The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-03
WAR ON THE ring. .
The Citizens Committee in
Arms at Last.
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A Warrant Of Arrest Against Mayor
Hall Applied Fer.
A QUIET POLICE COURT EPISODE.
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Justice Bixby Cites the Mayor
to Appear and Answer
ON Wednesday.
He is Charged with Malfea-
sance in Office.
A Clerk in the Comptrollsr's Office Makes an
Affidavit on the Accounts.
>o~oS>o>~>~>o~>
A QUIET POLICE COURT EPISODE.
He is Charged with Malfea-
sance in Office.
A Clerk in the Comptroller's Office Makes an
Affidavit on the Accounts.
JUSTICE BiXsY INTERVIEWED. ;

JUSTICE BiXSY INTERVIEWED. !"
Shortly after two O'Clock yesterday afternoon
fnere was a lula very customary incident, too
In the Fourth District Police Court, Filtysev enth
street, and the few attaches present istlessly
looking out OF the windows sitting back In tilted
CHAIRS longing for the OF adjournment. Justice
Bixby himself did not appear to be thinking about
much of anything, or else he was thinking of some
thing very portentous, for he seemed somewhat
moody. Presently there was tramp Of feet at the
door, and several well dressed gentlemen entered
and advanced to the bench.
In an instant the 'courty" Justice was all atten.
zion and brief conversation ensued No one pre-
cent seemed to have any idea that an event or very
deep Importance was observation-disclosures merely
"A party of the Judges triends.n Then followed q
sort OF desultory conversation, from which it
appeared that warrant OF arrest was being sought
and some volumiDous documents were produced.
TIE JUDGE SAT STRAIGHT
mp In his chair and then leaned forward upon his
elbows and urged upon the gentlemen that it was,
perhaps not well to act too summariy In the prem
ises. A summary course would look like vindic.
tiveness whereas more courteous method Of pro-
cedure would TO a certain degree disarm even par
tisans.
The suggestion was taken in good faith, and with
an evident desire not to be nasty, and by and by it
leaked ous'that the motion was nothing less than
An application for warrant upon which to
ARREST MAYOR HALL.
Two lengthy af1davits were handed TO the Judge,
accompanied by or embodying an extended tabular
statement. The Judge looked over them carefully,
and observed that they not yet sworn to, upon
which two OF the gentlemen present had the oath
administered and affixed their signatures, verifying
the accuracy Of the facts stated under the ttrat.
Another desultory conversation followed, and it
was finally conceded that the better course to be
pursued was conciliatory one. The 'prayer" or
the nrst AFFIDAVIT made by the complainant, Henry
i. Spaulding, Chairman OF the Committee on Reme-
dies" ofthe Citizens Executive Committce-was for
the apprehension Of said A. Oakley Hail. and that he
be dealt with according TO law.
Justice Bixby could not sec the necessity OF SUBJ
hitting the Mayor OF the metropolis the ndignity
Of actual arrest unless the circumstances were
peculiarly exactlng OF such course 1t would be-,
In fact, an indignity to the city generally to
have Its chief magistrate so harshly used.
He. therefore, suggested that, inasmuch
as 1t would answer all practical purposes,
The complaint and aGldavits he fled il the Court
records, and that a summons directed to the Mayor
be issued requiring him TO appear before the Court
ct q specified timo to answer the charges and com.
plant alleged against him.
No one, not even the gentlemen making the appli.
cation, would assume that Mayor Hall would avoid
the process attempt nee the Jurisdiction Of the
Court, and the effect OF the summons would be le.
gally the same. Further than this, 1t would have
the effect, If courtesy were shown, Of modifying the
proceedings even In the sight OF the Mayors most
ardent friends.
There was much nodding Of assent and brief
~ fbn AMI pf
these little preliminarlcs and finally 1t was decided
to pursue that course
/, s- TIE PATRRs
were handed to the Clerk ana fled IN the usual form
and an ordinary summons was filed out IN terms
Bubpenaing 1.-THE said A. Oakley Hallr to appear and
testify Of and concerning the matters alleged the
complaint lodged against him, on Wednesday, the
4th day OF October inst, at ten O'Clock A. NJ. ] IL
lew moments conversation ensued and the
party Of quiet t1gants rearranged their papers,
hustled around Tor their hats and left the 1t
was all done quietly, yet without any attempt at
stealth and the arrangement OF the Mayor, which
has been the subject OF SO many rumors during the
past fortnight, was entered upon IN the hrst steps,
No one in court seemed to know the party or any
Of them, IL was only from the signatures TO the
affldavts-"H. f. Spaulding' and civilian s. Cop
iand"-thar any OF them became subsequently
KNOWN. The following are
FIfE iFffDAv1rs:
FoURrH DISTRICT POLICE COURT.
PORK, ss.-llenry +. Spauding, dong business at
No. so Worth street, IN the CITY OF New YORK, being
w1 Or sss q Of
b0uy OF seventy citizens known and styled as
.1he Executive Committee OF the Citizens and
Taxpayers Tor the Financial Reform or the CITY
and County Of New York;, that said Executive
Committee Of Seventy was chosen at great
this city, and was entrusted by the people of
this city with the duty, among other duties, OF
setting IN motion the machinery OF the law IN
a lawful and proper manner and through the
proper officials and proper legal and judicial
Gals and ndisldaas 10 justice Who are respon
sible for the fearful frauds whereby mIons upon
millions Of dollars have been stolen from the public
nous and most oppressive pubic debt. Deponent
further says that Us chairman OF such "Commtiee
doing business In this CITY, he charges that a. Oakley
Hail, the Mayor OF the Guy of New York, has
misdemcaIors, to wlt:-tD That SAID A. Oakley Hail,
~ Mayor OF said city OF New YORK, although required
by law TO be vigiant and active ia causing inc ordl
cuted and enforced and although u Is part OF his
legally defined duty 70 be responsible for the
good ortcr and efficient government OF the
City, yes that, contrary to the statute in such
case made and provided ne, said A. Oakley
Hail, connlyed ut and knowingly permitted the
public property--lo wit, the funds IN the public
freasury-to be converted TO their own use by the
ton of one william ). COPELAND, now here before
the Court which deposition Is hereto annexed,
and also by the persons and to the amounts herein
after specified; and. further, TO wit:-(2 That said
A. Oakley Hall, as such Mayor although required by
law to BE- vgilant ana active as above specified.
and although the above specified duties are en-
joined upon him by law. and although IL Is further
provided by law that no moneys shall be drawn from
the public treasury except for legal CLAIMS and upon
warrant counfeIsgned by the Mayor, yet that con-
snry TO The statute IN SUCH case made and provided,
me- SAID A. Oakley Hail. wilfully ana Intentionally
neglected TO investigate or examine into the cor
rectness, Justice or Legality Of the fraudulent claims
specined IN said annexed deposition Of said Cop
land VINO Is now here before the Court or into the
c0rrectness Justice or legality OF the fraudulent
claims hereinafter specified, ana wilfully ami in-
tentionally neglected TO brand all such claims as
The same and wiifuy and intentionally neg
iected TO refuse 10 countersign the warrants
upon which all such fraudulent claims were
paid, but that, on the contrary he did