The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-27
ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT PRESENTMEN1
OF rRn
GRAND JURY OF NEW YORK.
SENSATION IN COURT
TWO OF THE ALDERMEN INDICTED,
&C., 30, &c.

&C., &o., &c
In the Court Of Sessions yesterday morning, before Re
corder 1inou and Aldermen Wesley smith, OF the Eleventh
ward and .mcs Bard, Of the Fourteenth ward, the
Grand jury announced through of the officers that
they were ready cloe then business for the term
wished TO heard. The Recorder them word that
tire Court ready receive them shortly after the
Grand Inquest appeared and MIR fIben their foreman
presented several bills Indictment to the Court
then stated that he held in his hand = present
ment made BY the Grand Inquest which ne requested
might be read BY the Clerk In court The Recorder
took the document, cast his eyes il, sud then
LANDED the same the CLERK read, sni that
functioury passed from page page great excitement
manifested by The people in court there being large
number present antieip atng the disclosures thai
20 be made.
ArDcus the indictments presented 70 the Court
Two bills against the very Aldermen sitting on the bench
and this coincidence Tended ncres the
excitement.
eIhe olo.rs i copy Of the document presented BY
the Grand Jury
rustgssESrSgSr.
he Grand jury, in closing ther deliberations Ia.
FeAru~y Of the Court OF General Sessions, respect.
fully present 20 the Court the result Of their iAbor.
he charge Of the Recorder the Of the
terra the sstentior o. the Grand Jary c.ed to
rious pSsse allegations o. fraud corruption and NAL
prNcsscss The laT. Of public cfcers connected with
the esty scvsrunsns and til, body officially charged
With he duty o. investigating the subject Having dis
possS the OF under confinement charged
With crimes the Grand jury ~ tbs earliest possible
nens proceeded tho discharge OF The duty deYolyed
spca tA-m. From that time they have been daily
s.sed investigation and while hoy regret that the
tarIurna Of the of the court prevents fuller
confirmation Of their abors they that their
oa- presented IN this report have been without
beneficial results
Many v.tnosses have been su mmoned some OF whom
having been regularly and personally subpoened have
neglected obey the process Of the Court and from the
held by the voluntary absence of the witnesses
ferred to- the moral conviction has been irresisibly
oroed nlel the minds Of the Grana Jury That gross
eai duties have been pererated the part OF various
members Of the heads Of departments and the Common
founct indictment for which against inc iyidual
be- has they have 20 believe been prevented by
their wifui disobeenss Of the OF the Court the
Lave been examined have refused answer; and the
want Of power TO enforce the proper answers
has been fully fell and 10 certain extent has succeeded
preventing final actonin certain Enough how
has teen elected from the lips, mainly OF unwilling
Witnesses IN warrant the conclusions baren embo led
ans TO sustain ne facts heFo rrssented IL paal
and mortiiy ing clion that Ito ir.nl nqde o. tn.
city trd couLi eli d. 10y regard 70 theit
official obea to-, ard ne duty which they 70 heir
fellow cit2tns, before The community state
Of facts Affecting Tie mora, add official integrity Of high
public functionrfes, ana u startling esormity They
Lave, however, alterIa iye-te evidence warrants it,
cnty eujons it. and phe l. 81 commands L..
the investigations If tlc Grand JaTy maiaiy Iii
iscted to charges OF alleged ma!Fcrsa:on in Office.
Frs-The grant Of public property, real and personal
TO different parties for alleged nsdcq and improper
seoondCharges Of direct bribery and corruption the
7hird-Aeged viola tons Of the 18th and 18th sections
Of tho City Charter.
