New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-10
THE WEIRD LIBEL SUIT.
Cn,s4~Uek from Rtres PaGe.

CoosiaaeA freW Ftrss rage
.onI5 collect or cause to be collected at the Custom
Hoase $1,000 for the next election lor as
Opdyte expected to run for Mayor next fai he lex.
saye W Ell went to Mr. Opdyke and tod mn; th4,
M Andrews would give hD or case 70 DC cSeT ~
Ipdrew, Tor Snryeyor Of the Port u NeeYork." q
What about Stanton A. II he wonld agree 70 crop
Stanton and go for him (Andrsws) moment e are me-
about Andrews, Opdyke asked me If he wouldn't
cheat lin; said no. l thogg.: not; Dut you can
Your man Wel alter talking Don know as be ana
II on an instGnt-he picked Mr. WFaTs , Diu ne
say be picked hm y Yes siri ne chose MI asr
con- have it chose il you ike II letter lhen ne SAYS
"I went TO Mr.. Williamson Gnd told hin WIat M Up
dyke had done aud what Mr.. Andrews had done ana
that Mr. Opdyke wanted me TO go viii hn to consuln
mate this bargain We met Mr. Andrews at the sine
place. at the corner Of Twenty thiIa . anu BTSn1"a.
cannot tell all the conversation wa. with Mr. An
frews my self there IL that Dom ana tCu MN lua MI
Williamson chosen by Mr.. Opdyks to come tleie
and sec what could be done In regard 10 TINS ootKh
90 be made between him ard Mr.. Opdoke TO get bln
thst situation Surveyor. anu DIR. Andrews sa.a
Custom. House, for Dir. 0pdokes election $40
%ent Of Surveyor We Oft Of the Fcr. Of NevTat Again
Or Mr.. WiIlismson-to the Offer Of Mr.. Andrews' A;
Then Mr. Williamson was TO go TO Mr.. opdyke ana
What did you tell Andrews Opdyse would do A "a
he would give him $1,000 cause ~ be collected
eloOOO he would 90 and Try 70 get it or use his nhn
eommYnicate Ills 10 Mr. oadykoi 4. lie tod me to
ask Mr.. Williamson 20 come and see hiM, a.o report
about this bafssin whyh wss made with MI Andrews
O. Do You know whether he DID report from Mr. Cp,
dykef A. Yes. sir; when saw Mr. Opdyke asked
him II he had seen Mr. Williamson. and he said Re lad
asked if things were satisfactory. and he said they
were and in few days MIR. Andrews had his appoint
Delt.
SECOND VERSION.
He (Andrevs) Wal ted me 10 30 TO Mr. Opdyke and
set him to get the appointment ~ to use disturbance
NJ ApH,< a lso1n NJ
You make u to Nj Opdyke II he gets you this appoat
meuti you know thar lie has got Ian by tie Fame o
Stanton that he is trying 10 get appointed there; NJ
didn't say bow much be was Wiling u do, and dont
know whether he mentioned the $1,000 or J. but one or
the other mentioned $1,000; that IL about IT, q
What I'D be. MI Opdy h, teil YOU wA2h yea Ssh' u
him with the proposition OF MIR. AIdieWsf a. lie sara
be try ing to get Mr.. stanton APPOINTED pgt hc
didn't know whether there much chance Tor hiH Of
not; don't know what else he said but at any nte ne
agreed-(hie ted to)-we then, be sadie would drop
Mr. Stapt,H in the inst place, he wanted 10 Know ii
Andrews would not cheut LIN. and tLeD lie said i
don't think there is much chaDce for Mt stanton and
Il get him think will go for Mr. Andrews
ranged to bic satisf scIior Of course.
THIRD VERSION.
AR. Andrews there ard asked me II would
use my influence with 0pdyke to get him appointed
Sur eyor OF the Port Of New York said 10 hu' MI
Sy1ss nSw svSsseI se viii iS be Ws to
bis fien1 10 go for you He said think you can make
1t agreeable wAh him. and will do anything that
is asked sad hun what object VIII you make IL ~
Mr. OpdyEe if he will drop Stanton ana go Tor yen
whether i mentioned $4,000 or MIR. AndreSs men:
toneh i fret eahno, say: but he soid tn, he soad
OF the Custom. House $1,000, If Mr. Opcyke
would drop Mir, Stanton and go for him, and sc,
was " be paid to Mr. OpdyS for Mr.. OpGyke's cleo
tioni A. To Mr.. Opdyke. @. And not for his cleo
ton, A. To go for his elect on q Were those bis
wordsi A. As as can rceolleet, word for word
Q. Was tbis il 80 II Updyke Will get me appointed
will cause be collected at the Custom. House $1,000
and vs 70 him for hs electicnt A. That is ~ near
1 iiaaf O
A said would SEES Nh. Opdyke. Q. Is that oil yuu
said ~ hint A should ttink not. @ 10 you recOl-
iect any hing elsei A don't rcco!sct every word.
