The New York Herald Newspaper, November 10, 1875, Page 4

4 RING RASCALITIES. Specimens of the Methods by Which Brooklyn Taxpayers Have Been Bled, PROSPECT PARK AWARDS. Contrast of Prices Paid to Ring Pets and to the Average Citizen. KINGSLEY, KEENEY & CO, AS CONTRACTORS, The Brooklyn Ring, which is now threatened on all eides with exposure of its history, is execrated by all “the honest taxpayers of that cityand can no longer hide its misdeeds from them. On every hand are found complainants, ready ana willing to testify against it, so that the work of compiling charges for the Governor snd Attorney General’s consideration grows hourly fess difficult; facts are so numerous and witnesses so weady, The detailsof the swindies which have been perpetrated by the Ring would form interesting reading to students of municipal reforms, inasmuch as it would acquaint them with some of the most perfectly matured schemes for mulcting property holders and skilful legisla- tion for screening as well as facilitating official rascality. Not one of the following jobs is simple or bungled, The Atlantic street main was the job by which Mr, Fowler signalized his advent to the Board of Water Commis- sioners and helped to repay Mr. Kingsley for aiding him after his disastrous oil speculations, a short time pre- vious, This cost the city about $960,000, Then there 1s the Wallabout improvement, another plum for Kingsley & Co., of perbaps more than $1,000,000; again, ‘THE BAST RIVER BRIDGE, im which the same geuticman had the manipulation of all the contracts, It might be well to call attention here to the fact that in order to make a liberal lumber contract the foundations of that splendid piece of ma- sonry were made of wood, a plan of which no engineer of character would approve. It is said that the South Brooklyn Sawmill aud Lumber Company, in which Kingsley & Co. were interested, benefited by these contracts, Contrary to all precedent im cases of the Kind, the construction of the bridge proper was forced before the right of way was had in the cities, Next we have the Hempstead Reservoir, Kingsley’s pet also; the patent pavements,.too, out of which Mr. Kingsley is said to have got $65,000 from Bonesteele; another ‘the Third and Hudson avenue sewers and THE PROSPECT PARK EXTENSION, from tho records of which a few entertaining items Bhve been collated. The cost of the original S20 acres ‘was. $1,387,006 27, and the first acts of the Legis. lature coniined the original and contingent expenses of Jaying out and governing, &c., to $500,000, Ia 1865 the Ring Commissioners got a bill through the Legis- lature empowering them to take what is now the plaza— about nineteen acres—at a cost of $158,558. In 1866 ‘they got a bill through on the same principle extend- ing the Park to Fifteenth street, Coney Island road and Franklin avenue. ‘These 250 acres thus added cost $752,745. Then, in 1808, waxing bolder by success, they made the Litchfeld purchase of fifty-seven acres, at a cost of $1,705,243 Naturally the question presents itself, “Who benefited by these enormous expenditures of the city’s money?” The following summaries of the real estate transfers are iustructive:— W. ©, Kingsley. purchased in December, 1866, and January, 1867, ninety-nine lots and two gores of the Litchfield property for $61,695. At that time not a man outside of the Ring knew that the Park was to be extended by the addition of the Litch- field blocks. In May, 1869, Mr. Kingsley parted with his proberty pro tono publico, receiving therefor ap award of $141,549, making thereby $79,854, less interest, Just “Boss” McLaughlin bought January, 1868, four lots for $4,250, for which, in May, 1869, he received as an | award from the city, because it had appropriated to Park purposes this little piece of property, $8,886. William A. Fowler's wife, Mary F., purchased seven lots for $3,500, and she was similarly Awarded $10,448, It is instructive to look at the different awards made to honest citizens who have been deprived of their property and to the pets of the Ring who bought land to have it taken for Park uses. The former receive for 250 acres only $752,745, the latter for only fifty-seven acres received nearly $2,000,000. It may be noted, in passing, that Mr. Litchfield still lives in the house which was pur- chased from hum for the Park, and that that portion of the purchase has not yet been improved for Park pur- poses. ‘THE LITCRPTELD PURCHASE. Now, the history of the Litehfield property, as re- Jated by citizens who have been following up and | ferreting out the absolute overcharges of the Ring, is susstucey as tollows:—By an act passed by the Legis- Javure in 1868 the third extension of the Park, viz., addition of the Qfiy-sevem acres, at a cost of nearly ‘$2,000,000, was effected, Mr.’ Edwin ©. Litchtield owned part of the tweive blocks needed, and received, it ts alleged, nearly $408,000 of the whole sum awarded. The Commission on Awards for the Litchfield property consisted of Henry C. Murphy, Jr., son of State Sen- ator Murphy; 7. G. bergen and General Slocum, with the three experts John Keilum, J. French and 8, Booth. The duty of these last*three was to appraise th buildings, fence and wall on Mr. Litchileld’s part of the property. Messrs. French and’ Booth made a thorough examination, Mr. Kellum being unable to serve, and agreed upon the following report of esti- mates, which was suvtnitted to the Commission on Awards. It reads thus :— in Buooktys, Feb. 6, 1863 Hewny C. Merrnry, Jr., E Chairman Commission :— Sim—At the request of the commission you repre- sent the undersigned have estimated the value of certain improvemeuts on block of land bounded by Third and Fifth streets and Ninth and Tenth aveaues, as follows: ng house For greenhous For stouo wail and iron feu nd four hundred and forty-six bmitted. SAMUEL BOOTH, JOHN FRENCH, It is now publicly alleged in the city of Brooklyn that this report was disregarded by the commission, who made a further allowance of $63,000 for dwelling house, een house, stable, stone wall and iron fence to Mr. itehtield. "Tue rent of she house, paid by that gentle- man for along time alter le received the award of $498,000, is believed to have been not more than $3,500 @ year. ComPosITION OF THR KING. ‘The Ring is said to be composed of William C, Kings- ley, Wiiham A. Fowler, Hugh aicLaughiin, Keeny and Murphy. These are also said to be tho head centros of jour rings distributed through the county. Their | “improvements” abead that, if properly presented pawer in csvenaive, ond; bering slways been careful to | to the Legislature, would’ be quita safficient to ssoure the 8 permission of consent for their | Keep them going for the term of their selt-aggrandizing jobs, they have proceeded in | D4tural lives. In March, 1868, they hed am comparative safety and taken into their ranks other men of quast respectability, The pu le regard every man who held commissions or places of trust ander the Ring as its coadjutors; hence it is that Messrs, 8. L., Husted, A. F. Campbell, Strana- han and other lesser lights have come to be considered tools of the central power, Nearly all the jobs that have given so much offence to the good people of Broo! lyn bave been conducted by one or all of the geveral commissions appointed by the Ring, Samples of these raisdeeds are to be found in every part of the city, And perhaps it isonly just to say that while Kingsley 4s said to have bad a whole hand in each of them, his partner, Fowler, and the permanent Board of Water and Sewerage Commission, it is alleged, had another. In May 6, 1870, the number o' commissions was reduced to three, and they were Fequired to consult property owners on the line of streeis before repairing