The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-04
Municipal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES nvestiga-
ton.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD
In your editorial comments under the above caption in
your last Saturday issue you place me in wrong posi-
ton and thereby do great injustice. You remark
That to subsantae the charge against Mr. Furcy only
two witnesses could be found viz Alderman Herck and
Mr. S. y. Moulton The last named gentleman was sup
posed be well informed on the subject, because he
kept Mr.. Fohey's accounts and knew all his affairs. All
he knew that he heard Mr. Fohey say he had paid
five hundred dollars to get the plan Of his wall accepted
If the money paid why could not the accountant say
TO what it charged, and when, and to whom paid
Sure enough, why not? because first. at the period Of
which you speak had nothing to do with Mr.. Foheys
accounts, and knew nothing of the wall transaction,
which fact stated to the committee; and secondly
| Mr.. Fohey's accountant in that of the
term implied by your remarks. Let explain. have
known Mr. Foley neighbor and as honest
hardworkng, Industrious man. for the last seven.
teen or eighteen ycars-for the first eight nine
years supporting his family by day labor. In his
dealing with us, we found him scrupulously fair and
correct. s0e eight nine years since, he secured
througH aid of friends contract to regulate and
grade Fifty third street, from Third TO the East
river and continued until recently in that line Of bust
moss. Mr. Foley labored under many disadvantages,
among others, the want of an education. TO over
come this and other difficulties, the undersigned gave
him his assistance and services, and Mr.. i. prose
cuted his business successfully, and, to my know
ledge, the square, and to his entire satisfaction
down to the spring of 1854. About
this period political difference occurred between
arising mainly from the location Of tReynolds' Ofal
Depot, - in section Of the Nineteenth ward, which
difference caused him to withdraw, to q certain extent
his confidence and the supervision OF his financial affairs
and to place the latter in the hands Of member OF his
family, who had become qualified to take charge Of
them
In 1851 or 1852 Mr.. Foley obtained the contract to
regulate and grade set the curb and gutter and lay
stone in Fifty first street from Third the Fast
river The specification contained clause recurring
him to erect parapet wall at the foot Of said street
such the Street Commissioner might direct the Of
which to be included in the assessment for regu-
latng the street. The whole to be completed within
given time. So much from my own knowledge
The season Of 1854 found the work sufficiently far ad
vanced TO justify Mr. in the belief that the whole work
could be completed by early fall, If furnished
with plan OF said parapet wall He accordingly applied
for it. but could not did not secure in to
Psis the work as contemplated Or until the spring Of
Some time in June the fore part Of July OF the pre-
season. after the confirmation Of the assessment for
sad street and wall and the receipt Of the moneys due
him for said work. Mr. Foley informed me- for the first
time that he had been obliged to Mr. James Furey
some person in his interest, (his wife think it was
five hundred dollars before he Mr. Furey, would consent
to furnish him with plan of said parapet wall and
Furey the purrort (which that unless he Mr. Furey
returned to Mr.. Foley, before O'Clock the next
day the $500 wronguly taken from him for furnishing
the plan OF the said wall together with the interest
something like twenty thousand collars for eight months
caused by the delay in Withholding the same, he, Foley
would proceed forthwith to lay the whole subject before
either the Grand Jury Common Council, am not
tain which day or two subsequent to this interview
Mr.. Foley informed me that Mr.. Street Commits
soner Furey had done him the justice to dsgorge to
the tune of one thousand FIVE hundred dollars,
words to that effect, and about to fur
nih me with the evidence Of the whole transaction,
but finally changed his mind and the next day left with
his family for Michigan Here let remark, from my
knowledge of man, and many Of the circumstances
connected with the case have to doubt
the truth Of his statement above, than have that
have written the three last lines and yet it is nothing
but hearsay evidence.
rascalty, and suffered too long and severely and
payer from the pundering rapacty Of these
department oicias and too plainly the inevitable
runous consequences to be enailed upon the ''rura
portions Of city, If not the city itself by continu
ance Of the present management of city affairs and
this late day to aid assist as intimated in your
marks Of Saturday last, in screening them any OF
them from any punishment justly merited recent
mote.
The great difficulty, nay, impossiby Of reaching
these knaves and delnquents through the ordinary
channels OF law asapplcabeto the heads of departments
seems to demonstrate clearly the necessity Of imme
date return 70 the old system and vest In the Mayor
and Common Council the appointing power, far at
least as regards the heads of the several departments
that they may be reached at and decaptated II
cessary.
ter at least much Of II will set me right in the
matter and oblige, very respectfully,
4 D. MoUITON,
Corner of Third avenue and Forty. ninth street
NEw York, July ~, 1855.
=. 81 am informed that the gentlemen who nego-
may be found In the "Custom House. y surrounded bv
the sweets of a good fat Office. S.pM