Foarh-Improper and corrupt Legislation In regard 10
LasGy-GeDera and imrrovden. waste and expenditure
Gn6cr the first head various Witnesses vere called and
examined the result Of whose test mony that in tho
month Of December last resolution wa, referred to the
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund directing them 10 Ok
street property. That after various motions for publ
cation q ths proposed sale and for determining ado
aaate price BY public ocmpeti,cn had been Put and lost
The property finally determined to be old to Reuben
cash. an the balance TO be secured BY mortgage on the
s.sn rom Mr. sm:on draper to
the eeot that II the grant was confirmed TO Mr. Ioveoy
30 would take the Deed ay the anount neesss.ry and
s7iS Dsoenber 10 deed with connterp.rt, wss duly
execueA and by Mr. Draper the latter Of which
tho 2sth Dtcen ber tina. mortgage also executed
by M. Draper. whioh is on record in the Register s
oce and far the independent OF ths fact
that Mr.. Draper OF the Governors Of the Aims
house and by implication embraced within the fourteenth
uhr appeared that snother deed Of the same property
bearing date the 9th December and xledged the
Sh December was executed 20 an0 ,or NJ Ga.
of6oe-ssd against the deed executed BY Mr. Draper
writtea In the rgn, ~anceed Dec 1852 This can
collation. was proved by fr Laurence, former clerk IN
he Comptroller once, 10 be in his handwriting
and 70 have by direction OF the former Corpora
ion Council Henry r Davies There was no evidence
% the OF the Commissioners Of the Sinking
fund 10 this change and cancellation, and memoran
dunn their minutes, ef such proceedings There does
not appeal be any mortgage record from Mr. Var
nun; and the only apparent security 70 tho CITY iund
seems 20 10 the mortgage from Nj. Draper willie the
CONVEYANCE to himself cancelled and be has executed
quit claim deed TO Mr.. tsrnuni who would thus seem
20 enjoy compkte title from ncnmbrance. xvi
done piytn
have been given By another applicant and $500 900 by
~ ,prsicsnt Who desired The anne property and that
notice that effect given previous 10 the sale TO
the Mayor and Comptroller. Without intending TO i'm
pute any improper olives 10 The ma oy Of the mem
hers the sinking Fund the Gra nd Jury authorized
10 say that there undue hatea want OF proper
publication and apparent want OF iudgment-in the
proceedings and sale de erving Of dapprobaon nd tina
The cancellation Of the record was wsnton assumption
OF power.
III was further proven that In relation the sale OF
She wstcr-riebt In front OF the bukhead, at
the foot of Hammond street the adjacent upands be
loDged to Arthur Quinn-that Mr. Quinn the party
titled the pre- eBpton right deairous OF procuring
The grsntthat finding doultes IN the way be applied
70 Alderman sturte ant Of the Third ward who demand
Cd " coo for that purpose--that $1,000 was offered
Witch vas refused upon the ground that Alderman $.
would have divide and that there would be nothing
let for him and thsi br Quinn obliged 20 seu and
old tell his interest IL the upland 10 third party
1t was further shown before the Grand jury hat the
Of $500 Iaid by NJ. Thomas T stanton TO Al
aermsn James NJ Bard Of the Fourteenth ward for and
towards the prevention Of Interference with certain
existing privileges the pier south side OF Wall street
wss further proved year io5l Dr. Ccckroft
made application for tho Catherine street ferry and sf
the grant had passed the Board OF Aldermen aud
seat 70 the Beard OF Assistants Alderman W. smith
If the Eleventh ward, then assistant Alderman,
eei,ed the OF $500 towards the furtberng Of favor
able action in the Board Of Assistant, upon said grant
and that after the passage 81 the grant DR. Cocroft
esiie upon by Assstant Alderman " Smith FOR 5000
Tor eGecting the passage OF the grant which Doctor
fochroft refused 10
was clearly shown that enornous Of money his
been expended for and tho procurement OF raisos
grants 10 the city, and that toy ards the decision and
procurement Of the Ighth avenue railroad grant sum
so largo that would stsrte the most creduoua, Was
expended but In consequences II the voluntary absencs
Of Important witnesses. the Grand Jury loft without
~ tho sfirnla ~ IN