on Retrynchment, to which | scrupulously responded, ac i to its in- dications of time and ree but was unyole to find any of its members never saw in NeW York but two of them, of whom Mr. Jenckes was one. With Mr. Van Wyck, the other, I had frequent \nterviews on this basis, professediy mutual, of cooperation against fraud, but without my ever being able to draw from him any idea of what pian he posed, or what the committee desired of mi. One thing only was clear, his constant assur- ances of the confidence and favor with which the ‘committee desired to encourage my operations.” Meantime, I had received instructions ander which | deemed myself obliged to mate un- linitea concessions before ering any antagenism with the committee. Mr, Van Wyck greatly annoyed me by his irregular calls, bis disregard of appoint- ments, and by his incoherent and poimtiess consulta- tions in the midst of engagements of extraordimry pressure. J was extremely impatient for the re- urnof Mr. Jenckes, or the arrival of some member of the committee of sufficient intelligence for serious ‘nd complicated pablie business, But a new and yecure influence was counteracting all my plans, sone foplicated in frauds were f ate) bol spies and detectives dogged my steps 0 my attention at my rooms by pre- niormation, impertinent solicitations, &c, My agents and adherents were threatened, corrupted and seduced. ‘These were strange consequences of tie arrival in New York of 80 powerful a reinforce- pient of the law as a committee of La ad it svn came to be like one of the extreme affectations Of statecraft to pretend to distinguish Mr, Van Wyck from the miscellaneous malefactors who now owe bim such gratitude. jruring all this time he was de- Ciaring, With bowterous but nauseous hypocrisy, as bearty aud zealous co-operation with me. The scope of my plans was day by Sey reduced by these criminal machinations & few but highly important ovjecta of pursuit. Certain documenta, of the exisvence pod purport of whieh I had confidential and indu- Ditalie information, implicating numerous bigh » )ciais in New York and Washington, were the suy- feo! of negotiations tagough which | expected to NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1868. . ! i | z i ij i : i Ht a wi be had told me many times should not fere with my convenience astonishment somewhat he half promised the serious any delay or room. A Ex § 3 6 E ‘of ita which, from the first, I had indulged from habiti charity for the vulgar. Beginning a conversation in which 1 perceived he was add: himself to the puoiic, I inquired his business, he responded that he was holding a session of the com- mittee. He proposed to swear ness. Having ascertained fully the embarrass- ments under which I had been placed by my superiors, as above mentioned, and hearing from my own ie the onerous and urgent duties of that hour, this impostor safely presumed to frustrate public justice even in the private chambers of an agent of the laws. He nad thus not only de- feated my plan to bring to bis own hands disclos- ures of the highest public value, but by violence consummated lis own plan for the frustration of my mission to New York and the protection of reve- nue corruption. I foresaw what the result demon- strated, that the moment it should become known that Van Wyck had held a “session” with Binckley as a “witness”? all resources for Vona fide inves! tion would be destroyed. -1 realized also that willie 1 was thus detained by him his friends, as he was bound to believe, were getting the proof out of exis- tence or of all reasonable probaviity of ever being recovered by the government. 1| protested against such consequences and solemuly waraed him of the responsibility he Was assuming, demanding that te protest go upon record, Bat { witnessed through- out the “examination” his arbitrary interference with the reporter’s duties, and I therefore take this opportunity to denounce the record made on that occasion as spurious aud unworthy any credence. It only remamed for me to manifest some sense of the dignity of public duty by such other protests as occurred to me, and then submit to the blasphemy of an oath administered by a person ignoraut of right and wrong. b Such was Mr. Van Wyck’s business in New York as amember of a committee, and such the use he made of the powers of Congress. I omit numerous other instances less striking, but not less significant than the above. Mr. Van Wyck knew that I was engaged, under the obligations of an officer, the only law oflicial of the Tevenue service, in investigating revenue frauds in good faith. ie knew that I was reaily indiscrimi- nate as to politics or partialities of persons, and he knew that I was the agent of no int e, the tool of no policy. I say he knew all these because lam informed that in all the rings of corruption, they are notoriously acknow! in private. It is the inno- cent public who have been decetved into the opposite belief. But Mr. Van Wyck’s belief of these he himselfdeciared to certain of his own friends, not to mention what he repeatedly deciared to myself. With this knowledge of me‘and my 9] ions,and a knowl- edge of the coi juences great numbers of wealthy and notable men of all Daten) in public 4 Pp ered ge) i edd ign un Kreider vad ac interested and unsp: exposur percelvs the danger of allowing me to poceed. Even with. out adequate support from the government and amid the unanimous jeers of the press, fearful pro- gress might be made in the work of justice, by such an investigator, however inexperienced. The guiity, therefore, brough®him to New York, that he might employ the autuority of the National their protection against the laws of the country, and the idignation of its plundered peopie, and he aa ener at and with success—success for the present L have done with this despicable politicaster. My only apprehension is that he will consistently de- — gm by training witnesses to prove me guilty of forgery or pett; larceny, a EF x! JOHN M. BINCKLEY. Wasulncrton, Dec. 22, 1868, THE DUTY OF THE SOUTH. Letter from General Longstreet on Topics Important to the Southern People. (Prom the Atianta (Ga.) New Era, Dec. 24.) Below we publish a letter addressed by General James Longstreet to a citizen of this State, in which the “war horse” of Lee’s army calmly and clearly sets forth his views upon political matters, We hope our readers will peruse