The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-26
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
Trial Of Joseph e. Eblins, C0mmissionor o
streets and Lamps, for Bribery.
00URr OF GENERAL GResION6.


COURT OF GENERAL sRssIoNs.
Before City Judge Cspron-
YRsT DAY.
The court room crowded TO everfowing yesterday
morning, II being publisy Understood that Joseph &
LIB ing the Commissioners Of Streets and IAmps would
Be put spon his ial upon the charge Of bribery. Mr..
Ed ing present at the opening Of the court attend
cd with his counsel James T. Brady hsrvn RI Brewer
and Richard R. Bustssd. The District Attorney appeared
in person to conduct the prosecution.
The following gentlemen were, after the usual forms
and difficulties selected ~ jurymsu;-
Nelson Hopkin foreman. John Killer,
Thomas EdmoDds, Albert Hsbin,
James C. Andrews, Milton L, Western,
Benjamin Ellison, E. h. Conway,
William J. Leward, Robert Ii. HegemAn,
Peter A. Valentine, william J. Lewis.
In sDpsnnsning the jury, Mr. Brady said the unplsa-
sant duty would devovs upon him Of challenging.
When Mr. Nelson Hopkins called the stand, Mr..
Hall said he should challenge tor favor, the ground
that this gentleman belonged political society eAned
Know Nothings TO which Mr. Ebing also supposed h.
b, long Mr.. HOPKINS, being sworn, said he not
member of any such political organization, and
sworn juror.
The question to whether they belonged 10 the Know
Nothings put to the other jurors and when answered
in the negative the juror accepted. No ons wa
found VI no had expressed An opinion in the uass.
Mr. Hall opened the for the prosecution in very
brief speech. he sah-Gentemeu you been empai-
nelled to try of public Importance IL being agus
public officer and this made the necessary tina.
you should be selected with the caution which has
used ny the The indictment Is for bribery
which formerly legal term, only applying to
rupons this kind upon the bench out now, by law Of
this State, this apply to any public officer. che o
trct Attorney here read to the jury the statute ,ib
ry) On the eth Of JAM 1855 ding finding Of
Grand Jury, Joseph E Ebing, Commissioner Of Stree
Co. to his influence personally and officially, to
award to this firm contract for cleaning tho Of
from this Arm for such vces ali Of certain amount
OF money which they received over $4,000 far the
xh s prsse;.usn would f.; turtle, II; Sssys that x
made bargain to give the firm Smith, Sickl' ca. n
certain contract for thing Of value and he should
dea show that this Indictment came under the
statute he had just rad.
The first witreeB called was
Reeves B. selms-i Clerk to the Board Of Aldermen;
tbee the orignsl documents of tie Com
missioner on Streets Of this city.
Mr.. B1ady-we will admit the originality Of these
Mr.. Morgan A. Mott was next caled-I am engaged 10
the Office If Or mmissioner Of Streets and lamps; know
Mr., Smith, Of the firm Of smith, Siekles l. Co.
@ Whose handwriting is this paper In that now show
your
witnesp-I decline answering.
Mr.. Ha-Uptp what grouDdsY
WitDess-It may tend 70 crimiDate myself.
Mr.. Hail. Did you ever see this paper beforeP
O. 10 you know the handwriting Of Mr.. Eblinsf A
Yes, sir.
O. Is this paper in his handwriting A. should think
not.
Mr.. Han-Tbis IN ALL
Mr.. Brady-l have nothing to ask.
