The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1874, Page 5

. A THUNDERBOLT! A Court House Commissioner on the Tenth National Bank Claim. MIKE NORTON’S CONFESSION Curious Exploitation of Facts and Figures by a Financial Expert—A Startling Revelation— 4 Conspirator “Peaching””—N:w and Con- fidential Revelations as to Tweed, Ingersoll and Connolly by a Mem- ber of the Late Tammany Ring. Iwill be along time, probably, before reminis- cones of the Ring régime do not occur fn the courts. Among the numerous cases brought to Judicial notice there is none that has come up more irequently or been fought more rancorously than the suit brought by the Tenth National Bank to recover from the city the sum of $256,415 58, @laimed to be still due from the city to this bank ‘om account of advances made to the New Court House Commissioners. The multiplicity of mo- tons and countermotions made tm this. matter pesers.a complexity, in fact, that would. baMe the astute miellect of the astutest Philadelphia law- yer. Of course, alter so much has been sald and written im regard to the case, in @ennection with the proceedings heretofore had in the courts, it 1s unnecessary to give an ex- temded recapitulation of the details, The great point of ditference is—and this the suit is to de- termine, if inever reaches a determinate result, ‘which. judging from experiences thus far, seems amprobable for some time to come—that, while the bank claims that thesum in dispute was honestly aud in good faith advanced to the Court House @ommissioners, it is alleged, on the contrary, that this is only an attempt to obtain money trem the city treasury to which there is no just and legal titie, While the bank of- cials bring forward piles of affidavits and columns of figures that would perplex an expert in accounts to show the legality of their claim, quite as strongly opposing aMdavits are Submitted in opposition, upon which is predicated the bank claim. Outside of the merits of the case it is claimed on the part of the Comptroller, 4n resisting the application for the payment of this money, that a prima facie case is made in favor of the city, inasmuch as at the time these alleged Sdyances were declared to have been made the leading members of the Ring, that at one time heid uch potent sway in this city and through whom were perpetrated the wel] known frauds in connec- ties with the new Court House, were at that time directors of the Tenth National Bank. Tiring Of its efforts to get its money through the ordinary channels of court procedure, the bank has finally resorted to that most available and growingly popular remedy—application for a writ of peremp- tory mandamus. The mandamus thus sought for 4s to compel Comptroller Green to pay over to the Tenth National Bank the sum above named, alleged to have been advanced in 187! on requisitions of the Court House Commissioners. The hearing of the argument upon the motion tor the mandamus was set down for yesterday in Supreme Court Champers, before Judge Donohue, Ex-Judges Ea- monds and Davies appeared for the motion and Mr, Jobn 8. Strahan in opposition. ARGUMENT FOR THE BANK, An extended: argument was made setting forth the grounds of the application and arging that the facts presented showed tiearly and conclusively that the city was indebted to the bank in the sum asked for in the mandamus, The whole story of the case, as heretofore pub- Yshed in full in the HERALD, was gone over—a story certainly of great seeming plausibility, to which, together with the argument on the points of law involved, the Judge ustened with the closest attention. DOMPTROLLER GREEN SETTING ON THE DOGS OF WAR. Thus far the proceedings were characterized by that dryneas invariably attaching to discussionn af abstract questions of law; but the reading of efMdavits by Mr. Strahan, put in reply, gave, as the reading continued, an enlivening interest to the scene. First came the following brief aMdavit of Comptroller Green, setting forth how he deter- * eoined to forestall what he considers an legal raid an the city treasury and the means he set to work to do it:— City and County of New York, 3s.—Andrew H. Green, being duly sworn, deposes and says Comptrolier of the city of New York, The claim of the reiator, the Tenth National Bank, for alleged advances, among others to the Court House Com- missioners, was filed in the Finance Department early in 1872, The records of the Department, therefore, contained no information as to these pretended advances, From investigations made under my supervision into other transactions re- jating to the new Court House, it became my duty to cause & thorough examination to be made into all matters relating thereto, and I accordingly di- rected Mr. Taintor, an attaché of the Finance’ De- partment, to proceed with such examinatioi which he did, under my supervision, From th examination so made I am Satisfied that no valid claim exists on the part of the relator against the county, aud that it was my duty to resist the same. ANDREW H. GREEN, Comptroller, Sworn to before me this 7th day of Feoruary, 1874—NICHOLAS F. BUTENSCHON, Commissioner of Deeds, “AN EXPERT OF ACCOUNTS ON AN EXPLOITING TOUR. 000,000, te geen 9 bis sah ain a ments Com) Boutted, and in the Ca and payments q alscrepancy ai irom some ynidentified items, The said oo eee ic? of said coaneeec?, eine ca necs.000,00b inthe hamicol Ingersoll & Ce, dnd received payment sor thelsame’ fromm Comp- trhiler Connolly, OYERATIONS OF THB NEW O)URT HOUSE COM- jONERS. The Commisst authorizd to be appointed 382 of ‘ne Laws ot 1870 en- juties of ther o(fice early in De- These Commisioners were James Norton, thomas Coman and ohn J. 1D. the sme section which authorized their. agpotmtmen' they were empow- ered to expend and complete ‘he Court House for a sum not exceedi 000, which amount the Comptroiler of th@ city wat authorized id directed to raise the stockof the county, aaa the money 80 falsed wis to pe 'paia by the Comptroller on vouebjrs to be filed in his office and approved by the Commission- era, ‘The Comptroller, R. 8, Comolly, paid between December 20, 1870, and Mareh 1, 1871, on vouchers cember, 1570. H,, Ingersoll, Mi Joni ‘aisl which purport to have beem aproved by the Com- missioners, the sum of 15 16 out of the said $600, Of thig sam, $54,215 15, the sum of $494,332 43 was pald betweed tip 20th day of De- cember and the,2ist day of Janiary following, and of this latter sum I race $3,798 15 directly to the ACCOUNT OF JAMES H. INGERSOL IN THE BOWERY NATIONAL Bant, and an additional sum Of $127,18 49 I trace to the sume account alter passing thragh the accounts of intermediate parties, miking @ total of $432,916 64, and Of $494,332 43 deposited by said Ingersoll to his individual credi within a