them. The next seasion of the ture changed the name of the commission to “Department of Uity Works,” and added to ite duges the opening of streets, &c, r. Fowler is one of the three Commissioners to-day, and said to be the prime spirit in it, although Mr. Woodward is the President, lowever, the latter gentieman 18 netin very good Tepute with the Commitiwe of Fifty, from whose inves before this transaction | — $105,000 in repairing and cleaning sewers, which shows the defective character of the trunk sewers, which have to be cleaned by band. ‘THE HUDSON AVENUE SEWER was also given to Kingsley & Co. by day's. work, and they managed to collect about $394,000 for twelve blocks of sewerage, with junctions, that should not have cost so much by $200,000, The whole expenditure was use- less, because there was a sewer already in existence through this section which did the work of the neigh- borhood. In short, the sums of money out of which these contracts have muleted the city amount in the aggregate to miilions, and the taxpayers who have groaned beneath their terrible burdens have resolved at last to throw them off, if possible, and make their villanous taskmasters quit and disgorge. ‘The Law Committee of the Taxpayers’ Association are busy, and there is every = of speedy action on its part.’ ‘The remedy 1 at hand, and the exposure will soon be complete, MAYOR ELECT SCHROEDER said to a HERALD reporter yesterday that he was aware that strenuous efforts were to be mado to oust the King, and that he had pledged his aid in the guod work to several individuals connected with the Taxpayers’ As- sociation, Inadim sort of way be was cognizant of the preparation of affidavits to be used against the mal- feasant officials, They relate to the method of letting contracts to complete work required by the Departmen’ of City Works and the abuses of public confidence that grew out of this practice. But what the specifications might be Mr. Schroeder could not say. He feared that @ great deal of the ory of iraud was not so well found as that caused by the wasteful extravagance of structing the Hempstead reservoir. Some of the p le who denounced the local improvements in Broo! lyn were men who years ago, when first these improv ments were proposed, loudly’ approved of them, No that these improvements have not turned out so well &s they anticipated, their property not having so mate- Tially advanced in’ public appreciation, although the taxes are increased, they are unwilling to pay thelr as- Sessments to deiray the expenses of the improvement, and denounce the whole thing as fraudu lent. Mr. Schroeder said be was in favor of roform in every direction needed, and he would aid it as wellas he Could. Speaking of the statement that some people wished to make lt appear that Mr. Kings- ley bad made favorable reference to bis (Schroeder's) election, and how it was regarded by the Ring, the Mayor-elect said that It was the last thing Mr. Kingsley or his friends could have desired, because ne and th were always opposed to him, aud as Comptroller M Schroeder had been inimical to them. Mr. Rowe’s election Would have suited the ‘Boss’? admirably, but his (Schroeder’s) never will, because the former was the “Boss?” choice—the latter his opponent. As to when or how the biow against the Ring was to be struck Mr, Schroeder had nothing to say, and it he knew he thought it would be very uuwise tw give his knowledge to the public, HISTORY OF THE WALLABOUT EXTENSION— SKETCHES OF A LUCKY LOT OF MEN, “Why do the people of Brooklyn permit themselves to be robbed by rings?’’ is a question more easily asked than answered. A detailed . explanation of why they cannot help themselyes would be too long and tedious, Suflce it to say that when every department, including the Board of Education, is grasped in the tentacles of the polypus Ring that governs the city, when even the sav-- igs banks are at its mercy and the city deposit banks trembie at it, it is easy to see what a herculean. task it must be to destroy so formidable a monster. Acres upon acres of real estate and houses by the hundred have been confiscated by this ALL-DEVOURING MONSTI to satisfy asscssments for patent pavements laid down miles away from the property confiscated. ‘The gentie- men who live on the Heights (of respectability) are in a measure responsible for this state of things, ‘The city funds are deposited in the thirteen banks of Brooklyn, and the gentlemen ou the Heights are directors or shareholders in most of them, The savings banks hold most of the city bonds, an@ thus @ connectioa of interest is in some degree secured be- tween the city government and a potent social influence, The banks in thelr monthly reports nowa- days publish no statement of their capital, and the pub- lic is left in the dark as to whether the city funds may not be the only capital some of these banks possess. In every possible direction the Ring, which is Uy no means contined to a few men, but embraces in its aids and ac- cessories quite a full brigade of citizens in every walk of life, bas thrown out its intrenchments, and no blowing of rams’ horns will bring down its walls. Yesterday the | HenALp gave a pretty comprehensive idea of the gross imposition on the taxpayers by means of the Hempstead Feservort. To-day is Presented a job of a similar character—the Wallabout extension—which was kept going for years and was only abandoned when an in- | | vestigation was threatened by the Common Council. THE WALLABOUT EXTENSION, ‘The need of closer and more convenient communica- | tion between Brooklyn and Wilhamsburg was long ago | felt by the people of both sections of Brooklyn. labout Creek ma deep horseshoe indentation of the coust Ane in front of the Navy Yard. Years ago it | penctrated far inland and at low tide presented a vast area ot mud, 1.was gradually circumscribed, butit long | Continued to be a barrier in the way of short and casy intercourse between Williamsburg and Brooklyn. A | project to do away with the roundabout method of | communication between the cities was received with | favor on ali sides. It was mo as usual, through | the Ring organ, and its merits were sung from day to day. Soon a lobby of Brooklyn politicians found their way to Albany with.a bill already tixed and every Bre: | vision made for a long and heavy haul | on the treasury. The Dill passed with tho | active aid of the Brooklyn delegations in Senate and Assembly, who were in duty bound to help for- | ward any measure of the Ring, seeing that to the Ring they owed their official existence. Under the Walla bout Commission uct three men—Alexander McCue, Seymour L, Husted and Anthony F, Campbvell—were | appointed a Board of Commissiouors, as the act said, | “tor the improvement of lands in and near Wallabout | Bay by laying out and constructing a basin, dock and | streets ;” and, further, they were authorized to lay out, grade and pave a strect and sidewa‘k upon Washington | avonue, The appropriation for the work was not to excecd $250,000, It was a very fat goose to pluck; ‘so ‘the Commissioners sat down w the task ‘and determined not alone to take their time, but to pay themselves well for it. The | only improvement for which their existence could bo Justified was the extension of Washington avenue from Flushing to Kentavenue, the thing tor which the peo- | ple of Brooklyn and Williamsburg were all along clamoring. This they determined should proceed so slowly that its progress might be as imperceptible as the growth of an ouk tree, This finished, they had no | other earthly business as a commission; bus it was TOO RICH A PLUM | to drop. As long as they could show the extension was unfinished they had an excuse for remaining in existence as