Mr. Robert A. Smith caiec-I reeide In Brooklyn: am
. actor; acquainted with Mr. Ebipg year
ego was one Of the firm Of smith Sickle o. ana had
depbia; went to live in Brooklyn about two months
ago; fIst knew Mr.. Eblipg in November, 1864; met
him st bis own house. In the Bowery there we're othss
present the time he then Commissioner of Streets
elect; he and hen Rad no conversation In regard To
clearing streets object was to ca his attention to it.
be said be you'd ibe to have private conversation
in regard to the matter; next had interview with
him the same day. in the Metropolitan Hotet; had
roc ms there we then had some in regard to
machines md ,he probable Of cleaning city
present but Mr.. Eblpe and myself; my next
meeting with him was in PhilaJepnia about three
Mr.. Brspdon and myself present. Mr. Eb!ing
wss satisfied with the capabilities Of the ma
was, that be would use his inuescs to get me the IN
tract provided he would agree to give him all he recev
ed over sl40 600; was stranger myself, 10 the cty
ard not Of the legalty of the contract the
understanding that the agreement oindiag
if Mr.. Ebbng not satisfied that the machine could
Its work. al IT, after he them in Philadelphia
they did not work satisfactorily him. the matter
10 drop he at that time Commissioner Of Streets
eect and not yet confirmed or sworn; think Mr. Eo,
bling remain ed in Philadelphia two days and expressed
his satisfaction with the machine; next saw him a. his
house. about the eth or 7th of January.
Winese-Gentlemen, dislike very much to give this
evicence-I am brought here against my WILL
Mr.. Hall-Oh that is nothing
MI. brAdy-On. you need have no n ore reluctance
than you had before the Grand Jury.
Wi.pess-I did not 60 there with my will.
Mr.. HslEWen, go on, and say what took place With
Mr. kbling IN the January interview.
Wrness-He raid he could not ratify the ccntrar.
unless We took his partner, Mr.. Mott, into ti-
and Mr. Mott at the Smithsonian House, and re stayed
there till IL O'Clock ct night; all there sgreed TO 20
into agreement which was written and given to Mr..
given to Mr. kolng since the purpert Of this
agreement that Mr.. Ebng and Mr. Mott we're TO be
h the money and stock and do the work that Mr. En-
ling ard Mr. Mott were to use their influence To Obtain
oI us the contracts We were TO do the work for $40 @
su over and above this TO be divided between Mr..
Ebling and Mr.. Mott; It then understood that
should leave this matter in Mr. Eblnes hands; this
anything was said in Il Of bids this paper sho rn me is
the paper given me BY Mr.. Ecing
Mr. Hal-This paper is the one showed Mr.. Mott;
HpeI CO. both personally onciay
Of the Of New York and conform to the terms Of
Nav ya. ,,n, ,sm' } Sa xoE 3 BILLING.
Witness The other agreement signed by Smith,
hing was 70 attend to the bids questioned the propney
putting in than bid he said he would stse Nd
derstood that We as soon a. possible,
por Ion Of the work would DO ready fer to work
Spon We T. come on as ss1n Is vent
amount Of money for the work. purchased horses
got machines and in July We maze bid for the work
after the In at the Smithsonian House. me. Mr.
Ebng several times in New York; during interview
asked Mr. Ebling tie propriety Of seeing Mayor Wood
he fad he could DO no good and might pjure u.s. In
May attention called to the ilegahy OF this
tract arising from some difficulty between Mr. Eblng
and the firm called on Mr.. Mott in regard to this.
Mr. Hsll.-Do not state any hing Of this interview.
Witness-ln July the bids put in by and then
Mr.. Ebling again. the first bids rejected and
put In others; the first declared Informal, and
this why put In the second set the informally
in regard to the evidenoe had interview With
Mr. Ebng In his private Office; he appeared to be
much dissatisfied with bid, and he taid the
agreement At end and the papers had better be
dettrcyed.
O. What paper did he refer tor
Wine<s-He reerred to the receipt in possession
M sckes had The paper and wanted him TO destroy It
he said had better be out Of the way; cid not got
the work, and 30 the matter ended
Croesexsmined by Mr. Braoy-You say you testify
reluctantly, and you want the jury to believe thsS
Witness-I want the % to believe it.
Mr.. Babylon vent before the Grand Jury re-
luc' sntly y