The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-15
LEGISLATIVE LEaERDEMAIN.
Gambling In Stocks ard What Came OF
It-M9re Transactions In Erie-The
Danger Of Playing at Far0-What
Are We Coming TOT

The case or Samuel r. White vs.. Senator A. @.
Mattoon involving some very peculiar disclosures
OF legislative legerdemain, came up for q hear
ing yesterday, before judge Cardozo at Special
Term OF the Supreme Court. The defendant
In this action ia the present well known state Scna-
tor from Oswego county, and the whole transaction
arose out Of speculation, or nshng in the troubled
waters OF "Erie." 1t appears that in March, 1868,
Senator Nation was chairman OF q committee APP
pointed to investigate matters pertaining Central
ana Erie Railway stock. It is alleged that he was
introduced to the plaintiff Mr. White, by George
0. Jones, Who 1t Is Gained, IS u professional oo-
byist. White and Nation then made an agreement
TO purchase 1000 shares OF stock, with the under
standing, as alleged by the former that the profits
anu the losses II any, were to be equally divided
between them. Accordingly the shares were boughs
for sso.ss9, and were subsequently sold and a loss
OF $8,074 sustained. White, upon this, asked Mat
toon to pay mis- share OF tho loss which Nation re-
fused, and the present suit was the consequence.
The plaintin, MIR. White was placed on the stand
and proved substantially the facts as stated above.
Mr.. Nation was then placed on the stand and on
examination sw0re that BY the agreement he
was not to lose anything, but was to share in the
profits II any, on condition OF his giving valuable
lniOrmatiOnn TO White; thai This valuable in0rma-
ti0n," which was to come 10 him under the secrecy
OF his oath as chair nan VI the Senate committee,
IN reference 10000 600 OF bonds;
that ne mad tired on another speculation OF the sane
kind with Wall street CROKER
ON being pressed by piain,iii's counsel to answer
further questions in relation to these sDeculatiOns,
Mr.. MattOOn positively declined to do 81 on tho
ground that II would de -rade nm.
TN his redirect examination his counsel asked
him IN what room OF Mr. Whites house that gentle.
man received him on the mornng OF March, 1868,
when the agreement was consulnmateds A. think
1t was in the faro bank room.
Counsel for plantir objected but Judge Cardozo
said ne would lei the answer stand
MR.. NATION REURoss- EXAMINED.
@. Have you ever been professional gambler
q. Have you evei gambled yourselfs A. decline
O. Have you ever dealt in faro banksP A. never
played against 1t Tor five years.
q How often nave you Played against 1t In your
iiea A. over thirty years ago, think, | played
occasionally when WAS boy.
z. DID you not 10r number OF years live by play.
Ing against faro bank, a. OLD not
munity as regular, prolcssed, haDitual gambler
o. Where did you live when you were q boy ana
played against faroi A. In Rochester, in the Stayo
Mr.. White the plalnnr, was again placed on the
stand and several questions put to hum touching
Mr. Mat00n's gambling procirvities, winch were eA-
Guided by Judge Card0A0. lie denied emphaticaiy
the transaction at Issue, and said Mr.. NATION
unaccompanled oy any one to sec MN.
z. Did Mr.. NATION or not desire secrecy from first
O. Were you In Albany between the nth and soth
OF March, 1868 A. 1 tnink was; nad CONVERSE.
ton with Mr. Matto0n In Albany then: my OOect
was settling The interest on the $4,000 loss; he put
me OF and said ne di0 NOT have the money thon aud
that we would get even by buying or selling this
same stock.
o. was or was not this note written In pursuance
OF that conversation? tfapef handed to witness.l
A. Yes
O. DID you see him after the receipt OF that notes
A. He telegraphcd aicr the receipt OF tnat note
not to operate in this matter.
Piain.an's counsel here read the note referred to
as fol0ws:-
ALBANY, March 800 p. NJ.
8. p. WHITE
DEAn Notwithstanding the summary defeat OF the
Drew interest Fri ay she iHyes eating Committee u
the Senate will their report tomorrow In favor
OF tbs Erie Roai, and Will report blu to that
end and will pass IL through bth Houses this
week. The Drew party have had everything their
owl way for the last two days and have improved
the opportunity Gould here with the black bag that
tho T,sbase he el win for the Erie,
sure. of work having done the Erie
party at about noon tomorrow. short and
get the other transaction. wish could see
face TO face five minutes Know woEid more than get
OUT Act promptly and with .aa VIII share atty cent
OF the loss, II there Is yon have confidential broker
you may show this to mimi but act firmly ami 70 heavy
Yours truly. A. Q. MATTOON.
lConidentaLJ
lie also read the following Geographic despatch:-
do not operate on my ictter.-MAITooS.h
Counsel on both sizes having summed up the case,
Juage Card0z0 took the papers and reserved his de-
cisiOn.