Pickett And The Archives

Frank Riggs, the son of the famous banker and his father's succeasor in the flnancial circles at Washington, tells me an interesting story that correcta a false impression which many good people have carried t'or years. Dnring the second term of President Grant a man of the name of Pickett sold to the government of the United States the records of the executive departments of the sonthern confederacy. From these docnments was obtained niuch evidence that prevented the payment of claims of southern citizens who pretended loyalty for losses growing ont of the war. In a single instance they saved several millions by showiug that mail contractors throughont the sonth had been paid from the Confedérate treasury for services perf ormed by them for the postoffice departement of the United States before the onfcbreak of the rebellion. They proved to be of great value in many other directions, and the price paid Mr. Pinkett for them. which was thing lik e $60,000, proved to be one of the most profitable investments ever made by the government. Pickett had been the cliief clerk of the Confedérate state department or held sorae similar office which made him custodian of the archives. When President Da vis and his cabinet fled from Richmond, Mr. Pickett carted the records away and hid them in some place that escapee! the searchers of the Union army, and the mamier of their disippesraace was a mystery until they wcre dslivareJ to Secretary Fish. It was always believed that Mr. Pickett pocketcd the money, and be was universally condenxned by southern people 'or botruying the secrets of the lost j caeso í'or a price. "Tho facta have never been told, " said Mr. Piggs, "for Mr. Pickett exacted the strictest pledges of secrecy from my father in regard to the disposition of the money. But both of them are dead now, and there is no reasqn why the trath should not be known. Mr. Pickett never had tho benefit of one penny of the money he received from the goverument for those records. He deposited the entire amount as soon as he received it in our bank to the credit of 'George W. Riggs, trustee for,' and it was distributed in small amounts among the widows of Confedérate ofñcers. Mr. Pickett made out the list of the people to whom he wished it sent. The checks woro all signed by my ther. Each one was aooompanied by a letter, which he prepared and which 2117 father signed, saying that the ir.closure was forwarded at the request of a gentleman who feit au interest in their welfare, but for reasons of his own desired that his ideiitity should not be disclosed. The account was carried for several years, aud all the checks and vouchers are now packed away ia our bank."-