The New York herald., 1871-02-24
BROADWAY WIDENING.

The Conspiracy Hoax Before the Grand Jury
Rxplodsd-How tho Grand Jury Took Up
the Broadway Widening Job and Dis
charged Themselves from Its Farther Con.
sidcratiOn.
cock and bull story has been concocted by one
OF the dailes in this city for the purpose Of giving
vent to a little sham vrtuous indignation against
the commissioners appointed TO assess the property
and make awards for damages incurred by property
holders In the widening Of Broadway. The article
founded upon the Grand Jury investigation was
elaborately introduced and rendered attractive by
flaming heading, with prominent CATCH
wOrds-'tne Broadway j0bn 'the SWIM
die Investigated commissioners enlarged
with consplracg,n "evidence of enormous Frauds"
&c. The article then proceeds with It's charges,
alleging that the Grand Jury for the Court OF Oyer
and Terminer had ordered an investigation to be
commenced before them forthwith IN regard to the
alleged gigantic conspiracy to defraud the city on
the part OF the Broadway widening commissioners.
The TACT Is tna the Grand Jury were moved to action
III the matter by one OF their own body, the brother
OF q disappointed aspirant for the honor OF an ap-
pointlnent one oil said commissioners Dlsap-
pointments and rcverses sometimes bring healing
ON their wings In this case 1t caused virJuOus
eruption to break out III the breast Of the woud-be
Commissioner, with Which he nrst inoculated his
brother, the Grand Juror, hoping through MIN to
reach the hearts and conscences OF tue otner twen-
oyer and Terminer. The matter Of the broadway
widening was introduced by resolution and the
Grand jury like good citizens, at once entered upon
investigation Into the subject. Among the wit
nesses examined were AIR. Peter Is. Sweeny, Comp
uoler Connolly, Corporation Counsel OGorman,
Collector Murphy, George r. Bradford and others.
Without attempting to speculate on what took place
before the Grand Jury, ana winch only could be re-
vea.ei through the Ioresw0rn statements ol a mem
Der OF that body, 1t may be here only necessary TO
say that at no time during the investigation was
there any conference held between Messrs. Sweeny,
Connolly, Tweed ana Judge Garvin thai the Grand
July were not suddenly discharged from any fur
ther duty without having completed the investlga-
tlon; but, on the contrary, 1t was not Ill that body
(Which had taken up the matter Of their own volition
al the instance merely OF one OF their own mem-
bers mad taken all the evidence that could possibly
be adauced To SubStantlate the charge, and made
every EFFORT 70 throw light upon the subject, tnat
they discharged themselves from It's further con-
sde.ation.
The article in the daily referred to- with the usual
inconsistency that ever attaches to one-slded and
garoled reports, sets out with the statement that
the part ol the District Attorney, or "without
any warning to the rlngn ordered This lnvesuga-
ton In such case II Is but just to conclude that
the Grand Jury were solely actuated by desire to
the citizens at large their capacity Grand
Jurors and true presentment make IN This parlicu-
lar investigation. But they are charged, at the
close, with '.iavorlng tae ring" &c. Ihis may be
true, but The charge comes wiLh bad grace at the
end OF an article mat started IN commentator OF
their action, especially concealing their inten-
tons from the .rlngn
The fact is that the Grand Jury were not dis.
charged IRON any further duty without having
completed their investgatlonn by Judge Sutherland,
on tuesday last, but discharged yesterday morning,
alter having completed all their duties, the last or
which was presentment to the court on the late
Hudson River Railroad disaster. With regard to
the "Broadway widening job" investigation they
discharged themselves from its consideration, decd
ing-wlth one dlssentient Only-that the evidence
showed no fraud or Intent to defraud or completely
with fraud on the part OF the Commissioners ana
that the conspiracy" charged was a huge hoax got
up IN ''hurry,n but with malice prepence very dis
creditase 10 the gentlemen with whom 1t orig-
mated.