Commissioners, There were other irons in the fire at the same time, and it would spoil the fun if they had to be taken out too soon. It took them «ix ears to construct half a mite of street, but to put the | sins and docks in order, so that vessels might come | in and pay tolls to the commission, occupied only six | mouths, Ina section of the act creating the commis- | | sion was a clause as follows:— | ‘The said streets, basins, docks, &c., shall be under the exclusive control and management of said Commis- | sioners until they shall be fully completed,” The pregnant meaning oi this ttle joker will be un- | derstood when it is stated that all the energies of the | commission were directed to making room for vessels, | and barges in the basins and levying off the cargoes atoll | | of two cents a ton. What this amounted to in the year | | may be inferred from tne fact that on the heels of the | improvement of the basins and dopks forty or fifty ves | eels might be observed lying there at one time. The | |docks and basins continued to yield | A VINE REVENUE, but the improvement the people of Brooklyn and Wil- | iiamsbury sighed for languished, Starting with $250, | as the act framed by the Commissioners themselves | declared, “for the purposo of paying for the eaid Wash- | ington avenue, basins and docks, ancall other exponses necessary and incident thereto, and for which the | Common Council of the city of Brooklyn are author- | 1zed to issue bouds for an amount not exceeding $250,- | 000," the same commission managed to spend $1,200,- 000, As they went on with the work they saw other | act passed authorizing them to determine the wharf | line on the northerly side of the canal, to construct a | wing bridge of forty-five feet span and’to erect ong or | more piers in the basin then established. On the heels | of this another was passed directing the Commis- | sioners “to excavate, lay out and construct Kent avenue basin along the course of Wallabout Creek, from Wash- ington avenue to Hewes street.” A clause was inserted in the act giving the Commissioners power to instruct | | the City Treasurer at any time to issue bonds in their | favor. “For the completion of the works,” ag the plea | | went, another act was passed, in April, 1860, granting a further sum of $96,000, making a total in dgures of $856,000, but the expepditure for the Kent avenue busin was fixed at no particular sum, and might be | called unlimited. THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONTRACTORS | Kingsley & Keeny crop up in this as in most other big “improvements” carried on of lato years in Brooklyn, They are foremost in the East River Bridge and Hemp- stead Reservoir, besides a hundred stnalier enterprises. | Kingsley & Keeny’s profits on the Wallabout improve- | ment aro estimated at $600,000. The following \s thoir modest little bill for “pegging away” at their own sweet discretion several years on the Wallabout extension — PAID KINGSLEY AND KRENY. Uigations into THE THIRD AVRNUR SEWER the following facts have been obtained:—Mr. Joseph Van Winkle entered intoacontract with the Water Board tb build the sewer in this avenue from Twenty. | eighth street to Carroll street, and after partly com- Pleting the same} he was removed, and Mr. Keeny | (Kingsley’s partner) directed to complete the work. it | that, according to Mr, Van Winkle, bewweon awarding of this contract and the sign. of the same he was offered $1,000 first, then 000, und finally $5,000 to throw it up. Before | the contract was signed the Water Board tried to im- his suretios, but without success. Separate bids ‘were put in by Kingsley, by Keeny, and by oue McCann, their foreman, thus making three diferent estimates offered by one concern. dr, Van Winkle wold the com- mittee that he would have received tair compensation ander his contract if Le had been permitted to coro Nete it, He was the lowest of ten bidders, and Kings- hey & Keeny the highest, The result, therefore, by the transfer of his comtract, a year after he had begun the work, to Kingsl for work which Van Winkle would have performed for $175,007. In addition to this the sewer was 60 badly ucted that it bas a dip trap of eighteen inches on its floor from Fourth to Seventh street, so that a gang of laborers has to be employed constantly to keep the sewer clear. In the year 1574 the Board of City Works & Co. was Sur tee of $415,497 | h Sept. 29... $35,200 Sept. &. Oct. 1.. Nov. 6. Dec. 8. Dee, 31. March 31..... ) 1873—June 30, Paid Seth L. Keony....s0eee+ Total ..... $817,609 | The report Gually furnished by tho Commissioners to | the Board of Aldermen gives no details about expendi. tures, Ti.¢ various aums of money paid out are given in bulk, iy an act of the Legisiatare the Commission: ers wore insiructed to furnish details of expenditure they could do was to let the public know that-the money was consumed in this, wi Wal ut improvement. $872,260 13 Kent avenue improvement, north side. 186,357 92 Kent aveuue unprovement, south side. . 263,718 90 A os antes cssa5ns seaseees $1,212,047 00 At the foot of Washington avenue a swing bridge was constructed, the expenditure for which can nowhere be found in the Commissioners’ report, It has since been ened repaired, the last time at an expense of COLONEL J. W. ADAMS, ENGINEER of the Board of City Works, has been a lucky man in his profession amid the multitude of enterprises struck out by the Ring His salary of $3,500 from the city as Chief Evginver was only a bagatelle compared to what he realized as engineer of the various schemes wherein Kingsley & Keeny figure so prominently. He recorved $14,481 for his conncetion with the Wallabout exten- sion, and he was also identified with the Hudson avenue sewer, the Third avenue sewer, the Hempstead reser- voir ahd other undertakings. THK COMMISSIONERS. Anthony F, Campbell has been a republican politi- ‘clan, belonging to the secret order of wirepullers for many years, He was Sheriff of the county betore 1860, He 13 one of those quiet, suave, soft spoken men, in whose mouth butter might congeal, He is nominally a friend of every man he meets; practically, a friend of nobody except A. F, Campbell’ He has held several positions in departmenta, the salaries of which nave been nominal, and without any other ostensible busi- ness than politics is able to live at entire cusc, and is said to have accumulated a large property. Seymour L, Husted ig a genial, quiet, unostentatious man about sixty years of age. He is a republican in polities, He commenced life a poor man, carly ‘con- nected himself with the political machinery of Brook- lyn and is now reputed to be worth from $2,000,000 to $5,000,000. He was a member of the Park Commission when $24,090 was paid to Kingsley, Hugh McLaughlin, William A. sume time the Polhemus estate, a more valuable prop- erty, was suid for $6,000 an acre. Mr. Husted was also one of ‘the original bridge directors, He was chairman of the cele. brated Executive Committee, which had the entire management of the bridge affairs, It was through that committee that all the land was exappropeiated, all the supplies furnished and the money paid out, Fif- teen por cent of all the money received was, by a secret resolution, not reported to the Board, paid to W. ©. Kingsley, the largest stockholder in the concern, but for the benefit of a general pool. The supplies were furnished from mills, quarries, &c., in which it was * believed the pool had a controlling interest, Mr. Hus- ted is a large shareholder and director in most of the gas companies of Brooklyn. He has been operating very largely in the gas business in Baliimore, Buifalo and St. Louis, He is also President of the Die Sav- ings Bauk of Brooklyn, of which John