| Title: | Letter [?] to Judge Albert Estopinall, Washington. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3572 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | lemle, gustav/50 |
| Year | 1911 |
| Sender | Lemle, Gustave |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | attorney |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Destination | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Recipient | Estopinall, Albert (judge) |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | business |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Brendan O'Reilly, O'Reilly's Bar & Restaurant, Main St., Dromara, Co. Down. |
| Archive | Original Held by Above Donor. |
| Doc. No. | 9809073 |
| Date | 4/12/1911 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 11:09:98. |
| Word Count | 657 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dec 4, 1911 Judge Albert Estopinall Washington, D.C. My Dear General : I tried my very best to get to see you before you left for Washington in order to explain to you a matter in which I am very much interested, and I regret exceedingly that pressure of business prevented my doing so. The matter that I desire to speak to you about and get you to assist me pertains to Doctor Andrew W. Smyth. Doctor Smyth was appointed Superintendent of the New Orleans Mint at New Orleans, La [Louisiana?] and was holding this position when a fire took place in the cashier's vault. The treasury sent down some experts from Washington, who investigated the matter, and on proof collected indicted James Dowling, who was then the cashier under Doctor Smyth. Dowling was criminally tried in the United States Court before Judge Boarman, and the Government attempted to establish by experts, who had collected the ashes, that the amount of money said to be destroyed by Dowling was not in fact destroyed. Notwithstanding this proof, the jury acquitted Dowling of the crime and Dowling was left to go Scot-free. Subsequently, the Government proceeded against Doctor Smyth for the amount of money that Dowling claimed to have been destroyed by the fire, asserting that Dowling had abstracted the money, and that it had not been destroyed in the fire. The result of that trial was a judgment against Doctor Smyth and his sureties, and they were compelled to pay the Government $22,000. You can readily see that the result of the two trials in the United States Court that Dowling, who was guilty, if anybody was, was left to go Scot-free, and Doctor Smyth, an innocent party, was compelled to pay the alleged shortage. Mrs. Smyth is the sister-in-law of Albert Baldwin, Sr. [Senior?] and the aunt of Albert Baldwin, Jr. [Junior?], and requested me to take the matter up with you to introduce a bill for the relief of Doctor Smyth, and by special appropriation to refund to him the amount he has paid to the Government through his bond, for the reason that the loss was not due to any act of his, but the act of Dowling, who was acquitted in the Federal Court on the theory that he had done no wrong. I enclose you a memorial which was prepared by Mrs. Smyth and which is self explanatory. Mrs. Smyth has consulted with such eminent persons as Mr. Spooner and others, who have said to her that they believe that if the matter were called to the attention of Congress, owing to the prominence of the Doctor and his high ranking in the medical world, that Congress would refund to him the amount of money and interest which he was forced to pay under his bond. I shall be under many obligations, which I hope to reciprocate whenever an opportunity presents itself, and if you will prepare an [and?] introduce a bill for the relief of Doctor Smyth along the lines set out in the memorial enclosed, and have it referred to the Committee on claims. As soon as this is done let me know and Mrs. Smyth will go on to Washington, as she believes she could be of a great deal of assistance in getting the business through, as she has been promised help from prominent Congressmen. Please acknowledge receipt and send me a copy of the bill that you will introduce, so that I may show it to Mrs. Smyth. Mrs. Smyth had the matter up with Garland Dupre during the last session, but I have said to Mrs. Smyth that owing to the friendly relations that you bear both to Mr. Baldwin and me that you would take a more active interest in it than Mr. Dupre, and I am, therefore, taking the matter up with you. Thanking you in advance for your attention to the matter, believe me to be, with kindest regards, Very truly yours, |
