The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-27
CHARGES AGAINST CITY OFFICIALS.
THE COMPTROLLER.

the C0mptroIler's Once, &c.
The investigation OF the charges against Comptroller
Brennan was commenced yesterday before John sedg-
WICK the Commissioner appointed by Governor Fenton
TO conduct the Investigation There present at the
police headquarters where the investigation takes place.
tho Comptroller the counsel on both SIDES and
Der OF spectators The counsel for the Deputy
Attorney General Hammond, James Emoit, G. T Noyes
and j. u. Daly, and for the Comptroller Jas r. Brady
and A. r. Lawrence 1t was half-past ten O'Clock when
The counsel FOR the State explained that the nvest
CATION took place under the authority Of statute passed
The counsel Tor the Comptroller stated that though Il
might pay legal gentlemen we'll 10 have these nvesti
cations brought forward he thought that any would
be objected except the Attorney General his dep
uty. He quoted the statute 10 show that nvcstxa
tiop conducted In any other way would be Illegal His
client had had deal Of business to attend TO- and
dssirous OF having the inquiry concluded
possible He satisfied that the commissioner had
judicial functions IN the matter, though he would sd
The counsel for the State argued that the referee had
thu right 10 take testimony and forward 10 the Cover
IN 1898 gave the Attorney General power 70 appoint
deputies when be could not attend himself.
The Commissioner decided that he would look upon
the counsel appointed by the Attorney General repre-
sentDg him. He then stated that there two sets
Of charges ons preferred by Anson Herrick and another
William A. Herring was then called to the stand and
testified chat lao Is auditor OF accounts the city and
has held the Office since January 1883 that he could
not tell whether 4 claim Of Fernando Wood against the
Mayor and Commonay Of the city OF New York for egal
charges passed through the Comptroller ehice, without
referring 70 his books he could not recall all that he did
Counsel for the defence hero stated tina, If they de-
sired papers FROM Mr. Brennan office they would pro
duce them on notice at any time.
James Watson was next called 10 the stand and testi-
Ned that he has been County Auditor since February $685.
that bills OF Arson Herrlck were paid 1864 and 1868,
though not properly passed by the Board Of Super.
visors they we're not properly certified ny tho officers
ordering the work one was OF November T. 1898 and the
others 1SU3 and those bills
to In the subpoena; those bills not passed and paid
N those years. they have BEEN since paid in February
1865 by direction OF the Court and writ OF mandnmns
OF the supreme Court; the proceeding hold before
Judge Sutherland did not know who represented the
Comptroller In the proceeding the covered by
THAT mandamns WIS si44 60; the amount OF the bills
paid by the order OF the mandlmus $t62 10 knows
Mr. Herrick by sight, talked with Mr. Brennan once in
regard 10 Mr. Herrnk's claim, never more; that
was when the first bills came up in the
Office; could no, give the exact converse
ton; could give tho substances Of ~ Il that tho
bills not properly Authorized Mr. Brennan Pad !;
prepared any defence in the matter OF the
mus The first niimaton he had OF II when the AZ
orney showed him the order; four five mandamusos
have Issued IN the past two years from tho courts TO the
Compnollers Office 70 pay bills; was not Consulted in
these other cases. they for the payment OF bills
against the county Tine wness here directed to
point out the imperfections in the bills, which he
did substantially az be had previously testified }
these tho only bills OF Mr. Horrick that passed in
tho last four years he remembered warrant drawn for
Orson Blunt In 1884 certain 20 tho date had
not the warrant with him. Counsel for tho defence
here stated that " was warrant for $50 COO drawn
the u Of October lsd1 the ostensbe object Of that
warrant present testimonial Nir Blunt IL
$50 600 passed tho Board OF Supervisors the
al moneys drawn by the volunteer committee
that different from the ordinary routine OF the bust
ness had received money from the subordluates ~ The
romproers oice for political purposes did think
that no nound TO answer on what occasions mover for
any occasion Mr. Brennans house built in 1854 knew
OF no contribution from Tho Office NJ that time In frvor ri
Mr. brennan; refused 10 answer whether he gave any
Thing himself Or NOT rs y ws pryatc matter, there
ton ernpoye IN the In tho Office with him
neyer talked w,lh ar brennan nan on The suesc. Of
thew 7. Brennan To whom was II paldf A. have not
said that ever paid any tina, IS my private business
You refuse TO answer the question: A. think you
have no right To go into my private affairs
Arson Horck was then called, and testified that
sn,,,s 2, ms ,'ssm % isSs 81 oo 70.
