The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-23
ws.hAngton Market investigation.

/ Washington Market Investigations
| ALLEGED CORRUPTION OF CITY OFpTcIALs-THE CITY
| IMPLICATED IN THE CnARGK-TEsTIM0sY or Sc
4 vERAL WITNESSES
| The Special Committee CT the Board OF Aldermen APP
pointed investigate into certain alleged abuses Of West
Washington Market, held their first meeting on Monday
afternoon in Mr.. Valentines room, No City Hall-Ader
/ man Blunt In the chair.
This matter originated with petition Of James Reilly
which forth that several years that part o. WASH
ngton Market west Of West laid out pur
pose OF aordng farmers facilities 70 sell their produce
that about the SepembeS last Daniel Moran caused
10 be erected thirty forty sheds thereon which he sod
for various ranging from $3.50 10 $780, the aggregate
Of which the petitioner thinks, would amount 20 about
$40 900; which money, he states, was received by the
City Inspector that tho petitioner had conversations with
Mathew Greene Clerk Of the Market who stated that the
stands were erected by Mr. Moran for Mr. Morton TO sell;
that Mr. Greene also said Mr. Morton gave several Alder
men and Councilmen stands in order to induce them
favorable reports and ordinances for the City
| Inspector that in consequence of the erection Of
| ihese sheds the farmers have place TO stand
heir wagons TO sell their produce, and obliged to
lace their vehicles in West Dey and adjacent streets,
hereby blocking up tho same and in conclusion the pe
,oner hopes Mr. Morton will be ordered to report the
Of all persons holding free stands on the ground,
nd of those 10 whom stands have been sold and that the
money be directed to be paid over to the City Treasurer
large number Of those holding stands the land aud
many persons otherwise interested the subject appear
| before the committee yesterday
Mr. George W Morton, the City Inspector, was drst
allied the stand and swornHe represented, from the
reports Of Mr. Greene the clerk the market and others
connected wth the subject that somewhere about year
ago the ground alluded to was filthy mud hole, where
old broken wagons deposited, sheds were put up
without authority and the place used for purposes
OF prostitution and in fact resort for all kinds of in
fanny. Mr. Merton believed the place might be very much
improved by the erection Of proper sheds for market pur
poses which would prove OF To the city,
and which he authorized 70 be done Mr. Morton never
j would state that he had been waited by Alder
| men and Councilman, who told him that there were
f they could have sheds; when applications were made
he referred the applicants TO Mr. Greene the clerk Mr.
Greene has granted permits Tor stands and Mr Morton
has signed them Mr. Morton had intended As he
could accomplish IT, 10 ascertain who the persons
occupy sheds the PREMISES he was on the ground
about weeks ago, and found it in very deplorabe
condition; he did not know that the ground originally
ed M for the purpose OF allowing country wagons TO
| be placed thereon.
Matthew T. Grernc, clerk of the market, was then
cae and swornHe said he granted permits to persons
bud stands on the ground; the parties thus applying
erected the stands ut their expense; he does not
know Of any Alderman Councilman auy other city
official receiving stands gratuousiy some parties who
have hal sheds have sold them again is an every day
for parties 10 sell their stands. he does not
think there been three days he has been
neced with the market that stands have not been sold;
knew Of q Mr. Jacobs selling his stand; Mr Moran has
had number Of permits for stands thinks he may have
given Mr. Moran as many as fifteen permits have heard
| that he fMoranl had sold some of those stands;
he believes that buying and selling stands the business
Of Mr. Moran Is certain that he gave him permission TO
build four stands although he has not memoranda OF the
| exact number could no; swear that he allowed him as
msDy ten or dieen is in the habit Of giving out per
mts persons to build stands the ground west of
West without making any memorandum OF them
he does not collect rent Whaever from them tho old
collectors collect the money there IL not single stand
| that does not pay a regular rent
To Mr. Morton-Mr Greene stated that he then swore
po'itveiy that he never either directly or indirectly
divided dollar with Mr. Norton any Aldermen or Coun
Gilman any other person. in consideration Of the rent
of tlese stands the broken down wagons which were
thrown upon this ground were used for prostitution and
gambling, and the place ntolerable pusance Mr.