the letter carefully that they may fully understand the precise views entertained by this renowned and much abused gentleman:— LYNCHBURG, Va., Noy, 24, 1868, My DEAR Sir—Your letter of the 20th ult., atter following me to various points, reached me. Now, {am glad to hear from you and to learn that your mind is prepared to accept opinions that are most likely in their application to develop and advance the interest of the people. of our Southern men seem to have lost sight of the fundamental doctrine—the interest of the people—in their zeal to maintain their ideas of consistency, which cousists in adhering to old truths whether they work for weal or for woe. I regret that I am not better prepared to meet your wishes for information im regard to the future policy of our new President. Although | bave nad the pleasure of several interviews wiih him within the last few Y hoops { have not sougnt to learn his ap- preciation of political questions of the present or the lutare, I regard his past course and decided charac- ter as the surest guarantees of his future course. The floating idea that has attached itseif to the minds of the many that he ~~ yet prove to be a democrat is like manyother speculations that gain circulation and credence, but only serve to deceive those who are creduious enough to indulge them. If we recall to mind the events of the last two years we shall re- member that General Grant's position at one time Was such as to Insure his nomination for President by the party that we might choose as most in accord with his views of public policy, and subsequent events indicate that his personal popularity is such as to have turned the balance in his favor. It seems vo me unreasonable, therefore, to expect to find him at this late day seeking alliance with the old party. ils antecedents clearly mark him asa national man, and as such le gives assurances of his adhesion to the party whose basis is the Union, and that the tn- Muence of his administration will be applied to its complete and prosperous restoration. A fair-minded people must know, however, that no individual unaided can accomplish this great purpose. He must needs have the assistance of the North, of the South, of the East and of the West. Having assurauces of co-operation from other paris of the country be only wants, that of the South to complete the combination which will give to his ad- ministration a happy advent and comfortable autici- pations of its salutary progress, ‘That the people of the South desire practical re- construction there can be no doubt; but it seems to be dificult to develop that sentiment so as to pro- duce practical results, Drifting along in the channel into which chance seems to have thrown me I begin to find myself, like many others, ready with my theory. As it ma; ae ate I give you a concise statement of it. If you find ttat you can make it useful you are at liberty to do 80:— The wealth of the South lies in tts soil. If this proposition ts true its sequents are equally 1, Labor ia earential to make that wealth available, 2. To command labor laws must encourage sod protect it. Also their cosequents, ‘To encourage and invite labor evidences of protec- tion must be made manifest through the operation of law upon the labor that we have. Hence it appears that the value of our lands de- pends upon our labor, our labor upon the law and the law upon us. A failure upon our part, there- fore, to enact and enforce proper laws will be as fatal to the interests of the owners of real estate as confiscation, And yet all that Congress asks us to do ts to avail ives of the only means by which we may avoid serious depreciation of our material inte: That is, this will be the practical resuit of reconstruction, ander national legislation, upon our interesta, The mov’ cause of that legisiation, probabiy, war * the future.” Here we may discover the line should mark our connec- ton with recons' It begins and ends in our care for home tnterests. It will be time enough to begin to look into the future when we have provided for the present. ‘The politicians of the old school seem anxious to impress upon the minds of our young men the im- portance of rejecting all propositions coming from the republican party, or else they dishonor their own blood and the blood of their fallen comrades. But = should reinember that only dishonor eir comrades when they dishonor themselves, aud that there cannot be dishonor in ready obedience io law and @ proper care for our own welfare. On the contrary, to discard the law and expose ourselves to unfecessary difficulties is near akin to dishonor. It is true that many worthy persons are chised under the law, but the readiest and surest means of relief are through the law, I conclude, therefore, that tntereat and duty and honor demand that we should place ourselves in a condition to support the laws of cones. When we bave done so we shail receive tly of help fron the Executive and from the other members of the government. i remain, very trul ow JAMES LONGSTREET, Mr. Joun H. Dent, Cave Spring, Ga. BaNeavercy IN New OnLeans.—Judge Durell yesterday an important ruling. relating to the enkrupes? charges made by the assignee in . The decision was given in the case of Andrew Moquirk, asking to be discharged, but op) by the assignee, on the ground that the costs of his sult were not all paid. ge ruled that a bankrupt is only re- pop od to it wt the commencement of the suit the amount specified by law and that after the expi- ration of the statutory limit he is entitled to a dis- charge, the assignee, marshal and clerks to realize their costs from the estate surrendered. Upon this ruling three other bankrupts were also discharged. — New Orweans Picayune, Vee. 22 NORTH CAROLINA. Partisan Clemency~Homicide of a Nephew by Hie Uncle—A Tragedy in the Dark—A ‘Negro Marauder Killed by Negroes—An In- structive Letter to a Sheriff, be Raeiay, Dec, 18, 1868, Crime latterly has been fearfully on the increase in this State. Murderers, burglars, robbers and in- cendiaries have been holding high carnival, and there seems to be no adequate gdministration of the law for the punishment of crime, much less the pro- tection of the innocent and peaceably disposed, The consequence is that demoralization of society is a palpable result. If the laws for the punishment of crime were carried out and enforced this increase