ordered by tho sheriff; veto was pubiiah-
presented tho bills TO the Board Of SUPERVISOR they wsro
not paid the time they audited had no personal
interview with tho Comptroller in regard 10 them,
not In the Comptroler's ONO for three
years and more; did no, know why they were
not PAID they were paid after the order Of nandamus
Was oo!sinsd; had no Interview With the Comptroller
be did rot get out mandsuius before was because
he wanted TO how long II would run---tsngh,erl
lawyers who conducted the easel bad no conversation
with Mr. stores In regard the bills; did not know what
decided ,bs to ss % y
June, 1853 central Park stock wx III or li2. and
awarded 70 the Comptroller daughter at los, 70 tho
stock for which l07 refused Afterwards wasdsd
for 10l be heard these things and rated them his
paper in February, 1865.
Counsel or tho deiepce objected 30 this line OF exAm
nation rnis led 10 discussion between counss after
which tae Commissioner decided that under the statute
authorizing inquiries, such the then gong on, the
taking n evidence such as tina, than being taken was
admissible.
Counsel Tor the offence here stated that the HrnaIp
contained an Interesting account OF neeorin shower
which occurred iI LONDON add though u vas eoFrobo
rated BY the English papers y was doubtful whether Mr.
HQn nEsfA rtWG IN mr. NM
witness DID m, know whether he Supervisors CON-
mitiee had decided that so 0o0 enough TO give
suitable testimonial 10 Mr Blunt; heard Il. Bere the
witness testified 70 the authorship OF several articles In
the New YORK AI,s, and thar no ia no, NOV Oh.
truth 81 what they contained 80 $40 tho amount of
judgments obtained against the Corporation, Of which
the oos over 5000 he heard, aud wrote In his
paper, he wrote on sspiemncr 20. 1895, that
the payment OF a bogus claim 20 Fernando Wood
condition OF tho Comptroller nomination; could not
swear the truth u this but the authority
Of what he he'd heard time; wlncss bills we're
paid by authority rom the court The rssson ne ehanrsd
hts sosbod Of attacking The Comptroller was beoarse the
investigation IN $780, before The Governor was not con-
Quoted in 20 satisfy him, and h. tho
MP be stated that be made $4,000 BY gong
TO Mr. Brennan changed the policy OF his paper
towards Mr. brennan the Both % December 1895 be.
fore thai bo had called Mr. Brennan the great dssd
rabbit"
Counsel fosibc defence objected fhIs line Of sxarni-
Witness had previous TO shs 10Th Of December attacked
Mr. Brennan, but since then dropped him.
Gross.e,s nined-Could not tell which 81 the state
ments In his paper true IN regard " NE brennan;
II The statements we're no, true, he was willing 10 stand
aenabe 70 the law his letter 20 the Governor pub
llshed in Dscsnher 1885, on tho 23d Of December Mr.
Brennan paid or promised any confederation for
settling ". claims witness had against HIM u ony
FOR about 800, and out OF that he had pay his
cost; he dealt with M. Brennan at arms length
Ra-tirect--Dli not know WHISTLER the term dead
RABBIT complimentary or not; Mr. Brennan might
have tak.n so; tbeie was once an organization known
The dead Rabbits In the sxth ward. tLsushtsr.l
q nd you commence 10 print estsDslveiy FOE ths
corporation after January 4, 1907
This question was ohlected 10.
Counsel f1r the state aygwed thai after r~coDcllia~
ton, witch he elRfnsd srer,ec between Mr..
Brennan aud Mr Heuics, had been c0u.lmmated, the
BILLS paid AMI extensive corporation advertising
given 10 The Ands
The Cornfnr decided be had no power 20 rule
on, any evidcnoc3 In Jan uery last he lblshed nf
,erasncpt FOR the Corporation Which aroun.si 20 5000
or sTo0, which paid
Cross-sxsmined--Ha understood that tho Comptroller
opposed 70 giving him any adverteng; never mad
any 20 his knowledge from him bis Office have not
spoken 20 Mr.. brennan IN the last three years
Tho council for The STATE nov 1ksi adj0nrf msnt
u the m ths morning 81 ten clocs ~hish, sfsr