W. Hunter, Mayor, is Treasurer, It is said that Mr. Hunter's greatest embarrassment since he has been Mayor has arisen through the influence of Mr. Husted directed at him when some critical point was reached. Mr. Hunter has the reputation of being an honest man, well ad- vanced in years, who has accumulated but litle money. His salary in the Savings Bank was a matter of very great consideration to him, and b&s been continued daring his Mayoralty, The relation existing between Mr, Husted’s Savings Bank and the Mayor's office has been one of frequent discussion and very general re- mark. ‘Alexander McCue was elected City Judge at a special election in the spring of 1870. He was at the time in Europe. He was a partner of William C. Kingsley in the Brooklyn Eagle, and had much todo with the im provements of certain streets in the city of Brooklyn, especially with Atlantic avenue. He ‘x a large dealer in real estate, He was associated with Kingsley in several organizations, banks, clubs, a theatre, oil com- panies, gas companies and other enterprises, When a person was looked for to fill the position of judge it was decided by Kingsley, Kinsella and their assoviates that there was no person whom they could trust but McCue. It will be remembared that In 1869 Kinsolla was a member of the Water Board, by which, in two years, $15,800,000 wero added to the debt of Brooklyn, There was collected in taxes during the same time 39,750,000. ‘The bridge was inaugurated, the park was being pushed forward and the patent pavements were being laid down, the Hempstead reservoir scheme was gotten up, the absortion of the newspapers was agreed upon, and Jobbing had then reached its highest point, ‘Taxes had ‘then risen to $3 60on the $100, In the saine year, 1569, twenty-five per cent was added to the assessed valuation of property in order to make the tax rate appear low. The additional State tax which Brooklyn was made to contribute by this fraud- uleat transaction amounted to over $300,000 a year. During the same period the water receipts were made to appear to full off $65,000, although there were built | in Brooklyn, and requirmg water, 5,300 houses in that and the previous year. The records for the Water Department during Unose years have mysteriously dis- appeared. Mr. McCue was also one of the directors of the Bridge Company. He also acted as counsel for that company afer he was made Judge. Ho received ono counsel fee as late as November, 1871, amounting to $2,500. THR CONTRACTORS. W. ©. Kingsley is a tall, slim, red-haired man of about forty. He wus formerly a school teacher in the northwestern part of the State, where he had time to divide his attention between his scholastic duties and the mysteries of canal management, in the latter branch of study he became a prodeient, graduated with honors, and came to Brooklyn some seven where he tound a congemial soil forthe d of his particular gentus, He assumed tho rdie of con- tractor and soon shot away abead of all his coms petitors, receiving some of the fattest jobs in fnd about the city. He is now worth $7,000,000, | is almost absolute owner of the Kagle and Union (the one democratic and the other republican), selects his candidates.for office, and the other day, it 18 said, snc- ceeded in having his choice for Mayor (F. A, Schroeder) ciected. Mr. Kingsiey is a mild-mannered, geutiewauly man, with a bright eye and a clear head. Seth L, Keeny, contractor and partner of Mr. Kings- ley, is a man of a diiferent stamp, Mr. Kingsley 13 educated; Mr, Keeny is not, but he is naturally shrewd and {nteiligent. He professes to be a con- noisseur in art, and in consequence falls a frequent victim to some of the “artists” of Brooklyn, who have no scruples in paling of on him as chef @aewvres paintings barely fit.to ornament the walls of an oyster saloon, He lives ina style of barbaric splendor, and is a notable example of the vagaries sud- den wealth plays with people who are ignorant of its better uses. He docs the underwork of the firm; look- ing after the inaterials and men necessary to the per- formance of & contract, leaving the fine brainwork—the intricate evolutions of speculative thought—to his | partner, Kingsley. DELINQUENT OFFICIALS, The Corporation Counsel of Brooklyn, Mr. William ©. De Witt, has received the tollowing letter from Mayor Hunter:— Mayor’s Orvick, Nov. 9, 1875. Dear &mn—In September last I addressed the follow- ing oificial note to you:— Mayor's Ovvica, Ciry Hat, Brooktys, Sept. 20, 1875, Dear Sm—I desire that you take immediate steps to collect or secure the amounts due from former officers of the city—via, Collector Badeau and Treasurer Sprague; also to have definitely settled the claim of Mr. Hugh McLaughlin to amount of accrued interest on moneys placed .n his hands for defraying the expenses of the Fire Departmen, Yery respectiuily yours, J. W. HUNTER, Mayor. Hon. W. 0. De Wrrt, Corporation Counsel. I desire now to know whether haye been taken in ali and each of these cases, If no action has been taken will you please state the causes and reasons for delay? Very respectfully, J, W. HUNTER, Mayor. Hon. W. C. Dz Wrrt, Corporation Counsel, The claim againet Mr. McLaughlin, “Bub,” who is a cousin of the “Boss,” is for $5,000 accrued interest on moneys placed in his hands as Treasurer of the Fire Department. The claim of the city against Mr, Badeau ig for $70,000, and the ex-Treasurer, Sprague, ig required to surrender $150,000, Mr. De Witt is pre- paring his explanation as to the cause of his delay. ‘Yue Mayor olect, Mr. Schroeder, held «conference with Mayor Hunter yesterday forenoon upon the above subjects. THE SCHUETZEN PARK TRAGEDY. TRIAL OF JOHN M'GUIRE FOR THE MURDER OF SAMUEL JACKSON. Tho Supreme Court room, where the Kings County Court of Oyerand Terminer is now sitting in trial of the indictment for murder in the first degree found against John McGuire, the alleged slayer of the colored man, Samuel Jackson, was crowded at ten o’clock yes- terday forenoon, when Judge Barnard and Justices Wolfort and Voorhees took their seats upon the bench. The prisoner occupied a seat by the side of bis counsel, ex-Judge Morris, and conversed freely from time to time with a few acquaintances who were seated near him. There remained but ono seat to be filed in the jury stall, and the selection fell to Edward M. Osborn, District Attorney Britton then objected to James Cooper and James Whittemore, who had been chosen the day before, The gentlemen with- drew from the jury stall and Frank T. Hewets and William ©. MeWhinney were chosen in their stead, The case was opened for the people by Mr. Britton, after which Mrs. Sarah Henry, sister of the deceased, Samuel Jackson, was called, to the witness chair, She testified that she left Schuetzen Park, where, with sixty other colored people, they had been dancing, about half-past one o'viock on the morning of October 15; while in company with her brother and two men nated Thompson and Bennett the prisoner came up to her and asked her if #he was Jennie Waters (a colored girl with whom he bad been dancing durmg the night in the park); her brother then interposed and said, “No; aho is my sister; McGuire retorted, “I will kill the son of ab—h,’ and at the same moment he threw a large stone, which he had in his band, striking Jackson on the Head; deceased fell and expired instantly. The stone, which was shown the jury, weighs abont six pounds, There was no ill feeling between the whito people and the colored folks during the festivities in the park. She was corroborated by the testimony of Samuel Bennett, who also saw the stone thrown. Marriott P. Dowden, who is one of the parties under indictment for the ‘assault in which Jackson and Fenry Thompson lost their lives, testified that” he danced with Mrs. Honry and sung a comic song, in which the colored people joined in the chorus, at the park; the and had some drinks, and while there erent Hn ceased) und Colored Tom,” the bartender, quasrelleds the result was they were putout; then MoGui put bis arm about Mra. Henry's shoulders, whieh fami | ® requirement they never complied with. The best Jackson resented; the prisoner struck deceased, Thompson hit witness. which blow the latter re~ aud ‘owler’s trustees and Others, while at the | then went to the bar. NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER< 10, 1875 turned; witness lost his pick it up he heard McGuire raw fall and MeGuire go off wit)! the others of acsisruiti he met him atthe sation boweee “Tho journed BREACH OF PROMISE.