would be checked; but it is @ matter of regret to state that officials in whose hands are placed the administration of those laws are often surrounded by influences that render them comparatively in - operative. Here the ruling passion is politics, and through influences of thia kind the most noted and dangerous criminals frequently escape a merited punishment. Even the murderer and assassin haye been allowed in so many instances to escape their just doom that criminals of this class snap their fingers and revel in the commission of the foulest deeds, for aught they care about the present enforcement of the law. Some pretext will serve to get them off should they fall into the hands of the oMcers of the law, and often these are so frivolous that one can scarcely be surprised at the ‘recora of murder and crime that the press here daily presenta, So far has this progressed that there isa general feciing of in- security amounting almost to a reign ofterror among the people throughout the State, but more particu- larly in some sections where crime is rampant. ‘There is lacking that confidence in the administra- tion of justice and punishment of crime so essen- tially necessary to the preservation of the peace, good order of society and the repression of lawless- ness, Judge Underwood’s jail delivery in Virginia scarcely exceeds in its effect on society in that State the wholesale pardoning of criminals here, and this at a time when a day hardly passes that some terrl- ble murder is not per petratea. For three successive weeks the commutation of the death sentence has been recorded in the cases of three criminals whose penalties had been affixed by competent reconstructed courts and approved by the highest legal tribunal in the State—the Supreme Court. The release of such criminals as Cwsar GriMn, Sallie Anderson and Jeter Phillips in Vir- apie can have no more banefu! effect than the par- ion of such murderers as Alexander Wilils, John Owens and Joseph Lovick in North Carolina, Capital punishment seems to be practically abolished in a community where crime and outrage are of daily ov- currence. Not long since the details of several heinous murders in this State were published in the HERALD, and now there 1s a fresh chapter to be added, though the time has been exceedingly short. In Greensboro within the past week an affray oc- curred between Alfred Ozment, white, and Authony Whitier, so, in which the latter was killed. Both had been , an altercation ensued, and, as usual, the Kuife or pistol did its terrible work. Ozment stabbed, Waitier twice in the neck, inflicting mortal wounds of which he died shortly afterwards. An inquest was held and a verdict returned in accord- ance with the above. Ozment was lodged in jail. Another is the case of Mr. John Gleason, @ well known and respected merchant of Charlotte, who, while giving evidence before the ror of that city, was shot twice by ane; on Friday last in the presence of the court. Though both wounds were Supposed to be fatal, Gleason met nis death at the hands of another dastardly negro assassin. He ran from the court, as {s supposed, to procure some means of defence, and a3 he passed from the door to the surect a negro policeman dealt him a powerful blow on the back of the head with a club, which fetled him to tne ground and killed him instantly. He never breathed again. ‘This aggravated murder produced great excitement and intense feeling among the citizens, which has not yet abated, and it was believed the two murderers would be summa- rily disposed of by Judge Lynch. So doubtful is it now about apenas of a negro for crime that the puplic need not be surprised if lynching, as in Indiana, does not follow as a consequence of the failure to administer criminal justice. The next 1s rather a curious case, and shows the Governor in a somewhat different rdle from that of a hn A aetna htt Itseems that William H, Suit, of Warren county, and a negro named Norval Lynes were engaged in a fight tn which Suit shot and killed Lynes, An inquest was held and the Coroner returned a verdict that Lynes cume to his death from a gunshot wound intlicted by Willam H. Suit. The case then came before three loyat justices, one of whom was colored, for adjudi- cation, und after hearing the abe) pro and con. this eminent tribunal considered Suit. vallabie and reigased him on security of $1,000, This the ears ot the Governor from a radical source, and Suit bemg anything but @ ‘4oyal’ man, so called, his Exceilency addressed the following partisan letter to the Sheriff of the county:— STATE oF Nontn Canouixa, EXROUTIVE DEPARTMENT, RALRIGH, N.C. H To the SHERIFF of the County of Warren: Sik—L have received information in to a recent mur- der In your county. wleh renders it my tity to address you tia letter, Ib seems that Lynes was abot aud killed by Sait without due provocation and that the jury of inquest was ‘com ‘entirely of white men. Mr. Suit admits the killing. Idouvt if the crime is bailable at ail, and if #0 Lam sure the ball taken is not aullicfent. A jury of whice and colored men should be empanelied and thelr verdict should be had. The habit which some of our people have of taking thelr gana, to be st colored people for olfences or supposed’ of- fences which intiame their passions, must be put down. The life of Lynes was as sacred and as valuable in the eye of law and in the sight of God as that of Suit or any other man. 1 am deter. mined that in this and all other ‘cases justice shall be done, Violent mea itke M: who resort to deadiy weapons without cause, inust to feel in some wa: the power of violated law. It hat you will give this r immediate atiention. If any Juatiecs of the Peace in Warren are not dleposed to do their duty such will be re- moved and just and fearless weg, appointed ju their places, Very respectfully, W. W. HOLDEN, Governor. It would seen from this communication the Governor considers himself invested with powers ex- traordinary, for he overrides the ruling of the benen and constitutes himself judge, jury and corouer, though most of these delinquents were his own ap- kn polntees, Still another homicide of a lamentable character has to be added to the fatal lst. Captain Thomas an @ mariner, together wiih his nephew, David Fitzgerald, both of whom had just returned to Norfolk from @ cruise to Spain, were on a vist to Mr. David 0. Laws, residing near