The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-27
THE COURT HOUSE INVESTIGATION.
the Case Slammed Up-Argumcnt for tho
Dofcnrc-A Bomb from tho Proscc ation-
The Reply 90 IL, Sc.

The Case Summed Up-Argument for tho
= Dcfcnrc-A Bomb from tho Proscc ation-
The Reply 10 Hs, sc.
The special comualttec OF tho Board OF Supervisors
appointed 10 investigate the charges against the Com
mee on the New Court House yesterday afternoon
AL the members Of the committee were present
supervisor Fox stated that tho committee were ready
TO 90 on.
Mr. CRAH then To sum mp the evidence for the
defence H. said that private character as well as pub
lie reputation involved In tho charges made by Mr.
Ely He said that though the evidence fully exon.
Grated his clients still injustice would DO done them
the charges were not withdrawn by the prose.
cution He sud the had been preDudgcd 10 great
extent and would be necessary for the in
order to do complete justice TO frankly that moth
Ing had been proved which the charges alleged All tho
proof that had been adducoi the trial. well
charges had their origin in hbelious pamphlet which
consisted OF alleged copes OF letters Of certain iron
TRAITORS rivals ~ the Cornels who doing the iron
work on the Court House. The charges were cxtrava-
gance In tho iron contract tho marble and brick, and in
the compensation Of the superintendent and architect u
the building. The gentleman who came forward rs a
public prosecutor In this must have very high
OF purity Of character and upghtness OF conduct
When BIT Ely was examined he testified that he knew
Of nothing concerning this matter OF his own know.
ledge. Ee knew OF no frauds, extravagance. That
as his evidence. he testified that he had not oven
been In the Court House for the last years and that
he came entirely unprcparcd for tho great duty
had undertaken, by his own acknowledgment. And Mr.
Ely never suspected anything wrong, he says, in tho
Court Mouse Till a month ago. Up TO that time he be-
evcd all right but the facts that caused so
saddenly change his opinion he does not make known
In his CIV dence be testified that he did whet or
labor or material had advanced in price since the
tract was made. Such his evidence, and he hoped
As nothing had been proved that he would initiate the
example OF all regular public prosecutors In such
and acknowledge slight tribute 70 justice that he
had made wrongful accusations. Mr. Cram then pro.
ceeded TO review In searching the testimony OF
all the witnesses showing thai the three witnesses for
the prosecution who had sent the letters to Mayor
Gunher had acknowledged that they had no, the plans
by which TO make their estimate; TINT they knew they
were estimating for work which they wond never
be called upon TO contract for that for the work that
Kings CO ny he had put In claim for remuneration Of
from nifty TO one hundred per cent for loss that work.
riel while was in progross tina, another Of tho con
tractors had put In clam for additional compensation
Tor work done by HIM on the Capitol, which was one
hundred cont higher than that 1t pulated for In his
contract; that the work the Harlem bridge had
been shown 70 have been stopped until tho contractors
remuneration was increased from c-nts pound 10
tweniyon three and half ccnts higher than any
price charged Tor the iron work tho Court House Mr.
Cram. having demonstrated that the evidence showed
nothing wrong In tho iron contract, next took up tho
marble contrat and showed that the witness called by
the prosecution 70 testify reference 70 proved only
ruppnol 70 tuc county o0capef tnhn
Ia 10 private parties thai OF tho witnesses had
proved that the that he had asked seven dollars
cubic foot for bad been subsequently, supplied
Tor I'VE dollars . foot Tho counsel mort pased
on 70 the bnck, and said that the gianuty
q bck paid fos was recorded shs proper ocs and
enc capable Of sscsrainins NJ that che eomnsss had
offered 70 allow Mr. Ely 70 asoersn the number, and
s snsssd n% f,sss Tor S1u. e. nSs. he h.z g.
the subject and of the committee could not 20
further undss the crcumstancss A 10 the question
~ aIsVk~ nf -
evidence showed that both the gentlemen employed
- tbs committee stood Al tho head OF their probes
~ssss. ,:s:ss s'' 20 '' s.. s'' s ss
~ hys per cent was In reality nve below the market
price Of such services which usually ton per cent
Mr. Cram stated that the work the Court House had
oos.,!1',s ,S. ~, neen wen zone .hat was the
work nat were responsible for the appointment Of tho
architect that they had nothing TO do with the appoint
mene OF the architect the selection Of tho
aud finally that the evidence clearly and forever crcuI
raied his clients from the charges mAis AGAINST them
The prce OF iron proved 10 have advanced hun
dred and nfy cent and only for fortunate down.
fall OF the rebellion the Cou House contracts would
have ruined the men who had taken them such
tain and unsettled times
Mr. AsrnoS said that he would not reply 70 Mr.
