The New York herald., 1862-01-23
THE LOBBY AT ALBANY.
How Il Is Managed and Who Are
Its Managers.
Report Of the District Attorney Upon Legis.
lative Corruption.
&c., &c., &c.

10 HON, hkrhf RAYMOND SrnAKsR OF THs HOUSE on
On the Sth instant received copy of q resolution
adopted by the honorable body which you presided
Resolved That the District Attorney Of the county Of
Albany be requested f not derogatory with the inte
Of ustce) to transmit the House COPY of the
testimony before the Grand Jury of said county
ly In the matter OF indictment involving corruption
in and around the legislature and the expenditure OF
money TO influence legislation.
Although tho language Of the resolution would seem
to call for the evidence given before the Grand Jury
Frederick s. Ltteohn from the fact that the evidence
ia the former printed for tho Of the House
last year. shall assume, until otherwise informed, that
am asked to transmit the evidence in tho case of f. s.
Lttejohn only The following is copy Of the evidence
taken by me before the Grand Jury
John Van Antwerp, sworn, says-I am cashier OF the
Now York State Bank there has account been kept in
our bank by man by the name OF William Baldwin;
Mr. Baldwin. between the 1st days Of January and April
have number OF checks drawn by Mr.. Baldwin; they
are the folOwing-The following are the checks drawn
and paid At the New York State Bank, Albany:-H. Fl.
Coates $50; Hugh Hastings. 81 900; A. Van veohten
$3.50 George w. Bull 5000; L. B. Sessions, 500 c. d.
Easton. $25; C. s. Underwood, sl75 "self," $3.50 W. W.
Baldwin. $780, "sef, $50; A. D.. Barber, $780, draft
Nav York City Bank. 81 900; ''sslf" $50 s. s. Sweet
land 800; s. H. Sweetand, $l00; Self," 500; F. 8.
Lttejohn. $500 "Sef," 800: John Sammons, $50; l.
Johnson 500; c. Bright $35; +. II. Powell, $233 49 Will
liam G. Lord, $l00 John simmons, 500 william G. Lord,
$loo Self, Sl5o;F $. Iittlsiohn. 500; William G.
S. Lttlejohn, 800; Stotson h Co. $3.50
William Baldwin, sworn, testfes-I reside in oswego
keep an account at the New York State Bank at the
present time have mado deposits there and drawn
against them to tho amount OF about $40 O0O should
think from the 1st Of January 1851 to LIST Of May fol-
lowing during the session OF the last was
few times at the Capitol did not use my influence in
favor Of against any measure; had two
ters before committees which did not up for action
took interest in the New York Post Office bill.
Checks shown wtness) signed such checks; Igave
F. S. Iittleohn checks delivered Hastings check
for 81 900 to r. S. Ltejohn; when delivered the check
TO Iejohn there was no understanding on my part
to what to be done with the money; l owed Little
john for money had of him; have no memorandum
which will enable me to determine the amount Of money
had Of him: gave him evidence of the borrowing;
have idea OF the amount of money paid the date
Of Hastings check drew check for L. b. Sessions for
S. ,5O0 L. Sessions is brother of W L. Sessions, late
Senator did not deliver the check to Sessions nor
know whether it was delivered to him or not; signed
the check at the instance Of Mr.. Lttlejohn kept
at the New York State Bank Lttlcjohn oc
casionally had money which deposited.
Mr. Baldwin at first objected oreatng the transactions
between Ltteohn aud himself, stating that
he supposed the Grand Jury had power to require him
to state his private business transactions.
Frederick 8. Littleohn, sworn tesfed-I don't rec0
ect the amount gave Mr. Baldwin to deposit in the New
York State Bank it might have been $15 900 more
he was my debtor from the LIST Of January 1851 to the
interested in the passage of bills before the last
Legislature, ss any public man would be; was interest
ed in all canal measures; was interested in Brooklyn
city railroads. amendments to the charter and other
Brooklyn city matters; was member Of the Chamber
Of and was selected by the committee Of that
body toprevent the removal Of the Post Ofhce site.
Mr Littlsohn At this stage OF the proceedings asked
the foreman Of the Grand Jury whether he bound to
answer the questions Of tho District Attorney.
The District Attorney put question-Sate the names Of
the COMMITTEES Of the Chamber Of Commerce to whom you
haye relerrsd.