Halifax in ths State. On Wednesday last the two gentiemen had been at Halifax a ge portion of the day, and in the evening returned to the house of Laws for the purpose of re- uring. While on the Way a dispute arose between the uncle and nephew and coutinued after both were in bed for a considerable time. Fitzgerald vecoming exasperated, got up about eleven P. M., and, procur- ing a pistol announced his intention of killing his uncle. Their respective beds were in corners of tne room diagonally opposite, and the lights having been long since exti hed, intense darkness prevailed. Soon, however, Ricketts was startled by the fash and report of a pistol shot from the direction of his nephew's bed, and his life thus endai he seized a double Shot gun which was stand- ing at his bedside and fire’ it twice at the spot in which he had seen the pisiol fash. The inmates of the house, aroused by the reports of the firearms, came rushing with lights to the room, where Fitz- raid was found to be wounded in the lungs by a 18! of squirrel shot. Medical attendance was promptly procured, but though every effort was made to proiong his existence Fitzgerald expired about three A. M. A coroner's jury returned a ver- dict dw the morning that David Fitzgerald came vo his death at the hi of Thomas Ricketts, under justifiable provocation, As thie from whites t* not enough to subsist y the negroes have turued to robbing one pon another. A short time since an enterprising squad of “Cumies’ cessful 1 raid upon one of their ve Newbe: on the river Neuse, They came in @ boat, Janae safely, secured their booty, eae ered beef, ready for market, and re-embark But a short time had elapsed before the robbery Was discovered, and a party of darkies set out in hot pursuit of the ma- rauding party. After considerabie deploying and skirmising on the of the pursuers the thieves were overtaken and fired upon, With some effect, as they abandoned their boat and sought refuge in the woods. Upon reaching the boat « man was found dead who was kilied when it was fred into. It aiso contained the beef, with which the victorious part; returned and reported the entire affair as it scoured. A verdict waa returned by the coroner's jury in ac- cordance with these circamstances. A MELANCHOLY STOR’. Bigamy, Desertion and Poverty at Palmer, Mane. © [From the Springfleid Evening Nows, Dec. 26.) A young Irish girl, sixteen of age, came ap from Stafford to Palmer on Friday morning last wf conductor Williams, and came near giving birth to achild whileon the way. Mr. Wiliams cared for her as well as the circumstances of tie case would permit, and on reaching Palmer she Was handed over to the Overseers of the Poor, Who sent her to the State Almshouse, where shé gave birth to a child, According to her story, which seems to be an honest one, she came over from Ireland = year or two at. the desiré of her sister, who lives at |. She found her sister living with John Corbit, though unmarried, and the latter, faking & liking to the newly arrived sister, married her. But two women in one house, like two cats and one mouse, cannot often agree, After several months she was sent back to Ireland by her husband. After remaining there @ while her Ti discovered that she was soon to become a mother and shipped her back to New York, telling her to go to her husband. She arrived at New York on Wed- nesday last and came on to London by boat that nigiit, reaching Stafford Thursday morning. She found her husband, who, during her absence, had married her sister. Finding two wives on his hands, and, fearing the law against bigamy, he sud- denly airker: ie distressed and disheartened girl was advised to seek the charitable institutions of Massachusetts, and she reached the alnishouse at Monson (he next Morning as above stated. inet eoate james that place, DEATH FROM INTEMPERANCE.—Coroner Flynn yes- terday held an inquest at No. 10 Washington street over the body of Michael Dorsett, an Irish emigran' who died from the etfects of Inaperauces ‘ Founp DEaD IN Bep.—Coronor Rollins was yester- day notified to hold an inquest over the body of Patrick Eager, a native of Ireland, aged ears, Who was found dead in bed Bae he apart. ment, in the rear of No, 64 Mulberry street. PRESENTATION T0 AND DEPARTURE OF GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN.—On Saturday evening an address Was presented to George Francis Train by the “Train Congressional Committee” of the dis- trict and the Fenian Brotherhood, Mr. Train shortly afterwards left for Omaha, FATALLY INJURED.—Mrs. Elizabeth Banta, who was run over on Saturday ‘evening, at the corner of Prince and Thompson streets, by a baker’s wagon driven by John Lamb, died yesterday morning at her residence, 179 Prince street, fromthe injuries then received. Lamb was arrested soon after the eecurrence, Coroner Rollins was noufied to hold an inquest, FaTaL HATCHWAY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last ‘Thomas McMann, aged twenty-three years, a cooper, was struck upon the head by a barrel which slipped from the sling while being hoisted through the hatch- way of No. 38 Cedar street. He was removed to No. 871 Second avenue, where he died on Saturday even- ing from concussion of the brain. A coroner has been notified to hold an inquest. SUICIDE OF AN AGED WOMAN BY DROWNING.—AD unknown woman, who died on Saturday in the Maaffon street police station from exhaustion, she having thrown herself into the East river from pier No. 44, proves to be a Mrs, Elizabeth Schwartz, aged seventy years and a native of Germany. She resided with her son, in Essex street. No cause can be assigned for the act. Coroner Rollins will an inquest, THE PARK METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.—The report of the Park Meteorological Department for the week ending Saturday, December 26, shows the weekly mean of the barometer to have been 29.969; the max- imum, at nine P. M. of the 26th, being 30.354, and minimum, at seven A. M. of the 2ist, being 29.750, giving a@range of .604. The thermometrical mean lor the week was 27.36. The maximum was attained at two o’clock P. M. of the 2ist, when the tempera- ture rose to 43 di and the minimum, at seven A. M. of the 25th, was 11 a showing a ran or variation of 82 degrees. in fell on the 20th, and rain and snow on the 23d, the duration of the storms rise 4 fourteen hours and twenty minutes, and the depth ofrain and melted snow .30 of an inch. uest at No. 83 Laurens street, ire, who dled suddenly a POLICE INTELLIGENCE. THEFT OF MoNEY.