Morton instructions 10 witness We're 10 grant permission
build stands there 10 all rcspectabeand to none but
rcspectabeper The cost OF building stands is from
Sl25 to $3.50 each: and II Is very common prac
tice indeed for them to be sold by their
| ers. No Aldermen Councimen have received per
mission to build stands-neiher do they occupy
any; does net know Of promises made by Mr. Morton
that he would stands 10 Aldermen or Counclmen II they
would vote for favorable TO him, (Morton)
RMr oRelly here interrupted and propounded certain
| nterrogatories to Mr. Greene, which repeated
through Chairman which the witness yered
stating that Councilman Dunn and Councilman James
po know that Mr. sers paid for stand nor
has heard that he dds never heard OF Mr. Seers pay
ing $50 for 100, and half Of ground adjoining stand
received any money from tina parties ab.ye named
from any other persons, either directly or indirectly for
market, does not believe there are ten stands there
which have not been sold
Aldermen Blunt, the Chairman here proposed reading
number Of afdavi's In relation 10 the subject Tue
reading commenced, aud the first affidavit being
j
ed that he kept stand the ground In question for the
permission To erect which he paid $780, aud which permit
was signed by Mr. Morton.
irg ~ any afdayits until the parties making them were
present TO be examined before the committee The per-
making those altays he said for he had copies OF
the sdsv) stated thai monies bad been paid Tor stands
hut the person whom the monies were pad was no, de
sgnaied and the permits signed by him (Morton)
and n an mputaon thus upon him, he wanted
TO be confronted by those parties by whom such mpuia
tons were made.
Alderman Blunt said he wanted 70 investigate THIS mat
ter TO the bottom
AMER some further observa,ions:the reading of the a
davis suspended order that the parties who made
them mgh, be brought before the committee
VIM hawks was the next witness sworp,-He stated
that he was csrnan for mercantile house, ana that his
stand IS in Dcy street the carmen, he said, are put "a
great Inconvenience in the vicinity OF the market 10 con
sequence Of the produce that occupy the streets
sometimes " impossible u get near the stores
they did not have much difficulty before the land was
built up there are more wagons ~ the streets now than
there then but ~ the business 81 the market
bs increased although witness carried just many cart
leads ecr years he docs now the statements Of
the wagoners that they pay shilling day, and they
have right stand where they do; cabbage, barrels,
often piled In the middle OF the street, tho ground
poses; don't know whether the nuisance would exist
n the stands were removed formerly the produce
wagons used TO occupy that ground there have been be
tween ny and sixty she6s butt on vita the last
year the place used 10 be- he admitted, very nasty
| mud hole
Mr. Greene. his testimony having been resumed. said
he understood u the stands we're put W the day
tune and nj night. has been On the land twice or
| three times week. buf never eAs ~tan1s being
erected In the night time, does rot know ~ his own
knoxledgc that any have been thinks u the sheds were
| removed The ground would beccule common dumping
ground except sufficient police Yorce sau detailed 10
| protect
Mr. Morton wac further examined when he stated that
some time ago he obtained detailed policemen N tho
place but they failed 20 spste the nuisance that existed
he supposed be Noron) had control q the premises u
twas fenced in and proper number 81 policemen 10
take OF H. be supposed the place would not be nui
but he had not the 10 take any such action
IL he had power he would thereon the erection
cf an iron market which would he an ornsment 20 the
city the ground. hc supposed " the sheds ed,
| the wagons allowed 20 In and a sufficient police force
placed there would not be nuisance. he did not know
whether he had the power TO remoye the sheds, and
consult the Corporal on Counsel before taking
stop o that kind thinks however he has right b. order
down the sheds stands he should exercise the fullest
authority wherever the market extends and any nyare-
placed there BY his authority he has the right tctear