Littlejohn answered--Calsb Barston, A. A. Low h
Brothers, Captain E. Morgan, Totsen, of the firm Of
Shsflns, Totsen Co.; there might have been one or
two more; was TO prevent its removal, and succesded
there money raised to BIO distributed among the
members Of the Legislature; what money was dsbursed
dsbused myself employing counsel and in other legti
ms he a OF he of COmm
raised about for personal expenses and for
Mr.. Rugges, Mr. STILES and local counsel Igavs the
drawn his checks Mr. Baldwin didn't give check to
any member any one connected with the Legislature,
by my direction for any services done IN bis Official ca
member Of the Senate House to the passage Of
the bi know paid L. b. Sessions large Of money
counsel for services lobby agent II you choose to
call IT, the check drawn April e. 1851, for S. $780, is
In my handwriting the check to Eastman for $25 70
Coates $50 Hastng. 81 900 to Underwood sl75, and TO
d. A. Van Vschten for $3.50 are not in my handwriting;
the check TO sessions for counsel fee and
services Mr. sweetand was instructed by me to request
resides in Crescent Saratoga county; Dir. Baldwin had
bdncs to draw checks he pleased the 81 900
check was given 10 Mr. Hastings to use his influence
lobbyist there twice the amount Of money spent
its passage that there to effect its passage
the property sold for $3.50 New York merchants
raised $50 900 and paid it TO the Dutch church, ordered
George W. Bull paid $500 for using his influence q
lobbyist, and to prevent his opposition to the BILL
ordered check for $50 to be given to IT, H. Coates for
pay when the bill passed. and when tina; was effected
those had employ cd wanted their pay that is the way
the checks were Drawn on one day Barber received
500. and was in payment for innuouco he excred
Thomas q. Alvord staid here about month,
almost the entire winter l may have paid him
delicate ground, and had no understanding with any
one; had contracts with parties that IL certain bills
were passed certain moneys should be paid and paid IT,
L. g. Sessions said he could influence five six lobbyists
and certain members; he did not them.
G. u. Easton tcstihedl Sergeant at Arms Of the
Assembly at the last session Of the Legislature; had
check for s25 Mr.. Baldwin, and got the money for
it, don't know what the check for weetland gave
the check and said Littleohn had sent it to Inc:
know nothing about the amount OF money disbursed
this Post Office bill. Witness declined answering the
question Dd you receive any during the session
of the last Legislature except that have mentioned
aside from your salary or eesfr He did not think he
compelled to be witness against himself Thef
man decided the question to DO proper one aud advised
the witness TO answer.
Answer-- reccllect receiving 800 from Mr. Wood, Of
New York. FOR doing work outside furnishing documents
aud urging members in TO that there full house
this the Broadway Railroad bill hc gave that
spend among the boys he gave me $50 two different
times; occasionally treated the members but did not
talk to them about tho bill was in favor OF the bill The
witness further testified that $500 all addition he
ever received while in the Legislature.
Silas H. sweetland resides In Troy-Testhed that he
his influence to certain extent to effect the passage
Of the Now York Post Office BILL received $45 for
days work; he believed from j. $. Littlsjohn his i'm
preston that the checks for George W. Bull, L. b.
Sessions, Cornelius s. Underwood g. d. Easton, H. H.
Coates Hugh Hastings and A. Van Vechten, were filed
out AT The eavan House, Al Nr lttlcohAS rooms ht5
memory ~ they not oil filed out in day tho
body Of the checks in witness handwriting did
know who gave the information 10 the
be filed in Mr. Afford and Mr.. Lttlejohn occupied tho
room where the checks were ded up; II known as
Alvord's and Iitteohns room did not know for what
those cheeks we're out; delivered number of on
vclopes, but don't know that any Of them contained
checks; delivered letters to Hastings al different times
from different parties don't know what they contained
delivered envelopes to q. S. Underwood don't know
what they contained had no recollection at whose sug-
gestou the checks 10 Underwood were filed out Bull
a reporter did not know what services the cheeks
for; did not think they signed IN blank by Baldwin
witness asked TO fill them out, but don't know by
whom; there might be better memories than his had
conyersod with SAKE and Ball. o Rensselaer,, and Sumner
of Saratoga the subject Of the passage OF the Post
Office bill
L. II. sessions deposed-He Of the clerks Of
the senate. but resigned" about January II he was
inter ested in the New York Post Oncc bill received
money It's passage had prior undot standing a. to
the amount drew II check given him by S Little
John; IL S. 900 SO 900 witness identified the
check for s. 500 the services he rendered TO argue
for the bill wherever no happened To- be- could not tell
how long he was engaged ~ did not oxpend dollar
OF money among the members of tho legislature his
brother Walter L. Sessions senator big law part
don't recolect dsbursing dollar TO affect the pas