New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-04

ing the letters "wen," the I being converted into
an F. and the letters "or" written in the place OF
the erased letters wen" The letters "or" in
serted occupying smaller space than those
erased. the space was filed up by making the
stroke which converted the T into an F with
heavier hand than the rest Of the writing. l, fur
ther appeared that John Pettigrew, after finish
ing the work and making claim which was re-
jected, swore TO complaint in which be charged
the City with being indebted to him according to
the forged figures in which complaint was state
ment of quantities and calculations based upon the
| forged price; that the claim of Pcttigrew was
referred by consent to ngle referee, who hesrd
the cause, of course out of Court, and gave judg
ment in favor of John Petti2rew for the full amount
of the csim interest and costs Although the case
was pending for a considerable period in the pri-
yate Office Of the referee, dscOsery of the for
gerry in question appears to have been made at all
events the point was not presented, but the claim
was contested upon other grounds, which need not
now be referred to, the forgery part of it is all
that seems to be of interest in the phase of the
matter Iow presented in Court
After Judgment Was regularly entered in favor of
John Pettigrew for the amount of the claim as
reported by the referee, the forgery was dis
discovered and published. The evidence Of it
was perfect and complete; it was indsputable, and
was not disputed 1t is but just 10 the public senti
ment to say that a general feeling OF SURPRISE IT
not Of indignation was manifested at this new and
alarming aspect of municipal villsiny. That frauds
had been perpetrated in the execution of work in the
Street Department; that Inspectors were le'gued
with contractors in mlsrepresenting the quail
ity and quantity of work done for the Corpora
ton, every one was aware and the science of
Corporation rascslity had gone so far that cases
we're extaDt in which tie money of the city was
paid BY Heads of Departments to their cOnfeder-
ates for claims which either had no existence what
ever or which were allow I'd for at six eight times
the actual value of the service. But the deve
Opments Of this Pettigew case were novel and
startling That the public records could be
altered; that the sealed contracts preserved as
tue evidence of the obligations entered into with
the City were within the reach of the hand OF
forgery while in the custody of the officers OF
the Corporations that such records should be
altered so as to enormously increase the claims
of contraotors that such forged records should
be the subject of judicial proceedings, and
become the basis of Judgment in Court OF JUS
tce, without exposure or detection, was certainly
reaching point which filed honest citizens with
apprehension as to the next step of progress in
municipal corruption.
Well, what was the consequence OF the Petit
grew Development Was anybOdy arrested Was
apy investigation had to ascertain who committed
the crime Was Mr. Pettgrew called to any bar,
civil or criminal, to answer why he had thus sworn
in his complaint to claim based on forged con-
tract Was he ever asked by any officer OF the
law to explain his share in the transaction.
Not at all; and the only answer ever set up in his
behalf, is that Mr. Pettigrew himself did not
know that the crime had been committed; that he
was very wealthy man who had made his money
as a contractor with the Corporation and that he
had really been as much deceived as any one.
That the alteration could benefit no one but Mr.
Pettigrew; that the suppression OF the estimate
could advance no pecuniiry interest but his; that
each step in the tedious process could help bin
alone-ail this might be, and yet be be perfectly
unaware of what some philanthrOpic and friendly
forger had done to put money in his pocket.
Ii uas a crime, too, which involved good deal of
trouble and care and ingenuity; it involved access
to the contract in the Street Commissioner office;
It involved opportunity TO effect cautiously the
requisite erasure; ink had to be carefully selected
to correspond in color; and besides, the artist
must be left perfectly uudisturbed in the office Of
the Stree. Commissioner to perform his work. 1t
was also necessary to quietly seize the proposal
which Was filed away in the Street Commission
ers Office and so put this witness out of the way;
but that did not require much time dellberation
or preparation A little knowledge of localities
and .leigtt-of-hand could suffice for that business
And We are to believe, that all this was done
without the knowledge Of Mr.. Pettigrew
When forgery is committed, though for never
so small an amount, By some painting outcast half
famished for the means Of satisfying his hunger
be is chased TO his beggarly home and the strong
arm of the law drsgs him unheedng to the bar of
the Criminal Court. 10 answer the indignation OF
outraged Law, and presently we hear that bis Honor
| Judge Russell has yiudicated his reputation as an
upright Judge, by sending the culpri. to State
| Prison There are also cases recorded in which
| Courts and Jures have had the assurance TO de-
clare that men of wealth and standing have been
| guilty Of crimes, and TO punish them like other
! criminals. Such wis the case of Sir John Dean
Paul Baronet and associates but that was in En-
| gland In this City We believe the effort has been
conGsed to al Intellectual attempt to conylct one or
moro Aldermen Of criminal ofenses; and these
having failed. the crimes Of wealthy men and poll