period of thirty-one‘days. In addition o the above sum of $598,215 15 paid by the Comptrollr out of the moneys. authorized to be raised by secion 7, chap. 382 of the Laws of 1870, the Comptroigr on July 7, 1871, paid on the receipt of said Ingirsoll to him on ac- count of the Court House the sim of $200,000 out of the money authorized to be raised for the com- pletion of the Court House b; section 7, chap. 583 of the Laws of 1871, joes making @ total of $798,215 15, of county funds, pdd on the vouchers of the commissioners and the riceipt of Ingersoll, purporting to be expenditures or the completion of the Court House; that the otal expenditures made for the said Court House, ynd of the saidsum. of $798,215 15 did not ‘exceed — $400,000, a fraudulent eppopriation of at 398,000 of the suns actually paid out of the County Trasury on the youchers and receipt of commissioners, one or more; that the sum set f¢th in the afidavit of Mr, Palmer, the President of the bank, alleged to have been advanced to tte county or to the Court House Commissioners, wa not advanced or paid by said bank to said courty or to said Court House Commissioners, but was paid to said Ingersoll, a director of said bant, at the request or on the instigation of himself aid his co-directors, Connolly, Tweed and others, wel knowing that the seme. was not to be used fo the completion of said Court House, and there tenot now, nor was there at any time, justly due and owing to said bank by said county on accoint of said alleged advances, the sum Of $266,418, or part thereof; that there is no law which ai thozizes ihe, said Court House Compissiners to appoint a reasurer and to define his dutie, F. TAINTOR, Sworn to before me, this mthaay of February, ie cea ¥. BurrENscuon Commissioner of MIKE NORTON, “CHE THONTERBOLT.” How Mike Nofton got the jobriquet “The Thunderbolt” is a well known fac of political ls. tory. It iscertain that the menton of his name yesterday, and the conmection {| which it was made, fell like a thunderbolt upon be Court and all present, Mr. Strahan was fn fo: startling sur- prises and he reserved the chef-Ceuvre for the closing scene. “I will now read,” he said afterte had finished reading the aMidavit of Mr. Taintoy “the afidavit of’—and he made an impressive pjuse before he announced the name, but with @ snile of supreme satisfaction lighting up his face atthe thought of the pleasant surprise in store for verybody, and then he slowly gave the completionf the sentence and the name—‘‘Michael Norton.” “Of what date ?” asked Judge Eqmonds, witha look of surprise. “February 4,” auswered Mr, Strhan, with an affable smile. “What year?" further queried Juge Eximonds, With a still greater look of surprise. “Of this year,” replied Mr. Strahaj, with aystill more affable smile, It 1s unnecessary to state that wham it was found the aMdavit was of so moderna dat, there was a general look of surprisc—a ee rent and became more intensified as Ing of the aMdavit progressed, Its ae _ and County 07 '8.—Michael Nor- ton being duly sworn, de} and says:—In the month of Detember, 1870, I was appointed by the Mayor of the city of New York, acting purenant to the provisions of section 12 of chapter 382 of the Laws of 1870, one of the commissioners for the com- pletion of the new County Court House of the city ot New York. Almost immediately alter my ap- olntment as such commissioner, I was urged by ngersoll, another commisstoner; by Mr. Connolly, the Comptroller; oy Mr, Watson, the County Au- ditor, and by Mr. Tweed, the’ Comumissloner of Public Works, to approve of various vouchers pur; porting to be bilis for expenditure in relation to sald Court House, incurred prior to the date of the appointment of the Commissioners, WHY HE SIGNED CERTIFICATES. | I met the Comptroller on several occasions in | reference to this matter. Ingersoll was always | present, My impression on reading the statute authorizing the appointment of commisstoners was t the Commissioners had nothing to do with the claims incurred against the Court House prior to this appointment, and acting op this im- pression I at first refused to have anything to do with these particular bills, Mr, Connolly assured me that I was mistaken, that he had been so ad- vised, and he pressed me to certify the bills or approve of the vouchers, a8 he was anxious, ne said, to have the parties paid; that they had been waiting a long time to get this payment, for he had put them of unul the Commissioners were ap- polnved, but that longer delay could not weil ne asked, or, 1t asked, would not be allowed. Con- | nolly, Ingersoll, Watson and Tweed were very anxious to have these bills paid. There appeared As will be seen by the apove afidavit the duty | Of ferreting out the matter was assigned by the | Comptroller to Mr. Taintor, the recognized chief | expert of accounts in the Comptroller's oftice. | His pursuit of knowledge under difiicultics, and | how he finally triumphed over these dificulties, are set forth in his subjoined affidavit. His c: lection of facts and figures, even upon the thread- bare topic of the financial operations of the Ring, roused to attentive listening all persons in the court room. ‘he following is his aMdavit:— City and County of New York, 88.—Henry T. Taintor, being duly sworn, deposes and says that, as directed by the Comptroller of the city of New York, I have made investigations in reference to alieged expenditures by the Court House Com- missioners, and also in reference to alleged ad- vances by the relator, the Tenth National Ban’ of the city of New York, to said Commissioners. as specially requested by the Comptroller, Iap- | plied to Mr. Walter 3. Palmer, the Prestdent of» said bank, for information in relation to said ad- vances. Mr. Palmer was well aware of the fact of my connection with the Finance Department, and I carried with me to hima written authorization by the Comptroller to permit me to make the ex- amination and procure the information desired, CHILLING RECEPTIONS. Mr. Palmer referred me to his counsel, Mr. Field, of Edwards & Field, Mr. Palmer and Mr, Field consulted together upon the subject. I pressed both Mr. Palmer and Mr. Field to afford me the necessary facilities to enable me to proceed with my examination, but this was denied me. 1 failec to get trom Mr. Paimer any iniormation whatever on the subject of that advance. He informed me that he was not going to impart to the Comp- trolier any information which might prejudice the relators’ case. Mr. Field was very emphatic in his | statement that the relators would not afford me any information whatever relative to the transac- tions of said bank with the Court House Commissioners. I reported to the Comptroller the refusal of Mr. Palmer and his counsel to allow me to