* THE NOICE-BROWN CASE IN THE COURTS—THE YOUNG LADY WHO WENT TO EUROPE WITH MR. BROWN SUING FOR SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARBIAGE. ‘Truvtox, N. J., Nov. 9, 1875, In the Supreme Court in this city to-day, before Chief Justice Beasley and Judges Depue, Woodhull and Vansyckel, the Noice-Brown breach of promise of marriage case came up for argument on a demurrer to the general declaration. The declaration sets substance that in the months of March and April, 1873, the plaintiff being then and there unmarried, the defend- ant pretended that he was a married man who had been living ina state of separation from his wife for the space of two years aud flye months, with the de- termination never to live with her again under any cir- cumstances whatever; and between whom the said defendant alleged and pretended that proceedings had been or were about to be instituted for the purpose of obtaining adivorce, a vinculo matrimonii, by the said wife; he, the said defendant, undertook and then and there faithfully prom'sed the said plaintif'to marry her in a reasonable time next following. And the plaintiff avers that the wife of the defenaant did obtain a divorce from the defendant, @ vinculo mat- rimonii, in a reasonable time after the making of the promise, Aud the plaintiff still further avers that the defendant ‘was adjudged and decreed divorced, a vinculo matrimonit, from his wife upon the petition of said wife, filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of New Jersey on the 17th of October, 1874. And the plaintiff, by reason of such refusal on the part of the defendant to marry her, avers that she has sustained loss to the sum of $60,000, ‘THR ARGUMENTS, Mr. John F, Hageman argued the case on behalf of the defendant. He said that no promise was alleged to have been made after the divorce was granted, Tho promise made was not valid in law, because the defend- ant was lawfully married at the time it was made. ‘After citing numerous authorities in support of the demurrer, Mr, Hageman concluded by submitting the following’ points :— First—That the performance of the promise was im- possible and could not be enforced. ‘Second—The promise 18 void, because it was without consideration, Third—At 1s void, because it is illegal, immoral and contrary to public policy; the plaintutl knowing at the time the promise was made that the defendant was a married man, Mr, W. Y. Johnson argued in support of the declara- tion. The Court then took the papers and reserved de- cision. For the past six months this case has excited a great deal of interest throughout the State. The well known standing of the parties, the history of their tour to Brazil and Europe, the peculiar principles involved in the suit and the knotty and delicate points of law Tali make the case ono of thrilling and unprece- dented importance, Both parties reside in Princeton and the defendant is we only heir of a very wealthy and widowed mother. In a suit for trover, the plaintiff, a few weeks ago, received a verdict for about $1,800 from ‘the defendant on account of her wardrobe, which she proved the de- fendant had taken from her. The particulars of the Continental tour and of the suit fof trover have already appeared in the Hxraup, The public will now anxiously await the decision of the Supreme Court, which, if it should be fn favor of the plaintiff, the caso will be tried before the Mercer County Circuit Court at Trenton, when all the details of the tour and the mei- dents, &., relating to the alleged breach of promise wiil be reeapitulated. Love letters by the score will be produced by the plainttil, which will give the novel case renewed interest, COUNTING THE VOTE. MEETING OF HR BOARD OF COUNTY CAN- VASSERS. The Aldermen convened yesterday at the City Hall as a Board of County Canvassers to revise the re- torns of the last election They organized, with Al- derman Edward Gilon m tho chair and County Clerk Welsh as clerk. A Committee on Protests, consisting of Aldermon Lewis, Rielly and Simonson, was appointed. Messrs, Seery, Purroy and Robinson were designated as a Com- mitee on Corrected Returns, On motion of Alderman Lysaght, 1t was decided that three members of the Board are suflicient for the trans- action of business. The canvass of the different Assembly districts will be conducted under the eupervision of the Aldermen as follow: Dist, Dist, 1—Aldorman Robinson, — 12—Alderman Gross, 2—Alderman Lysaght —-13—Alderman Lewis, 3—Alderman Dean. 14—Alderman Reilly. 4—Alderman Sliandley. — 15—Alderman Parroy. 6—Alderman Gilon. 16—Alderman Howland, 6—Alderman Southworth 17—Alderman Blessing. 7—Alderman Morris, 18—Aiderman Seery. 8—Alderman Strack. 19—Alderman Power. 9—Alderman Vance, 20—Alderman Cole. 10—Alderman Guutzer. 21—Alderman McCarthy. 11—Alderman Billings, Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth wards—Alderman Simonson. Alderman Strack offered a resolution authorizing the appointments of Thomas F. Gibney, Thomas Hodgins, Richard Castell, John H. Fagin, Edward Madden and T. M. McKernan as assistant clerks to the board; John P. Trainer, Henry Peters and James Pryor as’ door- keepers; Lewis C, Parker and Julius Bolr as messen- gers and Alphonse Singer as sergeant-at-arms. Alderman Shandley opposed the appointment of those officials in such a wholesale manner, He wished an opportunity to exainine into the capacity of the par- ties named for the positions. The resolution was de- bated for come time, Aldermen Morris, Billings and other republican members spoke in opposition to the appointments as being an entirely unnecessary expen- diture of money, The resolution was finally passed by a vote of fourteen to seven, ali the republican members being in the negative, Mr. J, N, Outwater was appointed accountant to the canvassers. ‘After the transaction of some routine business the Board adjourned until eleven o'clock to-day, when the canvass of votes of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Assembly districts will be commenced. The Board will hold daily sessions until the completion of its labors. BROOKLYN BOARD OF CANVASSERS. A LIVELY SQUABBLE OVER THE MANNER OF COUNTING THE VOTES. The Board of Aldermen met yesterday in the Com- mon Council Chamber’ and organized as a Board of City Canvasse: President Bergen occupied the chair, ‘There was a full attendance of members, and the lobby ‘was well filled. Heretofore it bas taken three or four days for the Board of Canvassers to perform their task, the custom in vogue being to refer the election returns to acommittes of the Board. A few years ago a ro- turn was stolen from the office of the City Clerk, and the republican members determined that this should not occur again, They, therefore, determined that they would not lose sight of the returns until they were il canvassed, Alderman Kane, of the Sixth ward, “opened the ball” by moving that the retirna be referred to the Commit- tee on