Q. Do you remember anything esei A. l don't Just
sow. pat 1 may # you wiz s.S ne some questions
among other things that il the bargain would
be satisfactory ne would go for Mr.. Andrews
The only interview pretended 70 have been had with
Mr.. Opdyke one by Mr.. Mcneil end another By |
Williamson. each separately: They did not together
so.O Mr.. 0pdyke At any time. Mcneil ML gives three
different accounts Of bis. McNeis word Ii not worth
Q straw. His enough to destroy ell conf
dence in bis accuracy. He had the coarse swagrer OF
Of a witness under oath. His language 10 singnlnr
mixture Of precision one expression and oOseres in
oil Others. THUS he is almost always careful, vhea
speaking Of the officer to be appointed 70 call him Sur
veyor Of the Port Of SeS-YorE. Ibis is the Language
Of the libel, which be seems to have studied. Yet
81 is not credible that two men, speaking of the
Office. should in all circumstance edd tic supple
nentary and unnecessary words; Get him, however,
Of tic Port of New York and ho lie loose o. pos
yible." You may have it chose II yen think 1t
better aud Il think viii g, If what! a. IL
->.--- "a. arranged C US s:, e-c.'55S OF course"
NcSeil is convicted Of ialsehood by williamson. Heis
ssked if Mr. Opdyke did lot make hin s offer d settle
nent before tie suit was brought lie answers, 40.
vree" Williamson testihes that the offer made ~
Mcneil himself in Williamson presence. AcSsi II
also cted By both Mr. Opdyke and M. Andrews
In respect " gu interview at gtOn lie says no
them there In the winter u lss and hae Ger
sation with them about this aegedeaIs,in ior the sur
veyorshp Both Of them testify nc. DIV that there was
no such CONVERSATION, but that they ola nor hiih
I'm W ashir gton at all. We may therefore. hy Mcneil
and all his stories aside not oyon a llakeweiRht
IN the scale Of evidence Mr.. wiiiamson's testi.
oby Of lis interview with NJ Opd!se TOO vague Tor
a., relanre TO be placed upon IL He went " MI Up
1ykes office and said something to bin. iii. language
ts-"I said that had be- n 10 see AtGIcws about the
matter BY his request; tnst tue matter entirely
satisaotory aud that believe Andrews would carry
cot In good faitn xbat he had proposed" he cannot
Yecollect q single word used Ia that cOnyersat"n-
% What did AIR opdyke say to taeti a. lie mace
10 reply that reooli,ct nOw don't recolect that
1e did make sny reply; he Simply acquiesced In IT,
Row 70 convict Mr.. Opdyke Of completely in any
bars ain it 10 necessary 70 show ttht re under
stood wihansops language u i7io,c 10 1uch bar
gain Williamson does not testify that he stated the
{erms Of q bargain. or that tEsio o bargain a,
I'll about getting Andrew. the ofBce. Lef how.
ever suppose that Mr. Willamtoas testimony goes the
isngth VI Affirming that BIO told NJ Opdyks u Prom
fse on the part Of Mr. Andrews % help Mr. Opdybe II
consider the evidence 20 outweigh IT, In the first place
the story Is most improbable ar. Opdyke and Nr.
Andrews were well aoqusnted-thoy had eetod 70
Rether In the hayOiaty canvass III 1859 ~ the former
wanted the aid OF the latter and the latter the aid Of
the former II would be stked for directly. Truly Mr.
Andrews would ssk Mcneil to lntercetie for him.
Ror roud Mr.. OpdySe want Wine nson AZ witness TO
Mr., .ndrews PROMISES. Mr.. Opdvke and Mr.. An.
dr. "a would been both Of them insane II such
bargain or arrangement Lad been made through third
parties. In the second place. Mr. Andrews had been