—On Saturday evening Patrick Finan, of 88 Eldridge street, accompanied Margaret Sweeney to her apartment in 19 Mulberry street, and while there she stole from bis pocket fourteen dol- Jars. She was arrested, and yesterday Alderman Cuddy committed her to the Tombs, SrapBina AFFRAY.—OMicer Hildebrant, of the Fourteenth precinct, yesterday arrested a young man named Jon Patton, living at 205 Fifth street, on suspicion of being the person who, on Christmas night, stabbed Patrick Callahan im the neck, causing @ serious wound, during an altercation at the cor- ner of Elm and Howard streets. Alderman Cuddy committed the accused to the Tombs to await an examination. f FIGHT AMONG WoMEN.=Mary Ellen Smith, Rosanna Hughes and Ann Hanlon became involved in a difl- culty somewhere on Fifteenth street Jate Saturday evening, when the two latter made common cause against Mary Ellen, knocking her down, and, when in tnat position, kicking her so brutally that she was. afterwards sent to the+Bellevue Hospital. Her in- juries are of a serious nature and may result fatally. Both of her considerate friends were arrested by the police and yesterday morning taken before Jus- tice Dodge, at the Jefferson Market Police Court, to answer. | They were committed to await the result of Miss Smith's injuries, POLICEMAN IN TrouBLE.—Bernard G, Watson, a patrolman of the Twenty-ninth precinct, was ar- raigned before Justice Dodge, at the Jefferson Mar- ket Police Court, yesterday morning, to answer a charge of assault and battery and threatening to kill preferred by Kate Willis, a young woman living in Twenty-fifth street. She afirms that on the 1st inst, he met her on the street and after abuse he threw her down on the sidewalk, and since that time he haa frequently vowed he would take her lite, As these statements were not contradicted the ac- cused was ordered to give bail in the sum of $300 to ae the charge at the Court of Special Sessions. Sul Mo ose street, came. cewer , and signing e necessary 13 in the case for Watson's appear- auce he was allowed to depart. me COURT CALENDAR—THIS DAY. COMMON PLEAS—TRIAL TERM.—PART 1—Nos, 789, 1549, 1194, 1877, 1439, 1346, 1282, 798, 1555, 1658, 1559, 1561, 1563, 1576, 1577, % ; MARINE COURT—TRIAL TRRM—Nos. 1150, 1169, 969, ra 1s, a pop ee 1201, 1203, 1204, 2 1217, 20, 1223, 122334, 1225} 1229; 1230, . BROOKLYN INTELLIGENCE. EXPLosioN OF PATENT Gas.—An explosion of pa- tent gas occurred last evening in the store No. 160 Grand street, E. D., when a clerk named George Mc- Leeter was severely burned. The flames were ex- Unguished without material damage to property, ANOTHER OLD VETERAN Gonk.—Mr. William Tay- lor, one of the veterans of 1812, died at his residence, in Franklin avenue, near Park, on Saturday. De- ceased was seventy four years of and leaves a wife and one child. The Coroner heid an inqnest over the body, when a verdict of death from general debility was rendered. REescueD FROM DROWNING.—Yesterday afternoon @ youag woman, named Mary Curran, residing at No, 204 Stanton street, New York, accidentally fell into the Division avenue (E. D.) ferry slip, but was rescued from drowning by oMcer Thomas Langan and others. The young woman was kindly cared for by Mrs. Mee, of No. 1 Broadway, who furnished her with dry clothing. DAMAGE FROM THB BURSTING OF WATER PIPRS.— OMicers Cain and Mooney, of the Forty-second pre- cinct, discovered that the water pipe in the second story of Fludson & Sons’ painting establishment, in York street, near Fulton, had burst yesterday. ‘The building was entirely fooded betore the fact was discovered, and the dainage done will amount to about $400, ‘The water pipe in the cigar manufac. toryof Birfer & Co., at No. 16 Vine street, burat on Saturday night and flooded the piace before it was discovered. A Bopy Disintsrrap.—The body of a colored woman named Margaret Hagar, which was buried on Tuesday last on certificate of Dr. Moffat for heart disease, was disinterred on Saturday by order of the Coroner, The doctor, it ts had not attended the deceased since the 4th of November, and he had no right to give # certificate of burial. Dr. Crook was called the day before the woman died, but re- fused to give @ certificate. The Coroner held an Inquest over the bodys when the testim of Dr. Shepard, who made the post mortem examination, showed that the deceased died from apoplexy. A verdict in accordance was rendered. LONG ISLAND INTELLIGENCE. Map Doos.—Severai rabid dogs made their appear- ance in Newtown last week. On Saturday voy named Small, residing at Astoria, was bitten in the jace and submitted to irgical operation to arrest the poison, ON CaRistMas Nront three burglaries were com- mitted at Dutch Kills, town of Newtown, at which the thieves realized several hudred dollars in money and jewelry, The same night the wagon house of Mr. John Mitchell, at Little Neck, was robbed of robes, harness blankets to the value of A store at Mannetto Hill, Suifolk county, was rol of goods to the amount of several hundred dollars the same evening. BURGLARS’ RAID IN QUEENS CounTy.—On Satur- day night last tho office of the Glen Cove Fire In- surance Company at Glen Cove was entered by burglars, and an unsuccessful attempt made to rob the same. The thieves, after effecting an entrance, blew open a smail safe, which luckily contained but little of value, and then biew open the outer door of the vault, the noise awakening a clerk who slept in the store of Mr, Weeks, adjoining the insurance office. The clerk In rising opened the window of his apartment, and was obrerved by one of the burglars, who was keeping watch on the outade with a horse and wagon in which to make titeir es- i ad been stolen from a Mr. Pearsall, vieivity, The watcher immedi- companions, his aud they at juently John E. Coulter, residing at No. 446- Dr. Willard Parker delivered the fourtn of his course of lectures on health last night at the Bethel of Plymouth church. The subject embraced the consequence of violating the rules of health both to the “house” and the “owner.’