Election Returns, Alderman Strong, of the Thirteenth ward, in a vigor- ous speech, opposed the motion, saying the returns should not be, lugged off into a corner. The power could not be given to any committee, The verdict ot the people at the election on Tuesday last was an em- phatic disapproval of the course of the past. The votes should be canvassed at once in open Board. Aldermen Rowley, Fisher aud Zindel also opposed the reference to a committee. Alderman Dwyer, of the Second ward, replied to tho onslaught of his republican associates, and charged that that party bad passed an act saddling an expense of $50,000 por year on Brooklyn by creating a Board of Elections, and the canvassers and inspectors appomted by them were two republicans and one democrat, to count the vote in each election district, Aldermen O'Reilly and Clancy also defended the democratic motion to refer to a committeo, and charged that the lines of partisanship were drawn by Alderman Strong, who could not intimidate bis opponents, It was finally resolved to proceed with the work of canvassing tu open Board, if it took them until mid- night. YOUTHS’ STABBING AFFRAY. During a fight last evening betwoon Godfrey R, Con- over, twelve yoars old, of No. 34 Macdongal street, and another boy named Pan! Renault, at the corner of Prince street and South Fifth avenue, the former was severely stabbed in the thigh, THE JERSEY SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT. ‘The following gentlemen have been appointed a com- mitiee to collect subscriptions throughout Badson county, New Jersey, for tho erection of the soldiers’ monument projected several months ago. First ais- trict, George H, Farrier; Second district, Alfred Ta- multy; Third district, D, A. Peloubet; Fourth district, Dr. MeNiel; Fifth district, John J. Toffey; Sixth dis- trict, Hiram Van Buskirk; Seventh district, H. D. Mount; Fighth district, T. B, O'Reilly. A resolution has been adopted by the Monument Association re- questing the pastors of the several cburaes in tho country to set apart some Sabbath for taking up a col- lection for this obiech —TRIPLE SHEET. fd amlloptoming © | TUN ATIC ts ABUSES, | THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME. tee oe 4 INVESTIGATION—WHAT CONSTITUTES DISCI- PLINE—WHO IS BESPONSIBLE ¥YOR THE SYS- DRS, .BLANCHARD AND COERY. Yesterdsy afternoon the committee engaged in the ‘Mnvestigationvof the alleged cruelty practised upon the ‘Unfortunate inmates of the asylum for the care of in- Bane, at Flatbush, Kings county, met in the directors’ room of the Fireman’s Insurance Company, Montague street, Brooklyn, The State Commissioner in Lunacy, Dr. 0) resided. i Dr. James H. Blanchard took the witness’ chair and made several corrections in his testimony as published tn the newspapers. In regard to the hangers-on who are not in the servieo of the county, but who stop at the Asylum, he said there aro threo or four persons there who have permission from the Commissioners to remain there, Commissioner Cunningham said he desired to make ‘8 correction in regard to the statement that the Board has employed counsel to represent them in this inves- tigation, Tho Board has not engaged the services of any counsel. Any counsel present was secured upon the individual authority of whoever engaged him. Counsel said they did not claim to represent the Board officially, Dr. Blanchard then resumed his testimony and ex- hibited a letter signed by Dr, W, H. Thayer and sevoray ovher leading physicians, recommending him for his ability and capacity to fill the office of Superintendent of the asylum at Flatbush, Nono of the gentienien who signed it then would refuse to sign it to-day, DR, BLANGHARD'S TESTIMONY, Ho said he had been connected with tho King’s County Hospital for eighteen months; when taking his place as Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum ho did not change the rules, as they had worked well under Dr, Chapin and others; the office is used as a room for the physicians; it ts for the exclusive use of the medical staif; Dr. Coery was the medical head of the institution; in regard to the beds he said they are sometimes without beds, owing to tho deficiency of straw; that deficiency has only been brief; the deficiency in clothing was owing to a lack in the ability to make it fast enough; did not consider it his duty to go through the halls witn visitors; Miss Dora Robmson has been through the institution twenty-nine times in fifteen months; had ne ver heard of any old woman being beaten; there was a nurse named Kate MoCarthy, who broke her arm in the performance of her duty; there was no patient who had her arm broken by a nurse; Dr. Atwood has never been under any restraint in the discharge of his duties; it is the duty of the steward to visit every hall in the building to look after breakage; a great many persons sleep on the floors, as it would be dangerous to put them in bed—they would fall out; no paticnts have ever been employed in serving for nurses; there has been a lady named Draton a patient thero; Maggie O’Hara and Kate Nevins were transferred to the nursery; one of them declined to go; they were not discharged by any one; Miss Jenny Robinson has been in the asylum twenty-two times in fifteen months; Ber- nard Stranss was discharged at the request of his wife; he was committed to the institution in the usual way. (The commitment was produced and examined by the committee.) Witness knew Mrs. Leggett, a patient; she is an estimable old lady, and no one would use cru- elty toward her; force has to be used to nave her clothes removed, and sho is wont to cry out aloud; the propriety of appointing German nurses was spoken of to im by Mrs. Stribling, and he acquiesced in the suggestion, but no nurses could be obtained; the testimony of Gill Harle that witness had not gone through the ward in whic! Harley was nurse at one period was false; Harley was discharged from tho asylum for stopping away without permission; witness had seen Harley under tho in- fluence of liquor; the records will prove that thero never were three patients who died there in one night; when a pati¢nt was tn need of constant attendance it is the custom to have a nurse sit up with him all night, CROSS-EXAMINED, Dr. Ordronanx here cross-examined tho witness as to the relative position of the supervisory physician, Dr. Coery, and that of the Superintendent; witness had regularly appointed all tho attenaants; lad always tried to get the best he could; the applications for the post- tion are so few he had only one or two from which to choose at a time; seven men were discharged, by order of the Board of Commissioners, for peculation; had reappointed some attendants whom he had previously discharged; there must have been a reason for their discharge; ‘aman named Marcelle was discharged for alleged ‘crueliy on one occasion; witness, on recommendation of the Asylun Committee of the Board, Messrs. Midas and Raber, re- appointed Marcelle; in September, 1874, an employé of the institution was discharged for taking unproper liberties with a female attendant; that man was in the engineer's department; his namo is Corr; witness did not know where he now is; aman pamed Kean was discharged for being gone all night and reappointed: Leddy, another attendant, was similarly dealt with an taken’ on again; the present night watchman is a person ‘named Hudson; he is out doors at night; think the attendants can all read, thongh gome cannot write; the reason ‘witness exhibited the certificate of recommendation from physicians was not to put them in a false hight; there is no library in the asylum; no money is allowe for the purchase of-books; was in the babit of visiting ell parts of the institution; has