New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-07

ansverahe eTcuie r Fines-.s priyy - dark trans
acticrf ,hst they might, ~ :ehrc Ths: they knox,
c,.air5te tiem~i,s In relation 10 the q nsevoort
property operation, James e Taylor put on the
stand and said be was a. oppican. for the lands IN
question biz s,erton being int c4ei to the object
by resolution which passed the Board of Aldermen,
directing s sale of the property He offered IN bis
own name $l30 COO, and he bsd conversation with
Mr. D1ape, and Mr. Vanum before sending in his
Petition. They agreed to join him in the purchase; 1t
was understood Mr.. Draper was TO take The title.
After this app caOn, which va. directly to the Com
uisopers Of the ing Fund be mad some talk WI n
the members Of that body, bu, not before then. The
application Of Reuben Love joy was put IN at his re-
quest and Mr.. Loveoy consented that when the sale
made if to him, the conveyance should be msde
to Mr.. Drsper To the question whether there were
means used TO induce Alderman Bard 10 favor his
application, he DID not know. All he knew on the
subject he had communicated TO ex-Alderman a. IL.
Schultz. What the nature of this information was
Mr.. Taylor declined answer by the advice Of coun-
sell on the ground that it might have q tendency 10
criminats himself.
An argument was here bad by counsel, as to COM
pelirg Mr. Taylor 10 answer the question, and it was
decided that wtfess might, under the excuse he
| claimed, decline answering.
E1-Ad. Sncul.z, who was also understood to be an
spplcsrt and interested in the purchase, as well ~,
with Mr. Taylor an active lobbyist around the Com.
| mon Council chambers, was the next called at this
investigation He fir,t called Mr.. Taylor, to ar
range with him for the purchase-they were both to
be interested in the operation. Mr.. Taylor was to
make provision for raising the Necessary funds. Part
of the plan to Gefeat Martin and obtain the land was
hat MIR. Schultz would stale care Of tro Aidermea,
and Taylor was TO see Bard ard others,' but any.
thing further on the subject this witness elso declined
to answer; his memory cid not serve him, aud he
wanted lime 10 reflect. This WIS on the 3O,h of My,
1874, and on the nth of June following Mr.. Schuzs
examination was resumed, when the following signd
cant dialogue took place:
| Q. What was the plan arranged between you and
Taylor as 10 the me you should to defeat Mar
tin and TO procure the grant for yourselves
A. decline TO answer that question, on the ground
| tbst the answer may tend 10 crimibate me.
y. Was the plan adopted subsequently carried out
| A. decline TO answer, upon the ground that the
| answer may tend 10 crnirate me.
=. Was there any money used, and II 20, now much
| for the purpose OF procuring he influence OF al
| member Of the Fiuanre Committee or Commission
Of the Sinking Fund, for the purpose Of procuring
| that grant
A. / decline 10 answer, upon the ground that the
! answer may tend Ia cfimlnste me.
| .. Have You any knowledge of any money, prop
ertv or other valuable thing being given Or promised
| to be given to any member of the Common Council
either directly or Indirectly TO Influence any vote or
votes which any of tDem to, or did give, on any
| public subject in which you were not personally m
| tcrested!
| A. | do not recolleot any instance coming 70 my
bno Wedge except what have heard from James b.
| TaylOr
Slr Silss c. Herring testified that Mr. Taylor had
been to Zee him. to have him join 10 the purchase in
question: but be declined yet during his absence from
the city, shortly aiterwsrd petition, with Mr.. Her
rings name forged it, prepared aud sent to the
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund, offering Sl31 600
| for the property.
Reuben Loveoy testified TO having sent his name IN
to the Common Council applicant, without Mem
tonng terms; that the grant made TO his name,
but he made no money out Of the operation. lie had
the title made out in Mr.. Diapers name, and doubt
| presenting itself whether Mr.. Draper as Governor
Of the Aims House. could legally purchase the land,
he was subsequently induced to have the title made TO
| Joseph b. YaiIum and another party whose name he
did not recolect Mr. Lovejoy further testified that
ore evening James b. Taylor came into his office and
raid he had that day given his check for 81 600 to
ODE of the persons having the selling Of the property
| 10 keep another mans bid, which was much higher
| than his from being handed in. Mr.. Taylor further
told him that II would cost him from $40 0OOt $40 OOO
to get this operation the purchase Of the Gansevoort
| property through the City Government.
WE RETURN TO THE CITY HALL.
In the proceedings OF the Board of Alderman, Dec.
8, 1882, we find that the report directing the Com.
missopers of the Sinking Fund to sell the property to
Martin or any Others as amended was called up and
| ADOPTED on division as follows:
| AFFIRMATtVE-Moore Haly Sturtevant. Ban, Tweed
Compton Grsley Frsnci' Smith Psara Bard Ward Cornell
| D1beIty sra rec ID. n.
The paper was then Gent to the Board Of Assistants
where the lobbyists had everything satisfactorily ar.
ranged, and on the Goth Of the same month tie stu
pen6ous job was concurred in by the following vote
AFFIRMATlyE- Brown: Tsit. Mabbat, o,Brien, Rcdman
Bre,don woodward Ring, Well. Anderson Bouton, Wright
kEGATiyE-McCiown and Whe.lsn-2
The Mayor aligned the document, as it passed by a
vote which would swamp his veto had he thought
proper to intepose, and it Immediately ent TO the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for contamination.
| This body was then composed Of Mayor Kirgslsud,
Recorder Tilou, Controller Taylor, Chamberlain Knapp
and AID. Bard aud Assistant Aid. Wells Chairman OF
the Finance Committee.
| HOW TIE SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS PUT 1T
THROUGH.
| On the I'D of December, these Commissioners took
| mp the paper from the Common Council and laid the
subject to the 2ih when it was again taken up,
and proceedings had to fix the terms. Twenty five
per cent of the purchasemoney WA to be paid on de-
livery of the deed the balance to remain on bond and
mortgage, &c the grantees to give the Corporation
the privilege Of deposi,ing coaashes from the Fifth
Eighth, Ninth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Wsrds and
thus make land for the purchasers. TIE Recorder OBJ
ected to every proposition and contended they were
Illegal that the only legal sale would be at public auc-
tiop and wanted to advertise the property for sale,
hut bis suggestions were voted down. On this the
Recorder entered protest against the sale being made
| in the mapper sought, AID TIE Commissioners ad.
ourped TO the 9TH Next meeting, the subject was re.