? There was alarge attendance, among them several medical men. He was introduced by the Superintendent, Mr. George A. Bell. Dr. Parker, after a few preliminary remarks, stated that the only way to have health, happiness and life is to know the laws that govern and regulate us and contribute to health and happiness, Every individual should know how he is made and what he is made for, both to enjoy this life and the next, The blood isthe life ef the fesh, its great centre and source. Our food, when taken into the system, 18 converted Into chyle and goes to the nourishment of the blood. The blood first passes through the ventricles, finally through the lungs, which purify it. In order to have good, pure blood we must have materials, such as good You cannot mi anything good out of bad materials, So with the blood, ‘he blood travels through the right heart to the lungs. gives out in carbonic acid gas, The Ii take in or throw out about twenty-five inches of this gas with gach Droeti ‘The bioo in passing trough, she aye m undergoes great changes. Oxygen reat article of life, Svrithout which we cannot exist. No other “gin” can be compared to . it, ‘The lungs and the skin are two great outlets for im- ure matter. It is, therefore, necessary, not only to ve good air to breathe through the lungs, but also to keep the skin clean to have health; bathing is, therefore, necessary to keep the skin in a healthy condition, He recommended daily coid water baths and good friction. He entered into a diagnosis of the different kinds of food and their effect on the system. He classified them as the nitrogenous, or muscle, makers, which include milk, ch peas, barley, oats, potatoes, beef, mutton, poultry and venison. The carbonaceous, or neaters, such as sugar, milk, but- ter, cream, wheat bread, rice, buckw! oak, patetook and fat beef, mutton, pork and poultry. phos- Paerite Laie oe feeders, he heat he as milk, oysters, beans, peas, potatoes, beef, veal and maton. © le set down the time re- gue’ tor digesting the different kinds of food as follows:—Rice, one hour; tripe, one hour, trout, an hour and a half; milk, two nours; beans, two and a half hours; potatoes, two and a half hours; turkey, two and a hours; beef, three hours; mutton, three and a quarter hours; cage, three and a half hours; white two and a half hours; veal, four hours; salt beef, four and @ quarter hours; cabbage, four and a hours; pork, five and @ quarter hours. He next stated that the effects of cooking ‘was shown by the time required for diges- Uon under the various modes; for instance, beef roasted required for digestion three hours; broiled, three hours and a quarter; boiled, three hours and a half, fried, four hours ; pork, stewed, three hours, broiled, three hours and a quarter, fried, four hours and a quarter; boiled, four hours and a half; roast- ed, five hours and a quarter. He said that fruita were not producers of muscle, brain, or heaters, but, combined with solid food, had their salutary effects on the system. Providence has wisely adapted the produce of different climates to the wants and uses of its inhabitants; but how often does abuse this wise dispensation! Persons of sedentary habits, or brain workers, should not distress the stomach with too much solid food. From this abuse spring paralysis and apoplexy. The li the skin, the kidneys aud the bowels are the four great sluices of the body. Re ext their workings and uses by dia- rams. Me next spoke of the necessity of light to alth. Vegetables aor in a cellar will soon wither, So the human excluded , from good air and light, wiil soon contract disease and die. One is almost as conducive to our health and happiness as the other. He censured the growing tendency of driving in carriages and not taking eucugh of the healthy exercise of waking. He said that labor was con- ducive to health, There were two kinds of labor— muscle and brain labor. Muscle labor, though not the most prized, is certainly the most healthy and he believed the most honorable. in his opinion all healthy persons were capable of giying ten hours’ labor out of the twenty-four. No mau can do head work well and work wore than four or five hours, Overworking of the brain produces paralysis, apoplexy and other fatal di » He instanced several cases of brain- workers d@ng young or becoming imbeciles, All animal and vegetable life must have rest. whe Plants and flowers rest at night as well as the hu- man being. Night is the season of rest, and the great masses require seven or cight hours’ rest. If we deprive ourselves of this rest1t is at the sacrifice of beaith. Human nature lays down its laws, which cannot be violated with impunity, LOVE AND ELOPEMNENT IN MICHIGAN. Marriage of a Youth of Seventeen and a Malden of Fourteen—Rago of the Parents— The Maiden Bride Seut to a Convent. Es the St. Clair (Mich.) Republican, Dec. 23.) Sunday week an elopement and marriage took place at Marie City, the parties being a young man, aged seventeen, and a young lady, seu fourteeag both belonging to families moving in the first circies of society in that piace. The affair has created con- siderable excitement and talk at marine City and also at this place, as it contains ail the elements of a domestic romance, without, however, the auspictous termination which usually accompanies these ficti- tious episodes of love’s vicissitudes. The youn; man is named Albert Graves, and is @ cousin o1 Hon. N. 3. Boynton, our representative elect to the State Legisiature. Aibert has been paying lis addresses to Miss Susie Wescott, the youthful and charming daughter of Mr. D. H. Wescott, for over @ year past, and it is eaer necessary to state they became deeply enamored of each other. The atten- tion of the parents of both parties was directed to their wooing, aiid efforts were made to prevent their @ueeting. Infact, a strong and determined opposi- tion was raised, and the youthful lovers were given to understand that they must nevermore join hearts or hands at love's tryst Pp or breathe t® to each other's willing ear. “old, old story’? This stern mandate was attended with its natural conse- quences—only m: them more devotedly attached and more determined and successful in finding ways and means of meeting each other. Feeling that they were cruelly treated they deter- mined to make one bold stroke for treedom and hi piness. On the afternoon of Sunday, the 13th inst., without consulting thelr relatives, and accompani by @ male irtend, os em into @ cutter and drove over to D. F. Hi whose residence is about two miles west of Marine City, and were there and then