no control of the engineer’s department; MoCowley and Clancy are the engineers of the asylum; there is a man by the name of Smith, an attendant In hall 8; witness appointed Smith upon very good recommendations; do not kecp ies of the recommendations. ill Harley asked permission to ask the Doctor a question, as his character was as dear to him as the witness’ was to-him. Permission was, given, and Harley then asked where he had ever seou him drunk, Dr. Blanchard said in the wards of tho asylum. Witness said, in an- swer to farther questions by Harley, he remembered Lasseile mixing medicine in the laboratory; had seen Lasselle intoxicated. Harley asked why the Doctor did not discharge him when be saw him under the influ- ence of liquor, to which the Doctor replied that was none of his business. Harley asked the Doctor if he had not steyed away sixteen or ninetecn days from the ward. The Doctor replied that he had never been so long away; it was his custom to go through ail the hails two or three times a week. Hariey reminded the Doctor that he was under his oath, to which the witness replied that he was aware of that, Harley—Well, Doctor, when you met me down at the City Hail after 1 was discharged, was I drunk then? Dr, Blanchard—I don’t think that you were. Harley—Weill, I was not in the employ of the Asylum then, and why was I not drank that time? (Laughter.) Dr. Blanchard said that would be a difficult ques- tion to answer; Lasselle was reappointed principally upon the recommendation of Magee’s counsel; witness | never bad been influenced by politics in bis’ appoint | ments, + DR. CORRY’S TESTIMONY. Dr. Charles Coery was then sworn, and testified that torsix months from August, 1874, he was supervisory and adyisory physician for the Lunatic Asylum, Flat- bush; that title is not known among other asylums; Mr. Wheeler, one of the Charity Commissioners, re- quested him to call at his house; witness did sa, when Commissioner Wheeler told him’ the physicians at the asylam had resigned, and they were in trouble as to how they should Sli the placo of Dr. MacDonald, who was the superintendent; witness recommended that they should reconsider the acceptance of the resignation of MacDonald; Mr. Wheeler did not think the Board of Charities would change their action as re- gards Dr. MacDonald; Mr. Wheeler then asked witness if he could assist them in huperviaing the physician who would probably succeed Dr. MacDonald; the place of Superintendent of a Lanatic pa ies is usually considered ce of great trust and of honor; witness had sugg that the place might be teft open till they could confer with other institutions, where they might be able to obtain an Celene i herve witness’ position was entirely unsolicited and unsought for, and the pecuniary compensation was merely nominal; he had been connected with two other asylums, and be- lieved that appointments should be made from among persons of experience in the treatment of lunatics; for the first month witness made visits daily, and for the second month bis yisits were weekly; these visits were from one to four hours; was not always accompanied by Dr. Blanchard; there were no formal rules; witness remembered enjoining on Dr. Blanchard the necessity | for enforcing rigid discipline to protect the patients; would notthink it justifiable on the part of a pbysician to discharge an attendaat for cruelty and then employ him again; und the effect of the knowledge ot such an act would be moral contagion, and would be pernicious upon the minds of some patients; the largest number of recoveries would accrue from kind treatment of s patients; had heard of complaints against the treat ment in otber institutions, but they were not so numer- ous ag in this asylum; it was very unjust, he thought, to hold Dr. Blanchard responsiblo for ali this mis: management; there should be @ centralization of authority, subject to one head and the supervision of an advisory board; the evil exists in a division of responsibility; engineers are not under Dr. Blanchard’s control; they light tho fires or extin- guish them, as they please; the compensation is inade- Guate; $3,500 was the united salary of witness and tho | Superintendent; for that figure a competent superin- tendent might be found; a conscientious physician would not even then, with the present fetters, be able to do as he would like to do; unpaid supervisory boards would work better; influences are sometimes brought to bear op a superintendent which compel him w re- appoint attendants against his will; there is nothing exceptional in the complaints except that they extend over a longer time; it would simplity matters if the Commissioners of Charities had solo control of the Lunatic Asylum and the Superin- tendent was left untrammelled; the application to the Board of Supervisors for supplies for the institution 18 an obstacle in the way of reform; there are 800 patients where thore is room for but 600; they suffer more from neglect than from cruel treatment; the pay of ab tondanta, $12 per month, is too low; there is no other institution, except Blackwell’s Island, where who eup- plios are 60 short, Miss Dora Robinson then took tho chair and con. tradicted Dr. Blanchard tn reference to the number of her visits to the asylum and also as to the treatment of patients, ‘he investigation will be resumed at three o’elack this afternoop ABUSES IN POLICE COURT PRACTICES—AMUEND- MENTS TO THE LAWS THAT MIGHT BE AD- VISABLE—TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED SALOONS UNLICENSED. ‘The Committee on Crime held a long and rather fruit- less session yesterday. Mr, Moses P, Clarke, Chict Clerk of the District Attorney’y office, was the first witness, Mr. Clarke was asked about a number of cases which bad never been disposed of, but failed to give ex- planation of the reasons therefor. In the case of John Crowley, arrested for picking the pocket of Robert Croghan, it appeared that United States Commissioner Davenport interceded in behalf of Crowley (who has the good fortune of being the brother of a deputy mar- shal) by the following letter addressed to Judge Murray :— DAVENPORT’S LETTER, Personal. » My Dear Jupor—A boy, Jobn Crowley, whom I have known for a long time as a thoroughly good boy and who has been at times in my employ, is charged offence and isin the Tombs. His case is cial Sessions to-morrow, I much wish for to General Sessions. Ho is a brother of Deputy. and is committed under the name of do not believe he is guilty of the it to Marshal Crowle; John Conroy. offence charged, and I should want strong evidence to convince me, khowing him aside Will you do what = can in the matter and charge the same to me? ours, very truly, JOHN L DAVENPORT. THE POLICR COURTS. Mr. Marvin N. Jones, Clerk of the Special Sessions, thought it was not the intent of the law to impos. fines for enriching the city treasury, but for increasing the severity of the punishment. As to tho frequent re- mission of fines it had grown intoa rule in the police courts to regard a day’s imprisonment as equivalent to adollar fine, The witness was asked how often in the last threo years prisoners who had been sent to the Penitentiary had paid their fines, and he said not more than one “Then tho men should be still in prison or the finos must have been remitted?” Mr, Townsend asked, “Yes, unless the Warden has set them at liberty without authority of law,” Mr, Jonos replied, and Mr ‘Townsend expressed bis determination to subpmne the Warden, and examine’ him in regard to this sub- Ject, Here a receas was taken and at a quarter totwe o’clock the subject was resumed. Mr. Townsend read from the records the minutes of several cases in which the Commissioners of Charities