The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-04
-H NEW YORK.
The Westfieid Murder-The Indicted Par.

New YORK, Sept. 1.-The grand jury of the
Court OF General Sessions passed bills of in
dictment foc manslaughter in the I'll e third de.
gree against President Jacob H. Vanderbilt,
Superintendent James II. Braisted and Engi
neer Henry Robinson of the Staten Island
Ferry Company, and an Indictment of man.
slaughter 10 the fourth degree against John r.
Matthews, United States Inspector of Boilers
The morning papers say the next step to be
taken by the District Attorney will be the ar
raignment of the defendants. If they plead
guilty at the opening of the September term
next week, Vanderbilt, BREASTED and Robinson
will be sentenced to Sing Sing prison four
years each and Matthews two wars. By saw
ing the Court the trouble and expense of
trial, few months may be deducted from the
penalty prescribed for mansaughter.
Reform in New York.
NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-The New York CITY
Council OF Political Reform is procuring the
enrolment of all right-minded citizens for the
purpose of correcting public abuses and secur-
ing competent and righteous administration
of the city and State Governments and to put
in nomination for office only Intelligent and
incompatible citizens. Measures are in pro-
gress to secure the co operation of all clergy
men in the State in the work. 1t is touud.that
fve-ninthS of the voters of the State are in the
Protestant churches. The movement originat-
ed with this class, and its management has
been principally chosen from it. Funds are
| sole ted for carrying on the work, and contri-
buttons can be sent to the Treasurer, Henry
Clews, No. % Wall street. Among the execu-
tive committee are w. F. Havenayer, Robert
| Hoe, George p. Putnam, Dexter a. Hawkins
and Hooper Van Worst.
The Organ Grinders.
| The Italian organ grinders were defended at
| meeting last evening in opposition to one
which had announced to take place but which
was postponed. The formation of an Italian
| labor bureau was suggested
| Is II Rirhte
| The Superintendent of Schools in Long Is.
| land city has dismissed all Catholic teachers
and Protestants have been appointed to their
| places.
| Freshet.
The Passic. river is at an unprecedented
height for this season, and one of the abut-
| ments of the beautiful iron bridge above Pas
| sic Falls gave way yesterday, endanger.ng the
| whole structure, which is of single span. The
overflow has created immense damage and
| washed away all haystacks from the great leve
known as big Piece" in Morris county, N
j, and 1000 acres were yesterday under water.
Senator COnlkliug on the Situation.
Troy, Sept. "A letter from Senator Cobk.
ling to Hon. j. III. Grswold was published
| this afternoon urging unity and harmony il
| the Republican party the ensuing campaign
| de al'udes to the denomination Of Gen
| Grant as a fOregOEe conclusion, and says the
1 path OF the Republicans is plain now that the
| State has been given over prey to a horde o
thieves who infest our chief city, disgrace hui
| mainly and mildew the common ealth by
their pestientia' pro6igacy. These plunderer
have seized upon the State Government, Leg
| islature and all municipal agencies of the city
OF New York, and hitherto they have tam
pered with al the party organizations also de
bauchng and controlling them. The auestio,
| facing us is whether this degrading flagitatiou
sway shall cease or be perpetuated and forti
| fed anew.