The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10
TIE ART UNION INVESTIGATION.

cut few DAYS before it bears date made out no on
Rsssas 70 that %s lett the Art not Sn s.a eacsss to the
vouchers and books of the American Art Union ht
time may have memoranda l,,;a IN ~ prendsr what
have they viii be of service in tins nVesusAAon 'ooA
O1Wsas vouchers were they that you examined that
convinced you Of the mapractiees OF Mr. Austin, the
Treasurer ..-.
A.-Copies and extracts rum "r Austin Accounts
principally.
do into details.
a~What extracts were there from the accounts or
Al have taken copies from some of Mr.. Austins
counts and have copy with now In relation to the
money paid TO Mr. Cozzens unauthorized by the commit
tee NJ the time Of payment
Q-When did you make that copyp
Am the month of July, 1852 before left.
Odd you make copies of these papers by which you
ny Mr. Austin had been guilty of malpractsss before or
After you left the institution
A-Before sft and then changed my mind in conse-
qusnce of Gen. Wetmore's representations.
Al cannot ssy but during the month Of July, 1852
Q-What was your object in making those copiesp
Al wanted to satisfy myself that everything was
right ard by making extracts thought could examine
Q-At the tins Of taking the extracts you had not
made up your mind that Mr. Austin had been guilty Of
A-Partisly 50, but had my suspicious that he had
Mr. Wetmore overcame my suspicious in London on the
tfcate Of character which gave to Mr.. Austin bears
date.
o-state definitely what Mr.. wetmore said to your
About the same repeated on Friday he told me
Mat was mistaken in George that he was fair man
and would not do anything opg and that he would 60
round and see Mr. Austin the day, afterwards,
he told that he had him. that is all recolleci
At this moment; | saw Gen. Wetmore the 18th Au-
gust At the store Of his SON had previously called upon
thought had been fairly dealt with by Of the
managers, he told that he would of them
in relation to it, then told him that fearful Mr.
Austin was not conducting himself right, and that
] had made some complaint to the committee of
70 be altogether straight: General Wetmore told
me that Mr.. Austin had denied to Colonel Warner
insisted that he had and General Wetore told me- fur
ther that Mr. Cozzens, the President had called upon
$3.50 monthly and bolstered me up in regard to the
charge had made, and that General Wetmore had
drawn his check and did not believe Anstn denial to
be worth great deal told him (Gen W. that Austin
would make drafts payable ito bearer instead of Ito
dernsead Of presenting his bills for disbur sement to
the Finance Executive Committee when they were in
session. and when the quorum present they would be
presented ofentimes to Colonel Warner sngl after the
adjournment and frem the fact that he had spoken i'll
Il Colonel Warner made suspicious that he had taken
that course TO get his bills passed in this way
at that time you had copies Of these youchersS
Atsa, in the month Of July General Wetmore said
70 me that he thought Mr.. Austin was fair that
round to him did not complain of any other
Der of the committee of management at that time to the
so.versaton ulled my suspicious had copies of the
memoranda previous to my conversation with General
Uetmore, but had not then time to examine them
wanted to examine them at my easure had some
versasion with Mr. Austin on the 18th August.
eWhen you wrote that part of the letter stating that
tho difficulty between you and Mr. Austin had been set
td had reference to what had taken place between
you and General Wetmore in your conversation with him
General Wetmore).
Al referred to that and also 70 the conversation
had had with Mr.. Austin.
Estate what took place between you and Mr. Austin
AR. Austin told it had been intmated that had
gone about the streets speaking i'll of the members of the
that Mr. Cozzens highly ncensed when he heard of
it. and that he WAS glad to find that it not and
wanted me to put that denial upon paper, which con-
seated to do 1T he also said that might what
choose in regard to charges against him for reguary
- Treasurer ! wrote something in general terms,
COMMITTEES, and stated that the diculty between Mr.
Austin and had beer explained and stopped there
regard 20 the manner in which the affairs of the nstitu
ton had been conducted and on that request wrote
that letter when signed the letter be paid me $780,
Q-Plsase lay before the committee all copies o
vouchers memoranda anything else you may have in
Judgment reflects upon the integrity Of George Austin
Al have extracts from certain vouchers Of the Ar
Q-(By the Chairman )-Have you any originals
A-No; and do not Of my own knowledge, know where
they are w;u
Al have one here, which If i cut it Off will destroy
my memoranda but will do SO to morrow, any other
Rresident-This is not testimony
Mr.. Fuuerton.-It is unless object to it,
witnes.-I think the document reads American Art
Union Ir without giving the 1850 September 8,
paid to G. White editorial $50, September H. for
pPssDs gallery sa 70 September sgs II advertising in
this way, Reimbursed to by treasurer ed Janua
ry, 1851, A. NJ Cozzens and the Both January it ap
pears have passed through the books in the manner
that Mr.. Austin's accounts were usually entered
Glow W your Judgment does that reflect upon the
character Of Mr.. Austins
A-Mr Austin, the Treasurer, had no authority to pay
Mr. Cozzens any money and then keeping it days
after he paid it, until it became old matter.
A-The voucher from the auditing committee seven
days after he paid it, had always been stated that Mr.
Cezens vas in advance to the institution and conceived
MAT the proper mode would have Mr. C,zens to
have presented that bill to the auditing finance
nstee and allow his associates to pass upon it. there
being vouchers attached for the disbursements charg
I'd in the BILL instead Of the course pursued BY him and
Mr.. Austin
Q-How do you know when this entered on the
books
Al Judge from the face Of the document itself all
bills which passed the r COMMITTEES bore the date
50. Ny copy shows when the bill passed the finance
committee, which was On Both January, 1851, and
n1 hp On PROCESSING to be merchant
sbould be cautious how he should allow bill Of that
hind being paid him without the sanction of his
party to such transaction.
Odd not that same thing occur with reference 70
yOur salary than occasion
Aldo not know whether it did not but know
that gave proper voucher for salary, and there Is
proper voucher attached to this bill Of Mr. Cozzens
Q-Wae your bill for salary passed by the finance
mittee before it was paid 10 your
Al think 1t very possible that my salary may have
been paid before 1t passed the committee.
Qwas it not always paid before it passed the finance
committed
A--No, sir.
Q.-Was there such instance
Al think il very likely my salary was fixed fact,
and no vouchers were necessary hight have anticipated
my salary there doubt about my salary.
Q-Do you think 1t excuse that an account should
be paid although correct, without auditingS
AThat is matter for the treasurer, If he likes to
pay IT do not think that the should have paid
my BILL he thought II Was correct not even my
own, much less the Presidents.
Q-Is that your handwriting (Handng bill to the
witness)
Al doubt it; do not wish to deny IT, but do not
think s in my handwriting do not see why sho lid
only write my name to receipt, while am able to write
the whole myself.
Odd you receive your salary in advanceP
AYes but 1t had reference to taadiusted claims the
payment Of that salary had reference my claims
The following bills then put in
american Art Union, to J Monk, Dr.