make the examination of the books and papers in the bank relating to these transactions, and was directed by him to prosecute my inquiry in all other available channels. I applied to the clerk of the Court House Commissioners for information in relation to the expenditures of the Commissioners and in relation te the moneys received by them, ‘ut failed to obtain any information as to any par- ticulars relating thereto. FOURTEEN MONTHS’ RESEARCT | It was about fourteen months from the time | when I commenced my investigations until they | were completed, bs in 1873. During the whole or the greater part of the period during which the said advances are alleged to nave been mude, Will- tam M. Tweed, Peter B, Sween! , Richard B. vonnolly, John J. Bradley, ugh =Smith, | James 4H. - ersoll and others were direc- tors of sai foard, From my investigations | 1 have ascertained aud aver the facts to ve that said Tweed, Connolly, Ingersoll and others, during said period and for some time prior thereto, had conspired to defraud and did detrand the city and a large sum: = Bein eniount rs is Of meney, ex TWENTY-THREE MILLIONS OF LL, and of this an amount exceeding '$1,000;600 was traudolently obtained in connection with the new County Court House; that James "H. Ingersoll | Played an important part in carrying into erect | this conspiracy to defraud. He was the confidant of —Connoily, Tweed and others in wl conspiracy. Of the som of 000,000 and upwards I have 4raced into Ingersoli’s bank accounts upwards of } to be a perfect understanding between ther ip the } matter, By cach of them I was led to believe, and certainly acted on that conviction, that ail the } bills had been audited and aliowed by the Board of Supervisors, and that what the Commissioners | pre required to do Was Lo approve of the vouchers | which had alre ‘ing the facts to he sol signed cer- ¢ Pl d to me by the Comptrol- ler, Watson and Ingersoll, to eacti of which a bill Was attached. ‘The bills so attached have been in several instances removed since { signed, and | other and different bills substituted mereasing the amounts, which Ihave since ascertained were paid by the Comptroiler, THE VENTH NATIONAL BANK CLAIM, The first time J ever heard of the existence of a aim on the part of the Tenth National Bank, for alleged advances to the Court House Cominission- ers, Was about the middle of September, 1871. The dntormation was first communicated to me by In- gersoll, and a day or two atterwards by Mr. Walter 8, Paimer, the present President o1 the bank, who about the date stated. 1 am certain yuent tothe 1th day of September, er informed me that the bank lad made various advances to Ingersoll, which Ingersoll represented he received for the Commissioners, and that the bank and Ingersoll were arranging with members of the Board of Apportionmen' to have an appropriation made and the necessary wuthority given to the Comptroller to issue stock and apply the proceeds in payment of these ad- vancos, Palmer wished me to sign an acknowl edgment which he had drawn up, and which he had with him, acknowledging that the advances to Ingersoll had been made to the Commissioners. 1 refused, for the Commissioners never received or borrowed from the Tenth National Bank a single cent. Ingersoll never was authorized by the Com- missioners to borrow from the bank any sum what- ever for them, and the bank never was authorized by the Commissioners to advance to Ingersoll tor | them any sum whatever. ASKED TO SIGN AS A MATTER OF FORM. | At no meeting of the Commissioners was the | proposition ever made, considered, voted on or agreed to, that the bank should make advances to the Commissioners by way of loan, or overdra(ts, or otherwise, and if any advances were made by the bank to Ingersoll, it was without the knowi- edge, consent, approval or authority of any of the Commissioners bat himself. I so formed Paimer when he applied to me to sign the certificate. Palmer did not, for he cou'd not dispute what i stated, and the only thing he had to urge in reply was that he had the assurance of Connolly, Tweed and other ofiiciais that the Board of Apportion- ment would provide for the sums advanced to In- gersoll, and that the acknowledgment was a mat- ter of form merely to enable the Board of Appor- tioument to take the necessary action for this pur- pose. HE 18 SENT FOR BY TWEED, Palmer subsequently called upon me on several occasions a8 to thts matter, ‘Tweed also sent for me, and i had several interviews with him on the subject. Tweed was very pressing that! snould sign; 40 were Ingersoll, Connolly and other direc- tors of the bunk. The pressure was very strong, but L refused until about the time I became a can- didate for the Senate, This would be some time in | the month of October or toward the middle of it, | I cannot state the precise reason which induced me to sign, ‘4 POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS: had something to do with the matter, for 1 did not wish to make so many of the parties at that time in power my opponents when I was entering npon @ political contest, and this I would have done had Lreiused to sign, \ur they were almost all directors ol the bank. RECEIVED NO PROUNIARY RECOMPENSE. From no person at no time did I receive any pe- cunlasy or other consideration to sign this ac | days for the remainder of the session. | democratic Senators the business of the Legis- | | lature can be | transacted with closed doors, knowledgment, and at no time and in no form did | Lreceive trom reo} or aby other person any of the money: tne bank to Ingersoll, If the advances were made by the bank, a8 stated by Palmer in his affidavit, verified 16th of Decem- om 1872, they were made and returned by Inger- PITCHING INTO PALMER. Thave read the acknowledgment signed by me and the other Commissioners as set forth In said Palmer’s aMdavit, This acknowledgment or cer- tifcate was not voluntarily executed and deliv. ered by the Commissioners to the bank, as alleged by Faliner, There was yo meeting of the Commis. ners ever heid to consider this subject. The ac- knowledgment wag not agreed. to or autnorized at any meeting of the Commissioners, It was not signed by the Commissioners at any meeting, but by each Commissioner sepa’ ly, aiter earnest entreaty on the part of Palmer and various of she directors of the bank. ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS. This acknowledgment or certiticate contains many statements which are not correct in point of fact, particularly the statement that the Commis- sioners trom time to time drew their checks upon the bank for money necessarily used by them in and about the work of said Commissioners, and that the bank honored said cuecks and paid the same to the ainount of $242,579 94 over and above the amount depoaited in the bank to the credit of the Commissioners; aud the furtier statement that the Commissioners were indebted to the bauk for the moneys #0 advanced on said check to the —-* $242,579 94. Each of said statements DAMAGING ASSERTIONS. No requisition was made py the Commissioners upon the Comptroiler for any portion of the moneys authorized to be raised ior the completion oi the Court House by section 7 of chapter 653 of the Laws of 1871 prior to the date upon which J signed the said acknowledgment or certificate, for the moneys authorized by section 11 of chapter 382 of the Laws of 1870 had not been expended by tre Commission- ers, If any requisitions were made by ingersull, pursuant to chapter 683, Laws of 1871, they were unauthorized by the Commissioners. ‘The tirst re- quisition made by the Commissioners under chap- ter 583, Laws of 1871, was in November, 1871, aud was @ requisition on the Board of Apportionment to authorize the issue of $500,000 of county stuck for the completion of the Court House, The Board of Apportionment reiused to comply with tns requisition until certain information was furnished by the Commissioners in relerence to the Court House and the ¢xpenditures connected therewith, Ingersoll prepared a report of expenditures, which was forwarded by him to the Board of Apportion- ment, and @ copy of which I now see annexed to Mr. Palmer's amdavit, verified December 16, 1872, This report was enurely the act of Ingersoll and is false and fraudulent. Ingersoll iniormed me alter this report was made that he was person- ally liable to the bank for the advances, and if the bank failed to get the money out of the Comptrol- ler, he (Ingersoll) would have to pay the amount Dimself, MICHAEL NORTON. Sworn to before me, this 4th day of February, 1874—WILLIAM HEILEY, Notary Public. ‘TIME TO GET OVER THE SURPRISE. Both ex-Judges Edmonds and Davis repeatedly raised their eyebrows in astonishment during the reading of the above affidavit. They coniessed they had been taken wholly by surprise, and asked time to examine and answer it. After a brie! dis- cussion it was finally arranged that copies of all the afidavits read be served on them early this week, and that the argument proceed on next y Batatday.~ WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SAYS. Areporter of the HERALD called at the Depart- ment of Finance yesterday, after the hearing in court of the above case, to see if any explanation could be given of the remarkable circumstance of a fugitive from justice making an afidavit within so short a period as the 4th of the present month. The first person met with was County Auditor rle, who, in reply to the reporter's inquiries; said that he had heard a few days ago that there would be some revelations at the Court on Satur- day that would surprise somebody, but that he did not kuow then the exact nature of them. “But do you suppose that this aMdavit was made by Norton in this city?’ asked the reporter. “[ presume so, Why should it not be? Youare familiar with the yacht and sloop story, are you not !—the positive assurances of somebody that Genet and the other lugitives sailed away inasloop to parts unknowa?”” “Don’t you think,” said Mr. Earle, that that may be a myth? Is it not possible that Norton, for instance, might be in the city or sufficiently near it for purposes of this kind?” “Do you know the notary public before whom the affidavit was made /” “Never heard of him before. Did not know there was such & man until this morning.” At this point in the conversation Mr. “Expert?” Taintor loomed up in the office, The reporter pro- ceeded to interview him. afr. Taintor said that he wus opposed to Norton coming to the city to make any afidawit. , “Then the aMdavit was made in the city, was it, Mr. Taintor ?” “J don’t say where it was made. It is repre- sented as being made here. | presume it was made here.” “Who is this Mr. Reiley, the motary public, Mr. ntor 2”? Well, he isa notary public there is no doubt. Ae will not, however, tell you any more than I have told you. Indeed, he wiil not tell you so much.” “L see his name is not in the Directory.” “No, but he ts qualided to receive aMdavits, name is genuine enough.” Mr. Dexter Hawkins joined the group at this point in the conversation. Mr. Hawkins did not know that the affidavit nad been made. Mr. Taintor related the principal details to him. “Ay,” said Mr. Hawkins, “I always thought Nor- ton was an honest man at heart. Me was in bad | company ; that was the trouble. He has an honest look in nis face. The Almighty does not make any mistakes. When he puts honesty in a man’s face you may be quite sure it’s not a false presentment. So I think Norton is honest, and has only been led away by his companions and his political necessi- ties.” With this short sermon by Hawkins the group of inquirers was broken up. NEW YORK LEGISLATURE. The A Satarday Mecting of the Senate—Lit- ue Business and Poor Jokes. ALBANY, Feb. 7, 1874. Pevitions were presented by Messrs, Robertson and King to exempt bonds and mortgages trom | | Mr, ROBERTSON reported a bill to repeal the law | taxation. allowing towns and villages to bond ta aid of railroads Mr. G to authoriz introduced a bill to amend the act the formation of railroad corporations and to regulate the same (passed April 2, 1850), so | as to permit the classification of directors of rail- road corporations, it provides that directors may so classify the members of such Board, by lot’ or otherwise, that, nearly as may be, one-fifth of their number shall go out of oMice at uch annual election, and at the next succeeding annual election each of the said companies, the directors of which have been 80 classified, di- rectors shall _be voted for only to fill the place of | those whose term of oMice shall then expire under | tne classification aforesaid, Mr. LOSD offered a resolution that evening ses- sions be held ou Mondays, Wednesdays and F Only twelve Senators voted on the resolation, | which was not a quorum, | On motion of Mr. Lorp a motion to reconsider was laid on the table, Mr. Lord moved that in the opinion of the rompleted by the 20th of March, therefore final adjournment take place on that day, | Lald over, Bills on general orders were called, but the Presi- dent stated that as it had been made to appear that there was NOT A QUORUM present, the only business in order wasa call of he house or an Adjournment. Mr. Lorp remarked that he observed that the majority of those who voted for a session to-day were absent. He had no doubt they were some- where around and would be in soon, (Laughter.) He could not think they would vote for a session and then run away. ‘The roll was called and the following Senators | answered :—Messrs, Bradley, Coies, Dayton, Gan- | son, King, Ledwith, Lord, Lowery, Kobertson, Selk- reg, Thompson and Wooa, On motion of Mr. ROBERTSON the Senate ad- journed until Monday morning at eleven o'clock. THE CIGARMAKERS’ STRIKE. ‘The Oo-operative Cigarmakers’ Union heid a meeting yesterday at No. 37 Bowery. It was largely attended by the men who are on strike from the house of Krebs & Speiss. Business was that the Union resolved to send a committee to the “bosses” on Monday or Tuesday, to sec What arrangement, if any, can be entered into, Messrs. Krebs & Speiss aré reported a8 ing that u have @ stock of 6,000,000 rs on d and can stand the strike for two or tl months, ana dismissed committee, about the of which the present strike originated, It transpired | The Outcasts of the Street, the Hungry and Homeless. Three Hundred Fed and Lodged Last Night at the Old Leonard Street Police Station. The cruel band of poverty has never laid 80 heavily upon New York as at the present moment, and the streets of the Empire City are crowded with men who know not how to obtain bread for themselves or their families. ‘No friends,” “No money,” ‘‘No work,” is the tale heard on every side, In times Tike these the sufferings undergone by dependent women and children ia dreadful to contemplate. The msery stalking around the city, in broad daylight, has caused some of its citi- nens blessed with money aud philanthropy to dip aceply into their coffers to rescue tneir starving brothers and sisters, who otherwise would, ere | many days have sped, find themselves picked up | while starving by the police in the street “as only & pauper,” and, If their case was hopeless, in a jew days longer their emaciated bodies would have jJound their way up by the dead boat to the Potter's Field. Last night a Heraupreporter was provided with the following card:— OLLIE OL EELOLE DOLE DELE OO LELE RE IDLEDELO LEE LE LODE LODGING 1 ROOMS: k the EF COMMITTEE, of HOWARD ae 49 3 3 3 ard street, ; vole poor men, nighv’s lodging. 3 HATCH & FUOTE, Bankers, z No. 12 Wali street, ‘Treasurers. Qevecccocccsereceresveese rene sere reso ne nesere tee tt HO On arriving at the oid police station in Leonard street the reporter presented his card to Colonel Williamson, the Superintendent, Before the re- porter had presented his card a cordial “Good evening, sir,’ was wished him by the Superinten- dent, who thereupon commenced asking his name, age, profession and nationality previous to allot- | ting him a sleeping place for the night. After the catechizing had been gone through the reporter stated that he had come to see the working of this institution. A cordial invitation to step behind the railing and take notes of what transpired was then given. OUTCASTS, Hardly had a seat been taken when a tall Seotch- man, with an accent suggestive of “Auld Reekie,’’ entered the place, Alter the usual greeting by the Superintendent, he commenced to tell his tale. But the Superintendent cut him short and said, “Friend, you are haif frozen, 1 see; come and sit down by the stove and you will tell me what you choose afterward.” The man, therefore, sat down by the stove and commenced eating with voracity @ large hunk of bread furnished him by the Colonel. After a few minutes he sata, “I don’t know your name, sir, but you have saved my lite; for I felt desperate. No work and nobody to say a kind word to you—nothing but ‘Sorry I can’t do anything for you. If I was to give to all who ask 1 should have noting left for myself.’ That's the kind of charity you mect nowadays, A man’s life is not so much thought of as a good-looking dog. A man might as well try to fy as to get work nowadays. 1am a lithograpner by trade and used to get good wages, but now 1 have been out of work for some time and my friends will give me no more money. God help the poor, I say, for hardly anybody, except a few, will. I have pawned everything I had and am now starving. I wish I were back in Scotland.” The man’s hectic flush and brilliant eye tol the story likewise that his health was ruined aid consumption was fast at work. A STARVING VETERAN OF THE WAR, The Scotchman was then sent up to his sleeping quarters, tottering rom weakness as he went along. Hardly had be left the dock when another timid knock was heard at the door, and iv came an old man, shivering witt the cold and his feet covered wid Ireland, af prou of it, thank God! I fought for this country inthe One Hundred and Fourth regiment New York volunteers, and was at the taking of Richmond. I have not had a cent of pen- sion, but now that I have found out my old colonel, Mr. Strang, I hope he will do something tor me. 1 am sixty years old, and I deserve my papers; but a poor man has no rights.’ The old man was taken up to his sleeping quarters, A GERMAN TEACHER OF LANGUAGES, ‘The next person was a highly educated teacher of languages, looking cold and wan, He said he had been educated at Dusseldorf and had been very successiul in obtaining work ; but now all had gone wrong, and nobody wanted lessons but in economy. At this little sally he feebly smiled, and aiter that was shown up to his room. A VICTIM OF DRINK, Then came a young Frenchman of prepossessing appearance, whose face was the imprint of dissipa- tion. He stated he came from “Za belle France” and had been a@ cook, but had lost his place throug drinking. He said he was going to reform, and a place was foand for him with other suffering brethren, 4 DOCTOR'S WIDOW. Colonel Williamson said: We also doa good deal of outside charity. There isa woman named Mrs. J. Keene, the widow of the doctor of that name, residing at No, 107 Sullivan street. Last week she earued fifty-flve cents, and in three months $11. About three months ago she lost a little child, through lack of medical attendance, and has @ little sick ene with her now. Iam try- ing,” said Mr. Williamson, “to make some arrange- ments to get some help for her.” A VISIT TO THE SLEEPERS. The Colonel then went with the reporter up stairs to see the sleeping accommodations. On tne first floor, in a room about 25x30 feet, were ranged thirty-five beds, all occupied. In seven other capa- cious rooms thirty-five mattresses, with pillows, were seen on the floor, all occupied, the temperature being about eighty-two degrees and the ventilation excelleat. Many had taken off their clothes, and many @ torn and soleless pair of boots were seen in the centre of the rooms. Several beds were vacant, their occupants having gone | down stairs to pass an hour in cleaning and wash- | ing clothes. Some of the men snored likestroopers, while others had their eyes open. All of those awake seemed contented and thankful to be out of the cold streets, WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS. We opened here on the 13th of December, and