united, by that gentleman, in the holy bonds of wedlock, Tne its of the yeaa, missed her, and after a little search got an tnkling of what was going on. A brother of the young lady, with @ friend, D, Lester, got into a cutter and made chase, but arrived too late. , Consider- ing that discretion was the betver course, they thought it was best to look over the affair and invite the young married couple home. cordingly joa on ahead to see the old folka, and ‘ucted the young couple to follow at a safe distance. They imagined that the old folks could be quited and reconciled, but in this they reckoned without their host. The father of the virgin bride had taken a position where he could see the young folks come into the village, and the brother and friend did not happen to see him. When the cutter came driving up the old gentleman halted it, and after @ short tussle with the pri m, in which his superior size and strength gave him a de- cided advantage, took his daughter out of the eutter and forced her to go home, at the game time | telling the he might “travel.” The irl, Cy Roe her heart would break, followed her father tome, while the young man, down hearted, took for the time being another course. The parents of each were exasperated, and jointly deter- mined to break up the hy yy ascertained rough ws of the State did marti: where the male cot ul eighteen and the bok and alx- and that under the circumstances of the pres- ent case the tle could be severed with but le diMeuity. This they determined to do, Close watch was kept over the young lady, but she mat to and mi her way to @ neighbor's bot escape, where Albert, being sent for, no sooner than she was again forced to return to her home. Negotiations were kept up all through Monday to a about py ey i the old by | bat all no effect. On Tuesday morning ear! oung bride, ander charge of her father Soa beuther, was taken to Detroit to be placed in @ convent, there to remain until she arrived at mature age or gave up the object of her affections. The entreaties of the girl to remain with her young husband and the course pursued towards her by her relatives have created = sensation throughout the be To neighborhood; and whtle some approve the wi of the parents in thus separating persons of tmma- ture age, who cannot form any idea of the ns bilities of married life, by far the ‘test majority severely censure the old folks and warmly syinpa- thize with the young lovers. RESPITE OF A MURDERESS. Minton Hairston, a colored woman, some time since convicted as an accessory to the murder of her hus- band, in Stvkes county, N. ©, and sentenced to be hanged, has been reapited and the day of her execu- tion postponed to Friday, July 16, 1869, It is a st gular featuge in the law of North Carolina that t prisoner h& been respited that she may appear witness on a trial for murder of one of her a plices in the crime of murdering her wusband. otier accomplice has been executed for the crime. « CUBA. Letter from the Revolutionists tm Cuba ta Secretary seward—Prayer for Recognition as nts. The f communication was addressed during the latter part of October last, by General Ox uw General-in-Chief of the liberating forced in Cuba, and the members of the Junta of the pro« vistonal government, to Secretary Seward:— ‘The Cubans, weer Of the degrading oppression by ru which they have led auriug wore than centuries; Of all their nupes to obtain nights to which all who 1n their cone science wish for liberty; hi we. even to the deprid vation of freedom of im order to claim a place, table of civi to wiicu their known titude for filling all careers and pub ic offices entit! ve finally raised the standard of ecm our ties and constituting a free voraineas that can) assure our future and open a field, enab! ug to march on the path of Progress towards thong’ our col Spain, in campment of ‘i the jus; nisdiction of jo, to the nuuber of 600 who although not all ed to warfare, were di of our hopes, our independenve—iu fact,until we t driven the tyranny and despotism of Spain forever, from our Which to the present day has, marked our brows with the stigina of the most des grading slavery, Providence, that always helps and ‘ides men who feel their existence in order to follow their autonomy, has granted that we happily took the pain of revolution, and although we were only five undred men, badly armed, and still wot dia~ ciplined, and driven to @ mountain by well organ< ized government troops of spain, we now, number filteen thousand men, suiticientl: well equipped and possessing ample muni- tions of war—an army that has arrived triumphantly, continually routing the enemy and augmenting, because the voice of libervy is re« sponded to from the bosoms of our forests, by mem willing to struggle against tyranny, like the plants. that rise and become animated by the first rays of the sun; and so unsparing is the hund of oppreiaion. that ignorance awakes mi the depths ts dark ‘ness to join in the strife. We now hold much more than fifty leagues of the interior of this island in the Eastern Department, among which are the people (or communities) of Jiguant, Tunas, Baire, Yara, parrancas, Vatil, Cauto, Euwbarcadero, Guisa and Horav, besides the cities Bayamo and Holguin, in ail numoering 107,853 in< habitants, whojobey us and have sworn to sheg to the last drop of blood in our cause. “In the mentioned city of Bayaimo we have estab- HShed a provisional government and formed general quarters, where we hold inore than 300 the enemy prisoners, taken trom the Spanish.army,. among whom are ee and governors of high rank, ‘All thig has been accomplished in ten without other§ resources than those offered the country we have passed through, without other arms than those taken from the enemy,, and without other losses than three or four killed and six or eight wounded. What does this indicate? It indicates that the Cubans are not so weak nor such cowards as rumored; 1t indicates that pared and capable to remove the governe oppresses us, that injustice cannot reigm forever, that a day will come when all great crimes. Will meet with punishment, and tiat the aspirations ofa people guided on their rough patn by the finger ane lence cannot 80 easily ve deviated or held However, in order to succeed in our holy cause, ewe require the intervention of tne iniuence of civil- ized and free nations, so that, recognized as