New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-28
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Remarkable Scene in the Court Of Sessions
Prcseutment Of the Grand Jury-Two Al.
srrmeu Indicted for taking Brides, &c.

dcrmeu Indicted Tor taxing bribes, Nc'
! &c.
The Court of Sessions opened on Saturday
| morning, with Recorder TILLoU and Aldermen
! WESLEY SMITH. of the Eleventh, and JAMES
NJ BARD. of she Fourteenth Wards, upon the
| bench The room was Immediately filled OF o
/ crowd Of people eager 20 hear what the Grand
Jury had 10 say in relation 10 the Common
| Council, as there had been pretty certain indi-
cations of something of great importance in
their presentment. Shortly after the opening
of the Court, the Grand Inquest came in, aud
HENRY ERBrS, Esq, the foreman, presented
several unimporant indictments which the
Recorder presentment in relation to public az
fairs, at the same time requesting that il might
| be read in open Court His Honor, the Re-
corder, glanced at it. and then passed it TO the
| Clerk, who read the following
PRESESTMENr.
The Grand Jury in closse their deliberations for the
February Term Of the Court of General Sessions. re.
specduny present the Court the result of their abors
In the charge of the Recorder the commencement; Of
various public allegations of fraud and corruption AMI
slfessance on tie part Of public officers connected with
the CRY Government and this body ciay charged
with the duty Of investigating the subject Having ds
posed Of The OF persons under confinement charged
with crimes the Grand Jury at the earliest possible mo
ment proceeded to the discharge OF tn duty devoyny
upon them.
From that time they have been daily engaged in the
invests CATION and while they regret that the ermnatoo
OF the Of the Court prevents fuller cons1nnaton
o their abors they trust that their exsrtons, az pre-
senied IN this report, have ns been without benenclal
results Many witnesses have been summoned, some OF
whom HAVING been regularly end personally subpedaei'
have neglected 10 obey the process CT the Court anI
from testimony had before the Jury Independent. Of
that withheld by the voluntary absence OF the witnesses
referred TO- tie moral conviction has been irresisd0y
forced upon the minds s the Grand Jury tina, gress aud
stupendous frauds and useless violation OF their ofcid
duties have been psrpstrated the part Of various
members OF tie heads OF departments aud the Common
Council, an indictment for which agains, individual
members has they have reason believe, been pre-
vented By Their wil dsobedence Of the process OF the
Court On the part OF these a1sent witnesses.
o. her WITNESSES who have been examined have re.
fused to answer and the want Of the necessary power
10 enforce the proper has been fully felt and TO
certain extent mas succeeded IN preventing anal action
in certain cases Enough, however, has beeu elcitcd
from the lips mainly OF unwilling Witnesses to wlrrant
the conclusions beng embodied AMI TO sustain the Facts
here presented Iii paniu! and Notifying reelection
hst the Grand Inquest of the City and County are com
PEELED by regard to their sworn official Obligations aui
the duties which they owe to their fellow pro-
cent, before tie community the state Of facts eiecdly
the moral and official integrity OF high publ; function
IL fhayh holus
alternative The evidence warrants IT, daty enjons II,
and tie law commands il. The investigations OF the
Grand Jury mainly directed to classes Of alleged
malyeI sstions in Office
F1st The grant Of public property, real and person
a. 10 different parties Tor alleged Inadequate aud imprO-
per Considerations.
Second Charges Of direct bribery and corruption ON
the part OF public officers.
TAirdly Alleged violations of the l9sh and 25th sec.
tons OF the City Charter.
Furlsl,: Improper and corrupt legislation in regard
10 CERTAIN rsnrOad grants.
Lastly: General and improvdeat waste and expeni
iiure OF public money.
Under the Isthead various witnesses were called AMI
examined the result OF whose testimony that in
the month Of December last resolution was referred
10 the Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund, directing
them TO tx price for certain property, known she
GanseyoOTt@t property that after various motions for
publication Of the property sale and for determining
adequate price by public competition, had been put and
los, the property finally determined to be sold to
Reubes Lsyeoy Tor the sum Of $50 000-Si00O0 70 DC
paid in each and The balance to be secured by mJrt.
gage the property that Mr. Loyejoys proposition
was accompanied by swrtten communica alton IRON Mr.
Simeon Draper, 10 the effect that, il grant con
srrued To Mr. Loyeoy he would take the deed pay the
md. tho
Ii further appeared that the 9Th December the
deed with a counterpart duly executed " and by
Mr. Draper the latter Of which record in the Con
uoner's Office, duly Gcknoweds ed the 25th Decem
beT that mortgage also executed by dr Draper,
which record the Registers Office and far the
Transaction independent o the fact that Mr. Draper
one Of ths Governors OF the AhnsHouse and by impi
caiion embraced within the 18th socton Of tue City
Charter closed, however appeared that another
deed oi the properly bearing date the Hsh Of De
cember ard acknowledged on the 30,h December, was
executed by Mr. Joseph b. VGnu, the latter Of which
Is on record IN the Controllers Office and against the
deed executed BY Mr.. Draper, written the mar
gin cancelled December, ls52
Tbs cancellation proved by Mr. Lawrence, a
former clerk in the Csntross o.ee 10 be in A hand
writing, and 10 have been done by direction Of the
former Corporation COUNSEL, Henry l.. Dawes. There
was no evidence show NE sanction a the COmnis-
sioners Of the Sinking Fund 70 s change chi caaca.
tion and no memorandum the minutes Vi such pro
eeediDg. There does LOT appear 10 be any mortgage
record fron Mr. vsrnum, and me only apparent security
to the Cixy would seem 10 be the mortgage from M
Draper while the conveyance TO himself Is cancelled
ana be has executed grant claim decd 10 Mr.. ysraam
who would thus seem tJeuoy complete title free from
! ineunbrInces. Evidence givea teadisg to show
that s25 OO8 would have been gTeD by aDother apph
can't and 500 600 BY sp2heant who desired the same
propesiy and thai notice to that effect gwen psey
ous TO tie sale to the Mayor ana Controller
WfhOut intending to imgule any inpruPer motives 70
the uSjoIgy Of tee members o. tie SINKING Fasi the