appliod for the remis- sion of the fines imposed upon certain isoners long before even their terms of confinement had been con- cluded. Mr. Jones suid that the discrepancy of tim could probably be explained by the allowance of com- mutauion. In regard t cases of petit larceny he said the law only allowed six months’ imprisonment and $100 tine, and there were sometimes such aggravated cases that the judge8 inflicted the fine with the mani- fest intention to keep the culprit contined not only for a hundred days afer the six months were over, but even longer. CASES OF GRMAT HARDSHIP. ‘The witness, upon the suggestion of the committee's counsel, said that it would be well to carry out tho siatute which empowers magistrates to compel minor oflenders to give bail for their good behavior for two years after the termination of their punishment. This Statute is not carried out, He thought that this law would be particularly benelicial in preventing keepers ot ber eegt houses from starting again in their busi- ness after they were released. A very bad state of things was developed with regard to ininor cases, 1m which the police justice has the power to hold the of- tender to bail for tuture good behavior, or, in lieu of bail, to keep him imprisoned for a cervain time. It ap- — that it is @ rule (which has no justification in w) in the police courts,to make the sentence of im- prisonment irrevocable if the bail cannot be immeai- ately furnished by the accused. This rule works great hardship in this way:—A man is arrested at three o’clock in the afternoon say for insulting somebody ; the Court closes at four and if he has no bail at han tho sentence of imprisonment is imposed and the jus- lice thenceforth declines vo take the security for his future behavior, Thus a respectable man, for some petty offence for which the law only contemplates his giving security for future behavior, can be sent to prison for three months simply because he has no bondsman immediately at hand. The witness admitted that great hardship was worked by the refusal of justices to take bail of prison- ers who did not come originally before them. A justice goes away tor a week or is ill and the other justice of the court refuses to take bail and the accused has to wait for the return of whe first justice. A change in the law in that rr 4, inthe opinion of the witness, would be advisable. Another piece of great injustice is thata man arrested on Sanday afternoon at one or two o’elock, for some trivial oifence, cannot give bail beoause the police justices DO NOT SIT SUNDAT A¥TERNOONS, Mr. Townsend suggested that it would be well if the Legislature would empower Aldermen or police cap- tains to take bail on Sundays, and the witness assented to the suggestion. At present police captains have only ower of taking bail in cases of arrests for fast driving. This power, the witness thought, ought to be extended to utiver trivial offences. Excise Commissioner Stewart presented an applica- tion from M. Seery, a liquor dealer in the city, which contradicted bis statement before the committee that he had never made an application, but had paid $50and had never been troubled since. Mr, Stewart's examina- tion was extremely tedious The only facts of interest brought out by the endless questions put to him were that the number of saloous in New York was 8,000, and only about 5,500 were licensed, and that Mr. Stiner wag the chief inspector, under a resolution of tho Board, and had the main supervision over the liquor establishments in New York city. The inspectors generally reported to ‘Mr. Suiner in regard to applications, Mr. Pawick Ryan testified in regard to the alleged suicide of bis brother aud sister in December, 1873, who were found with their heads aimost cut off in Broomo street. He made a long statement tending to show that, in his opinion, {+ was not suicide but murder, more es- pecially as his brother was found at’ the foot of the stairs, He charged Cay Hedden and the police with trying to induce the Coroner's jury to render a verdict of suicide. Bofore finishing his examination the committee ad- journed till ether d morning at eleven o'clock, when. they will visit the oolship Metoury. % THE EMIGRATION INVESTIGATION, The Legislative Committee appointed to investigate tho affairs of thé Commissioners of Emigration and of Quarantine resumed its sessions yes- terday morning at Casile Garden, There were present Assemblymon Wachner, Alvord, Gedney and S¢huyler. The absent members of the committee were Messrs. McGuire and Vosburgh, ‘The committee went into executive session. After a short time it was announced to the witnesses who had been subpwnaed, among whom were Richard 0'Gor- man, Patrick H. Jones, Edward H. Wilson and Bernard Cassidy, that the commission was unable to proceed with the investigation until the arrival of certain re- ports which bad been sent for, The examination waa conducted in an inner room, from which the reporters were excinded. It was understood, however, that the Nolan account was the mattor under investigation, DOIYGS OF THE THIEVES. ‘The following thefts and swindles were yesterday re ported at the Central Department :— Sneak thieves stole from ‘the office of George KE. Bailey, at No, 185 Bank street, property valuca at $100, ‘Thieves effected an entrance into the tailor tore of Weer & Schmidt, at No. 1,269 Broadway, and stole clothing to the value of $284. ‘A confidence gamo was successfully played in the Fourth precinct upon Peter Hesting, an unsuspecting sailor, He was standing at the corner of Henry and Catharine streets when a stranger approached and politely opened a conversation with him on matters nautical, Afver some little talk the stranger informed the sailor that he knew a certain captain who was much in need of men. At the corner of Third avenue and Eighth street they met the supposed captain, The usual confidence manduvring tending to throw the vie- tim off his guard was resorted to, and the termination was the borrowing of $60 from the sailor by the captain bial dosage w Settle a freight bill, The swindlers ea cape The residence of Cornelias Mison, at No, 18 East 127th street, was pilfered of $215 worth of property by thieves while the occupants were at supper. The store of Hamilton Pratt & Co., at No. 65 Warren street, was robbed on Monday night of $280 worth ol shoes, The police have no clews in any of the cases, A BOSTON “RECEIVER.” HOW AN ALLEGED ENCOURAGER OF THEFT Waa ARRESTED IN THIS CITY. Detectives Keely and Kennedy, of the Central Office, arrested, at an oarly hour yesterday morning, Benjamin D. Wood, an alleged receiver of stolen goods, whose headquarters are said to be in Boston, On tho night previous a despatch was received by the police aa thorities here from the Chiofof the Boston Depart. ment asking for the arrest of Wood ano givinga ful description of him, together with hints as to his proba ble whereabouts. “Acting on the information, the de toctives went to No. 853 East Houston street and thera found Wood. When arrosted he protested his inno- cence, but on being taken to Police Headquarters he was full; identified by A. Mossel, of Boston, who Just arrived from that city. Mr. Mossel’s Jewelry store, in Boston, was broken into by burglarsd ‘about six months ago and robbed of watches an. jewelry to the value of $4,000. One of the burglitrs sub. sequently confessed, and disclosed Wood as the re ceiver of the stolen property. The polico say that the authorities of Boston hava boon long ‘wanting’ Wood, who, it 18 asserted, is one of the most noted receivers of stolen goods in that city., The prisoner remains locked up in the Central De partment, pending the arrival of the Boston detective with the necessary legal paper