have been at work about two months, The station house has been given ws free of rent by the city | till the property is sold, which we hope will be a long time first. We lodge here every night @out 270, and, in addition to this, we help about twenty families aday. We receive lodgers atsix o’clock, and they pour in without stopping till our reception isfull, We then get their names, &c., and then send them down to supper; after that they retire to their rooms. We have no sit- ting room for them. We have had no disorderly cases, except by two or three men who would smoke, and had to be turned out, “BUMMERS” OR “REVOLVERS.” the police station, on the next block, and tell them to come back the next morning when we will give them a breakfast. No man need leave this place hungry. We hope soon to open a place in Thomp- son street, All men who come here are requested to wash themselves and their clothes before retir- | ing; some we have to make them wash. We fed last week over 5,000 people and lodged nearly 2,000. This place was set on foot by the Seventh street | Methodist Episcopal Church, at the hands of Rev. | John Parker. Each meal costs us about three and & halt cents, consisting of bread, soup and coffee. We aiso give fish, beef, pork and beans, We give | suppers to regular vagrants and then send thom to the station house, All are fed; our principle is to turn nobody away. During the day we give meals to women. In December we fed 9,168 and expect to feed over 20,000 this month. Our lodgers are mostly mechanics and clerks, salesmen, teach- era and ® few laborers. We have not bad above | ' When we cannot take men in we send them to | eople nere. We hope the poog of this city know that we have a weloome for all. ‘The following is the Hationality of thirty names taken at bazard:— United States, 11; Irciand, 7; Germany, 6; Eng- Jana, 4; Scotland, 1; France, 1. ‘The work is carried on by private subscription. We are deeply obliged to the Commissioners of Charity and Corrections for their kind co-operation with us. We have procured employment ior a great many men, and have sent home a great many, through the kindness of railroad and steam- boat companies, who co-operate with us in many 30 carrying out our humanitarian aims, As the reporter left the building, James Freeman, No. 9; a0 @ poor fellow with froathitten feet, MEXICO. Peace aud Industry in Place of Revolu- tion and Robbery=The Railway Con. cession Competition=Provincial Com- Plications. MzExico Crry, Jan. 15, 1874, Mexico has for mauy months been enjoying a period of rest from revolutionary movements. The jew loca! disturbances which have occurred in various States, especially near the northern fron- tier, have not been viewed at the capital as pos- sessing apy particular importance, as they have not threatened the federal authorities or the na- tional peace, General Porfirio Diaz remains quietly employed on his hacienda, in the State ot Vera Cruz, near the coast, and has not been enticed irom the quiet enjoyment of his own home by the ambitioys desires of such of lis partisans as have been anxious to see him in the gubernatorial chair of the State of Vera Cruz. Martinez, Garcia de la Cardena, Negrete, Trevino and other leaders who have been so often of late identified with revolutionary acts, have been enjoying the frnits of peace, and it is to be hoped, for the | future good o| the country, that they will forever | hereafter be content with appealing to the ballot- box rather than the sword for the selection of their ralers, During the last tew weeks there have been rumors of an attempted reorganization of discontented leaders to oppose the present ad- Ministration; but there are no reasons for bellev- ing at this moment that any combination can be effected suficient to disturb the present repose of Mex Kidnapping and stage coach robbing have been less irequent during the past year than during any single year since the fall of the so- called Empire, THE INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS. On the other hand, internal improvements aave not advanced as has been expected, Agricultarat interests have, upon the whote, improved, while mining affairs have fallen off most fatally. Prest- dent Lerdo has recommended the Congress of the hation to grant the railroad concession to a mixed Mexico-Auglo-German company, of fourteen mer- chants living here, rather than to either | one of the American companies: seck- | ing it, @ Congress has passed the | necessary bil, As it now stands, in all proba- bility, the fourteen mentioned merchants cxonot ply with the conditions imposetl, and the ecutive and Congress may have to fall back upon American enterprt As is quite natural, President Lerdo prelerred that his o#n people, aided by merchants whose interests lie in the country, should build the railroads of the country if they could, and he has now given them an op- | portunity, A meeting of the Geographical and Statistical So- ciety was held here on the 15th, in honor of Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, deceased, brother of the Presi- dent, who was distinguinned asa statistician, and | who devoted himself to the internal development of Mexico, THE MINISTRY. General Leon Guzman, who recently resignea his office as Attorney General, in giving bis reasons | for the act mentions his bad beaith, and says that he was not in accord with the policy of the Su- preme Court. General Escobedo’s recent arrival | here has again set afloat all kind of rumors re- arding the coming Change Of the Cabinet, includ. ing his taking the portiolio of war, but these rumors need confirmation. A STATE GOVERNOR ON TRIAL, Governor Vallarta, of the State ot Jalisco, is now under trial by the National Congress, charged with anti-consittutional acts. He is generally con- sidered here as personally and politicaily un- friendly to the government, The School of Arts (San Carlos) has just closed an exhibition of paintings and sculpture exceed- ingly creditable to the country. ‘ COMPLICATIONS IN’ YUCATAN. with snow. Aftar ¢ shore time he stated: — With reference to the State of Yucatan the “My name jg acl Fitzgerald, and I am from | Monitor of the 17th inst. says:— . The correspondence which we have received by the English steamer dates up to the 9th, and brings us aad ws from that State. Her political tion - ‘y day more and more complicated, jor the struggle in case tl he adwinistration of Cas vernor, be backed up by th ent. {t i) announced that ex ‘oppore the present overn MABRIAGE BY OONTRAOT. } | A Wife Sues Her Husband and Rela- tives for Conspiracy—Domestic Life in France. | | | | | PirrssuRG, Pa., Feb. 7, 18' | trial in the courts of this city, the incidents beitg | of quite a romantic nature. The prosecutrix is | Regina