New-York tribune., 1869-06-10
TUE H4cELEY CONTRACT.


Some short time since we stated that Charles
Devin was endcayoring to get 100000 damages
against the City for breaking up a contract given
in 1861 to one Haclley for cleaning the streets
of this City. We stated the fact that Hacklcy
was once brought before the Grand jury TO
give evidence against the Aldermen who were
charged with having been bIibed to vote The
contract into IIacllley's hands; that Hackley
refused TO answer the question, "what he did
"with $4,000 which Thomas Hope, one of his
"suretes on the contract, gave him the day the
Contract was passed sby the Corporations" !"
that on such refusal he was ordered
to be committed to prison; that
he appealed to the Court of Appeals who
decided he must answer that after that nothing
was heard Of the matter. Now it seems that
time, (Which sets all things eyen," as well as
develops things new, has brought Hacklcy on
the stand as q witness to sustain the defense
put in by the Corporation that the contract was
the result of bribery and corruption John
McKoOn, who is defending the Corporation, first
proved before Mr.. Stuart, Referee, by the ac-
counts of Thomas Hope (Which were produced
on a reference before Mr.. PhilO 7. Ruggles),
that on the nth day Of February, 1861, the
sum of $4,000 was charged to the contract by
him as against all parties interested in it.
Mr.. Waterbury, late District Attorney, testi-
fed that, before the Grand Jury in the Spring
of 1861 Mr.. Hope admitted that he took
$4,000 from the bank, and gave it to Mr.
Hacllcy. Hackley would not tell then what
he did with this money, but within the last
week, on the reference before Mr. Stuart he
tells his story. He endeavored all he could
to refuse to answer, but at last admitted that
when he was trying to get the contract he
never had any conversation with any member
of the Common Council with the Mayor, or
any other official in reference to the contract !;
that one day he was handed by n perfect
stranger an anonymous note, which he de-
stroyed, stating that if he would deposit
in certain place $4,000 hls DID
would be confrmed; that he went
TO Mr.. Hope received from him package,
which hc supposed contained money; went to
the City Hall; entered a room in which not
human being was present; placed the package
wrapped up in brown paper, on table IN
room and left; that his contract was confirmed
Immediately after this that he saw members OF
! the Common Council in the City llallas cpassed
| into the room. The proof also showed that on
! the nth day of February, 1861, the contract
was passed by both Boards on the same even
! ing, and signed by the Mayor (Wood on the
next day.
The next question is, What became of the
money? Mr.. McClenahan, then lClerk, whose
name was connected with the distribution, de-
MES that he had anything to do with it. MIR,
Green. then Messenger also denies having any
| thing TO do with it. So does Mr.. Ben Wood
| nj ,11orr,o, ouJ Cnunrilmpn who voted
are all to be examined, when they will
of course be able to show that they had
nothing to do with the brown package. Who
did touch that package is the question. Prob
ably some one of the old rats of the City Hal
carried the mysterious brown parcel OFF, and
"feathercd his ncstn with it,