Grams argument but that Mr. Ely would read a care
n submit L. tho COMMITTEES
Supervisor SEIru Err, Jr., then made the argument
Tor the pros cuton He said that although Mr. Grams
speech was long one, ye, much Of Il rSonal
ths he would Occupy but very few minutes replying
10 h when he made these charges against Mr. Grams
clients he did not expect 10 commend himself ~ their
favorable regards, Attempts " investigate and expose
great public wrongs always disiasiefuI to
those whose inter sH are affected by tho er.
posurc. Mr. Ely. after Commenting upon tho
fact that the Court House job had been a public
Ior year past and that resolutions Of inquiry
had been defeated IN thr Legislature, ssd:Fully be-
loving that tbese allegations true few days ago
called the attention Of the Board OF Supervisors the
should b. appointed, Of which should be q member
Tho nyarabe rule and custom that the person oGer
ing such resout on Ia made chairman. made this |
psricul request 10 be placed the committee sppre-
bending that, u committee should be appointed, |
would be deprived Of the position upon u which |
WAS enttled and which Was essential fair investga
ton. The resolution laid upon the table and the
Board adjourned After adjoumment the board evt /
,sn ,n oensod: sos . so esarss' - psee made
Isf'on, and % tbs ~ns evening ehsy rssa~cmbIrA,
pss.ed The r..e'.,.on, and appointed . eommis.ss
owing that . COMMITTEES eons,itsted was Gov ths
,uposs Of preventing and s,pprss.ng rather than Of
ssd nss nss wish ths :rpsess.op sAs, any s.Ssce,y
esut will be attained, bat because dcsmsd duty 70
,rocs vss NE matter, he~svsr unissosssss end al
ssndsd hsfors ~ committee and vhis havs 70 shask
'os for psrssasi esovsssy, TAXA The hssy q calling
'our attention N too hres points which, In my jude
nent have prevented fair examination ;-ia ina in
resignation has been controlled and directed By tboss
s.ina whom The charges we're made ID The com
efused 70 rive mo sub nnss 10 compel the attend.
nee Of ~itnsssss; and Asedsd iha no psrsoa
/
'ss PROPOSED 70 be proved by him, arrs Known 20
he commltvce. I'd. The committee refused 10 let me |
RIVE ~ The srchiiec, that hs iron, msrse and bricks
, the building do not corespond with the quantities
ihch have been paid Tor out Of the public treasury
IN The examination o. witnesses conducted ~i,h.
ut regard W any hxed rule the prose-
Uton ~ere not permitted 70 the sans questions
bich we're answered by the witnesses for the defence
nd the most important testimony show frssd By the
pntrsctou vas summary ruied out In rsfer~pos 70 |
10 oonracts VI Ely aid that I'll the ooncur.
= N sas os that The iron contract was made without
averi emeni or other publicity, a. pro~s shch we're
ON forty 70 seventy per cent aooye the market Mr.
ovler Mr. Jscson, Mr. Cheney and Mr. B.dF.r
y testify that they would willingly have taken the
'ntrt ~ prices which third los than
'o-e AZ which " vas awarded Tits wo1li have saved |
least $500 900 on this item the iron e0ptrsrt an
,uotedy involved an erp~Ddtsrc ayrr@ching million
dollars Proresals invited BY TIE Commissioner
the SUMNER a 1892, for the s1ppy of rrash tsarhl.
srEe hvmber or bid- were rec~v~i vayin fr~afly IN
Mount TIE two Lowest we're tl4b0g and SIS 700. |
~ the two highest tefs, ses snd sasa sDs |
orssreefnsn nj In awarding tins st0tf~d the
Tk iof year and then q contr.ot made With the |
Ev III. rs.lsfa 4