Steiner and the defendants her husband and a number of bis relatives, Mrs. Steiner ts a large, handsome, middle-aged woman, a native of Alsace, She appeared ip court in the richest and costliest of toilets and with a profusion of elegant jewelry. chant named Gottiried Jacque made ter ac- } quaintance and secured her as his mistress, ‘They lived together for over two years, | when Mr. Jacque concluded to marry some — | one else, and after revolving the question | over, he hired Julius Steiner to marry her, agree- | ing to settle upon her an annuity of $1,200 in gold, | for the support of herseli and children, | Stemer_ came to America and remained for a | while in New York, but ultimately came to Pitts- | barg, where he finally settled. Aiter the lapse of | about nine months he returned to Paris, married | Regina, in pursuance of the previous arrange- | | ments between himself and Jacque, with whom she had been living, and brought her to America, | togetner with two children, of whom the wealthy | merchant was father, In the meanwhile the mer- | chant had settled on Regina an annuity of 6,000 irancs; but, before the year had expired aiter their arrival here, the husband, with the other | delendants, commenced a series of systematic abuses on the wile. They tried to force her ito | Dixmont Insane Asylum, and in otoer various ways to rid themselves of her presence. For a consid- erable time it seems that her husband appropri- | ated her money to lis Own purposes, and with it purchased some property—that was not recorded, | however—and he conveyed it to Adam Weigand, a | relative, evidently lor the yee of gettung rid of the dificuities occasioned. The deiendants deny any conspiracy for the sake | of obtaining the annuity. The paper provides that | the two must marry, and the interence is that the | money belongs equally to the husband and wile. | ‘The case is still going on, ' THE HAWKINS ZOUAVE ASSOCIATION. | ‘The regular annual meeting of the Hawkins | zouave Veteran Association was held last night in | No, 20 St. Mark’s place. A goodly gathering of | many old comrades in battle greeted their veteran ex-commander and present chairman of the aaso- | elation, Colonel Rush C, Hawkins, | Colonel Hawkins in his annual address alluded | feelingly to the number of old companion soldiers who had been mustered out of life's arduous cam- | paign since their last roll call a year ago. He said that itis thirteen years since they met as soldiers | of liberty, and thought it right to keep up old | sociations formed on the field of battle, as the or- | ganization is to perpetuate past deeds of glory, cultivate patriotism, & love country and of free- dom, a8 Well as to render mutual aid to each other in time of need, A good deal of interesting private business was transacted, such as reading the reports of the Sec- | retary and the Treasurer, and hearing suggestions | submitted by the Executive Committee througn its chairman, General Jardine. Active measures are being taken to increase their numbers and make the 4ssociation—as here- | tofore—worthy of the fine old regiment | which it represents se Ninth regiment, New | York State Volunteers. Measures are also to be taken for the purpose of ee a permanent headquarters. A resolution was a + f by which | the annual meeting is to be changed from the 8th of February to the oth of June. The officers of the association are:—Colonel Rush C. Hawkins, President; General &. Jardine, | Vice President; Major James B. Haner, Treasurer; Captain J. 6, J, Langbin, Secretary. THE GADSHILL RAILROAD ROBBERS, . St, Louis, Feb. 7, 1874. ‘The Republican's Jefferson City correspondent says that Governor Woodson has offered rewards of $2,000 apiece for the capture of the outlaws who robbed the Iron Mountain Railroad train Gaasbill a few days ago, but no oficial announce- mept of the fact Yet been made, acoloreé blackemith, was admitted to bedroom | An interesting case of alleged conspiracy is on | It appears that in 1869 @ wealthy mer. | “THE BELUS! BELLS! BELLS” The Splendid Sleighing Festivities Yes- terday in the City and Park. | | THE SPECTACLE. “Ahoy, there !?? ‘This salutation, addressed to @ HERALD repre. | Sentative at the corner of Fifth avenue ana Nine- teenth street yesterday, led to some very pleasant resutts. The HERALD representative had been or- | derea Go ®sieighing, as Mr, Stanley was ordered | Wo find Livingstone, aud he resolved to execute the orders or die in the attempt. So he sauntered up Fifth avenue on his way to a stable, with tind organized for fun and a soul full of joy. When he arrived at the corner of Nineteenth street some idle fancies were skylarking in his brain and a texture of genial phantasmagorla had heen occupying lis attention, It was thus when Mr. Blank shouted, “Ahoy, there!" Mr. Blank is a clever, whole-sonled man of the world, @ cheery diner out, a provider of repasts, and @ man who never forgets to have coffee for hig | guests after dinner, For these reasons, and par- ticularly for the latter, one our representative consented to arrest the tenor of his thought when Mr, Blank, seated behind @ pair of spanking baye in a large, sumptuous sleigh, was disposeu to ban- ter and be pleasant, “Come! jump in!” said Mr. Blank, “and don’t be standing there hesitating.” “Tm debating,” was the reply. “Well you mustn’t debate ever!’ said Miss Bianw with a merry twinkle in her eye. ‘This was enough—a jolly party consisting of Mr. Blank, his daughter aged nineteen, Miss Ciara ; Mrs. Blank, an elderly lady with tron gray hair and rosy k, and fine manner, and a gentleman from Chicago, What better company could one de- sire? But the awkward feature was that there were only four places, and a fifth one hau to be made. Thanks to the elasticity of crinoline it was | made, and two minutes afterward our representa- tive was shooting up Filth avenue nestied in a bed.of seal skin, veritably sitting in the lap of luxury. It was not one of those brilliant, cloudless winter days when one sallies out sighing within himself, “Would that tt were always winter!’ Yet the weather was clear and crisp, and the companionship was more than delightful. Mrs, Blank sits onthe right hand, and, good soul that she is, she contributes to the general mirth as the horses dash along the avenue, while the windows of the mansions are occupied by critical observers and the sidewatks lined with envious pedestrians. “You're going to write an article :? “Yes, Miss.’ “But you mustn't mention our names. If you do, no more invitations to dinner, remember. You horrid journalists aiways put our names in the papers and sandwich us in between all sorts of people. “Well,” said Blank, “if you're going to write about the drive just take the reins and give us & reckless spurt—sowething for spice in your ar- ule. “All right”? ; The HERALD representative was in the mood The remus Were transferred; a sharp crack of the wittp Was responded to by the nimble-footed steeds, Who caught up a wild pace and shot by the Hebrew tempie at Forty-third street with a rapidity that a Western editor would style lubricated lightning. The sleigh was a handsome piece of workmanship, Dot ostentatious, and truly marvellous for speed, Hundreds -of fine turnouts were on the road and the loud and gen- | eral jinglings of ‘The bells, bells, bells, The tintinrabulation of the bells, bells, bells, throwing their ringing waves of sound on the clear air, filled with the azure hue of respiration steaming trom the ivory clad mouths of pretty women, was & scene that would have made Mayor Havemeyer recall his antedtluvian boyhood. Still the HERALD representative kept the reins, and crack! crack! crack! reminded the team that they were notdoing hard enough work. The snow began to come in over the dashboard, Blank nim- self looked blank with amazement as @ pull on the left rein turned the sleigh toward the entrance to une Park and all the cargo on the ground, Nature had provided an unevenness of the surface, and reckless driving, a sharp turn and a sudden movement ior recovery did the business, “Now you have all tne necessary spice for your articles,” said Miss Clara, witt @ loud and pro- longed laugh. Fen,” added her mother, with a smile not quite | so enthusiastic, “but we will a0¢ furnish any more condiments ak. Air. Biank and Chicago and the Herap repre- sentative restored the ladies to their feet aud the sleigh to perpendicalarity, as throngs of passers dropped their gratuitous witticism and two young urctuns stood by whistling a new meiody known as | “Mulligan Guards.”’ It took but a few moments to | make a tresh start, but this time Mr. his position with the reins and the I | spondent sank into a contemplative mood, wonder- | ing when the day will come that all men shall | have sieighs and fine horses, “Now there is a {| turnout 1 would like,” be said to himself. “But it { has this objection, the horses are too near tne ‘sere and yellow leaf.’ Yonder, coming, 18 a beauty—two mustang ponies, faultiess ta build and | caparisoned in fine taste; silver ornments, light | gears and splendid carriage, An African is seated on the box, but I wonder that he doesn’t know his sition better. His right arm is beating his reast, this being his method of keeping warm. Two dowagers occupy the back seat, muMed up in seaiskin, with a gorgeous afghan spread over their laps. A young lady completes the party; but her solituce is sad, | for she hi no company of her own age. The HERALD Man seized # moment for observation. } Seldom, or ever indeed, had the Park been alive with so much Vivacity, #0 much that was troly enjoyable. Probably this was due to the fact that it was Saturday afternoon. There were few pedes- | trians, and the greac thoroughfare was compara- tively deserted. Everybody who had a sleiga ap- | peared to be out for an airing. Of course, sleighs are notas plentiful as they mightbe, They are the | badge of attiuence, it miglit be satd of extravagance, | in New York. The prices charged for them at the | stables are consequently ruinous, From $15 to | $40 for an afternooa’s ride is really extortion. | But now can it be remedied? So yesterday, aiter ‘the “wealth, beauty and iasnion’’ had recovered | from the evil effects of the Charity Ball dissipation, which closed Friday morning, they took advan- tage of the heavy fall of snow which kept them in their homes on Friday evening, and thus our | sparkling metropolitan liie was represented by the | ton out in their fine toilets and glittering S~ tablishinents.”” All classes and all kinds could | be seen. It was curious, however, to see with | what care she would Keep the carriage cur- tains down and avoid observation on all sides. ‘Then there was a jolly party of tour “drummers” who had each contributed their $5 for an atter- noon’s drive, to be followed by an evening’s spree. | There was also the well known turfiman with his lancy trotter and & box on run- | ners, flying over the serpentine drives of the | Park. Hundreds and hundreds were there, form- ing one of the most cheeriul spectactes ever known | in'New York. The winter toilets were superb, many of them too glaring aud too offensive in their ostentacion to be becoming. Sealskin hats and jackets prevailed, and why should they not prevailY They constitute the most charming cos- | tume in which a young iady can array berself. They make the homely look pretty, the sour saccha- | rine; they tone down the hard face and the up | happy sneer that comes from adversity, and make the old look young again. Give us, then, more sealskins! The afghans, rugs and robes were of great variety in beauty, color and size. The sieighs were, With ew exceptions, very well dressed in- deed, Full of joy and laughter, the Blank party did not | underestimate the glorious carnival. {t made the | modest man fee! weaituy; it gave him that reck- Jess feeling that he would part with all else on earth but that day and that occasion; but they Tmuust be essential to happiness. So it was ever onward, until Mr. Blank, with his | Soroa Saeaceneecnnye ico manner, asked the RRALD representative if he ever yielded to the seductiohs of Bacchus. For the first time in his | lite he answered that he would go into the inner tempt Noa hunself up as @ sacrifice to the heathen god. It was cow nearing twilight, and the party turned homeward With light hearts and heads un- impaired, having enjoyed one of the most pleasant | occastons in lite. THE LIEDERKRANZ BALL, he crowning effort of Prince Carnival in this city is the ball of the Liederkranz Society, the foremost of our numerous German musical or- | ganizations. The preparations for the forthcom- ing ball, which will take place on Thursday even- | ing, February 12, at che Academy of Music, are of such @ colossal nature that it may be inferred in advance that a serious attempt will be made to | eclipse all the preceding balls given by the society, | The principal features will consist of s series of tableaux and pantomimic extravagances, The scene paincer’s art will algo be employed to embel- | lish the tableaux and elaborate mechaniam will be brought into requisition to produce certain novel transiormations and effects. Those leatures will replace the procession of former years and will be “ ceeat attractivencss b; bed tude of e music: me, Tho tableau: repre- sent Father me and the Seasons, end! with an rical picture of Prince Carnival, ent committees will be handsomely costumed, and ‘there will be more variety in the maske of the members than at any preceding bai masour of the enrtate