bellie. gerents, they will cause the rights of people and the Jaws of humanity to be respected, and avoid bar- barous measures that are not of modern times and could be brought into action by such a govern- ment as that of Spain, obliging us to make reprisalg that are repugnant to our senuments, and that would tend to stain the purity and the nobleness of our cause, For this reason we recollect that in America there exists a great and generous nativu tv which we are - united oy important tles of commerce, and greac sympathy for its wise repubiican institutions that have served us as @ basis for tie formation of ours; We have not doubied for one miouicnt ip addressing ourselves to it, through the metium of the Minister of State, praying for its concurrence and aid of ite influence in favor of the conquest of our liberty, which cannot be doubtful or strange, since after being coustituied we must fol sooner or later, an in- tegral part of such poweriul nation; for the same reasons that the peopie of America are called to torm one nation, aad to be the admiration and the fear of the whole world. We take the liberty to hand you a copy of the mani- festo that we have published, with the two first copies of our official paper, the Cuvano Lidte, the only independent Agia mae that bas ever appeared ia Cuba. We are, sir, c. M. Genoral-in-Chie’, &c. OBITUARY. Brevet Major General Alfred Gibbs, U. S. A. ‘The death of this gallant oMfcer is announced as having taken place at Leavenworth, Kansas, on tho 26th inst. The deceased was born in New York State about the year 1823, and entered the Military Acade- my, at West Point, at nineteen years of age (1842). He graduated four years subsequently with honors, was commissioned a brevet second Ieutenant and assigned to duty with the regiment of mounted ries, During the war with Mexico Lieutenant Gibbs greatly distinguished himself at the battles of Cerro Gordo (im which he was wounded), Contreras and at Garita de Belen, being promoted to the rank of brevet first lieuten- ant for his conduct daring the first named engage- ment and brevet captain for gallant behavior during the last named battle. During our recent rebellion the deceased fully maintained the reputation he had won for ability and courage. In the many battles in which he participated the same miiitary skill and in- domitabie bravery which characterized his earlier career were exhibited. He rose from his brevet rank of captain to the full rank of major in the regu- lar service; was a bi ier and next @ major geue- ral of volunteers, and in March, 1865, was commis- sioned @ major general by brevet in the lar ser- vice, General Gibbs was one of those military men who win their promotions by genuine deeds and not by favoritism. A patriot in every sense of the word, he engaged in the rangle for the preservation of the Union uninfiuenced by the Lobe he of any per- sonal ambition for self-aggrandizement. It oe Soy said that among the many thousands of New Yorkers who distinguished their nasive State on a hundred battle flelds none bore his part more nobiy and galianuy than did the deceased. We regret that jack of space prevents us from giving a more ex- tended review of the life and services of General Gibbs. But a short time ago we were called upon to record the death of Captain Hamilton; and scarce! has the expression of regrets in his case c than we receive the news that another allaps son of this State is no more. After escaping the warlike missiles of the enemy ona hundred bioody tlelds, disease calls away General Gibbs at the compara- tively early of forty-five. His comrades and Jarge circle of friends will read the announcement of his death with deep sorrow. Charles 8S. Moorehead. ‘The Cincinnati papers of ast Saturday announce the death, at Greenville, Miss., of Charles 8. Moore- head, ex-Governor of Kentucky. Mr. Moorehead was born in Nelson county, Ky., in 1802, and soon. after attaining his majority was admitted a member of the legal profession. He soon after, however, engaged in politics; was a member of the State a lature for several years, Attorney General of Ken- tucky from 1832 to 1837, and @ member of Congress: from 1847 to 1861. In 1866 he was elected Governor of the Commonwealth. For many pas he was one and most friends of of warmest su Henry Clay. the secession movement threat- ened to di the Union Governor Moorehead used his best endeavors to avert war, and was one of the delegates to the Peace held at Washington in 1861. After the war broken out his aympa- thies were entirely with the South, and for this rea- son he was arrested and confined in Fort Lafayette for several months. Except by an occaai I a or letter,,he took no part in public affairs ter the rebeilion had been suppressed, but changed his residence to Mississippt, where he died, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. William Cartis, William Curtis, R. W. Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Grand Scribe of the Grand Encampment of the I. 0. of 0. F., died suddenly Poppe morning, at his house in Phila- deiplia, He acted as seci of the joint com- mittee of ents for the semi-centennial cele- bration on Saturday evening, and appeared to be in bis usual health. He has been an active ‘and promin- ent member of the order for over thirty-five years, A TRIPLE TRAGEDY IN ALABAMA. (From the Eufala News, Dec. 20. We learn from ® gentieman just from Gorton, Alt, that a terrible tragedy was euacted near that on on the evening of the 7th inst., resulting in the death Parish, "it seems thatthe thtes aon ned Startel is seem! 6 tl from tie home after dark, to of Mr. Bevil, about two ites’ distant, and that while passing a creek one and @ half miles Soneealon” i bp two the un- © a si fortunate men were with buckshot the third with a rife ball, The heart of each was ierced and their deaths juently instant. We learn that while the tial evidence con- hected with the affair would be convincing to one not compelled to be governed by testimony coupled with know! yet no clue has been ob- tained suMicient to any artests. Mr. B., We are informed, was @ bad man, and that the commu- nity lost nothing by his death, Mr. James Parish in his young days was considered a desperado, butin Advanced years (We learn he was near sixty) had be- me a quiet, inoffensive, ruaive man—a good citizen, The third view wa irely harmless. OOO OG EE