The New York herald., 1871-09-14

Same days since our readers will reoollect, the
HERALD published an account OF murderous
assault which was committed on Mr.. Peter
Tosteyn awell known and highly respected citizen,
who resides at NO. rs South Fourth street, Williams
burg, while that gentleman was on business visit
10 Mr. James NJ. Macgregor, who holds the important
office of superintendent OF the Department OF In
spection OF Public Buildings. The Office OF Superln'
,endent Macgregor is In Fourth avenue, opposite
the Cooper Institute Here are employed large
number Of inspectors OF buildings for the diff
ferent districts OF the city, whose duty it is under
the direction OF Macgregor, visit all new structures
IN process OF erection and examine their soundness
anu freprooi qualities, II they have any such
qualities.
So far as the inspection OF buildings is concerned
II has become almost farce III this city, The fire
escape and nreproof clauses merely intended as
gauZy illusions, which can be broken through by
man OF capital A reporter OF the HERALD, in con-
versation with masons and builders yesterday, was
informed by them that the Office OF the Superin-
.endent Of Buildings was place in which vast
amount Of commercial business mad to be trans.
acted before an applicant who had house to put
Mp could receive permission to do 80.
In the endeavor TO discover for the readers OF the
HERALD some OF the closely -hoarded secrets OF the
Department of Buildings reporter OF this journal
called at the residence of Mr. Peter TOstevln, at No.
rs South Fourth street, Williamsburg.
The house is a solid-looklng four story building,
with green Venetian blinds fastened to he windows,
and is located In pleasant street.
The door bell having been rung little girl ap-
peared, who took the reporters card back in the
hall and disappeared for a moment Presently she
came back and ushered the writer into the pa1lor,
. handsomely furnished apartment.
While sitting IN the parior the reporter heard q
heavy and slow tootstep the stairs, and presently
Mr.. Peter Tosiev1n, who had suffered severe injuries
from the brutal attack made on him. appeared in the
parlOr. MIR. TOstevln, who Is very respectable
looking citizen, OF about forty-sx years OF age,
greeted his visitor kindly, but with painful effort
and asked him to De seated.
the forehead of MIR. Tostevn was badly bruised
Rnc had a reddish abrasion. HIS eyes were dis.
etans, as arnca had been plentifuly applied Mr..
1ostevin seemed crippled from the terrible beating
essa On Mr. 4 ose1n o make some in
guiries in regard to the assault on you by Mr.
Macgregor and to ascertain ifpossble the cause OF
the attack. The HERALD is determined to get at
ihe bottom OF the mystery which is said to over
hang the ONCE OF the superintendent Of Buildings"
"Why, sir, hardly have patience to speak Of all,
eiter the outIaGeous and brutal manner IN which
rather, nmped up and down the floor III most eX-
cited manner; @ ~ HIS lace flushed with u indignation
you himself, IN his own office ?"
"MOst certainly, he did, and then was seized
rrom behind and thrown violently against an iron
railing by the clerks belonging to the Office. have
been twenty-twO years in New York, aud can de-
yss DI1 ATTACK MS my Go aSe aa on Sg
man like that shall 60 to the furthest limit to pun
@ Sne mSss
mailing those parties who are 10 the habit Of calling
pn MIN get specifications and plans approved for
building purposes. Very strange rumors are anoat
can say his hands are clean"
"In regard to MIR. Macgregor, personally, can say
else About parties l would not Ike to SPEAK
either. There is lawyer at the corner Of William
Robert Murray is not the x.United States Mar.
thal Murray; TINS Is a young man with mus
tache, who Is understood to be Macgregor's agent
.'what is your mode Of procedure in getting ap.
ii viii read you the act Of the Legislature OF 1871,
which refers especially IN clause tnirty-twO OF the
&c, TO the matter which we are discussing II Is as
SIG S. The Department of Public Buildings under
aS he to any S
Ne wSs 4 o IN s y
make % the same conform to tie true intent mean
have discretignary power. upon application there
s51ss. y s @s'S s % &C, Iss ss S &. 1s ss
special where the conflict pub
no be
be ~ applying q he san
sSeh oe being
e. Ssv Ss,s
beng authorized such order in its dscreiion.
'tDid not Macgregor 60 TO Albany and bribe mum.
BEL 0 the legislators TO have this very peculiar act
ests OF TINS cityYn
Mr.. TosTEvIN-I can say as to that. Partitions
snd stairs should be constructed freproof yet there
are hundreds Of buildings now in process OF con-
strucnon whose owners and builders have evaded
REPoRTER-Wen, Mr.. Tos,evin the HERALD has
from time TO time received letters complaining Of
tie extortions and unlawful charges which the
Department Of Buildings has made upon people in
This city who were desirous OF erecting buildings
What is the process whereby the people are bled
Come, now tell Us all you know.
Mr; IosTEvIN-lhere is lawyer named Murray ay
Lam. Tnis man Murray is the person VINO makes
out applications for builders owners who have nc
time or brains TO attend to the wiring out o1
applications. There are great many people lgpo-
rant OF making out these papers-Germsns and
others who do not understand tie language Tnis
Murray l. the lawyer to whom al persons are sent
REP5GFEE---f7 vaGm are those people sentto tbs
NJ IosTRgIS--i doniy eyacGg ka6w. tank per
hap ~ Mr. ARMSTRONG me Deputy -GDerlI ier1en
o. Buildings. 10 " an understood th.eg IN snG
sroun4 TIE olics az MaegGegsr tAas Murray Z i1c
man VINO caa * Gh-lg3.
kEPoETEE-E4ve you ever E21 s7r1 co1--efc.z
M. TosTEViS-I have thousands 81 dollars WORT
Snd o;hers ior Just such interpositon could tel
great deal, but do not wish TO speak now.
REpoRTER-what Is the form 0; the application fo
permission to erect building l. 1t printed form
ora written form, aud how long Is III
MI IosGVIE-i never saw priuled form IL Aur
rays once. A written form Is used which cover
from Two TO four sheets o. loosely wrltten matter
when was boy In builders office wrote jus
such loosely written sheets OF applications. ] wa
paid three CENTS q sheet Tor this labor
RBPORTER-Then at the outside this labor OF writ
.Dg an appcai ON would only have brought you n
twelve cents, admitting there were four pages wri,
;enY How mucn does Murray charge you for tn
same labor?
MI TosTEvIN- -seventy.fve dollars is the loves
lever PAID; 800 and $3.50 are often paid for tn
same work. have known $3.50 10 be pad in a lik
10 LAWYER who was suppOSel 10 nave lufiu
ence with Macgrcgor.
REroRTER-Do you know q lawyer named NJ.
Farrell. who is said u be au adopted son Of Cover
nor Tenton?
MI. TosrEvIs (hesitatinRly)-1 do not.
EEpORTER-Dd you ever hear OF Farrel, VINO
q proiege OF FentoDs, o Tammanny republican
and who Is engaged in this dirty WORK.
MI TosIEvlN-l have not heard or such person
REpoRTER-In what manner mas this Murra
treated you when you called on himY
Mr.. TOsTEyIN--l have had often TO wait for thrt
or four days before procuring application, ana
last have been cOmpelIel 70 send the money