The New York herald., 1871-12-30
TESTING TWEED'S BONDSNEN.
A Professional Bond Signer Under
Examination.
All AbOnt the Bonds He "FOrgot" Young Dick
Tweed Offers Himself for His Father.

The slow work OF justification OF b0ndsmen In
Boss Tweed's behalf Is still going on. Yesterday
several hours were occupied 70 this end but no end
arrived At The court room Of the Supreme Court
Special Term, was yesterday given over to the
counsel for and against engaged in this, the most
unnteresting proceeding Outside and inside the
Dar, Jammed together II pressing in to see some
unfortunate vicum Of an accident, were about q
hundred persons and this was all the interest ap-
parent and all the decOrum observed during the
long examination OF the only two witnesses who
presented themselves as bailmen and Justncators In
behalf Of the great Boss-one OF these being
Tweed, Jr.
Mr.. Charles Devln, the nrst bondsman examined,
testified thar he owned eight lots Fifty seventh
street and SIX on Fifty eighth street. worth to hum
$75.ooo; one lot on Ninety fifth street. valued at
$l4,C0o; one lot on Seventy eighth street. worth
S. 200 above the mortgage; one lot l25th street
and iour lots on Seventy ninth street; nve lots on
sixth avenue, worth $22 500 above the mortgage,
and eight lots on the same street. worth $4,000;
fourteen lots on Eighth avenue and four lots OH
129th street. There were mortgages for S67.6oO on
TINS property, which was entirely worth $433, 200.
or
PERSONAL PROPERTY
he had bills receivable for $300s5, Hoboken City
bonds for $3l,072 STOCK OF which had been sold at
uAucty CCusS, uC u6Q Cl6luS axbluSb Tile ClLy lOT
$6O,8o5 and judgment on which his interest was
over $S00OO also other judgments for about $50
owned house property valued at $4,000; had q
judgment now in allegiance against the city for
$1ss 900; ne oweo $3s $780, and was liable for two
judgments Of $4,000. ana was security in some con-
tractors bonds but could not state In wnat amount
he was security.
To Mr. Choate, in crOss-examinati0n. Mr.. Devlin
stated that he
SIGNED TwREDs BAIL BOND
for the amount Of $780, 0Oo but did not know at the
time that he would be liable for milllon knew 1t
now he had signed lngersoll's bond to be ready if
arrested was informed py The sheriff that that bond
was now OF no use; he knew OF only one contract
bond whicn was now in existence, and that was
COUNSEL then asked him If he had signed any
bonds for other contractors since the summer Of
1871. 10 which MT. Devln answered that he did not
Mr. CnoATE then produced bond signed by hlm
In. October. He said ne had not remembered 1t.
There might be two or three Others he had forgot
for SIS, 600; for John r. Devlin for paving ana re.
grading Ftietn street and also Tor paving Thrtieth
and Ludlow streets; for Mr. Bell, for regulating
F1ftetn street, for 1000; tor w. H. Keyes, for
$4,000; for Wilham Baird, for $4,000: for W. II.
Cunn, one for $4,000 and two for $1,000; one for
MI. Baird for paving 10th street, the penalty OF
winch is $2OO,OOO, and one for Mi. Keyes, for
100000.
He was on another bond for John B. Devlin for
regulating BroOme street, IN the amount OF $4,000
Mr. ChOate mere asked Mr.. Deviin II ne knew that
the work done by HIM was badly done. II do not"
said witness .! am Of the opinion that the work
was very iairly done"
Mr.. CHoArE-Do you not know that there are
bonds o. yours now on ME . 10 the Comptroller's
Mr.. Joseph j. Marin, Mr.. Devlm's counsel. OBJ.
jected to this question, but withdrew his obecuon,
whereupon witness answered, II do not know that
MI. CHoArR-Do they not amount to more than
the value OF the property you have sworn to TO-
Mr.. DRvLN-I DO not know.
COUNSEL ARGUED
little to the right TO put these questions, on the
ground that the bonds themselves should be pro-
duced. Accordingly another batch OF bonds was
produced. II was argued by counsel tnat most Of
the work for which these bonds were given ha0 been
r1s a, sHoss ;aa Ss sSa
suits In h..xatlon besides the two judgments Tor
$4,000 against him. He said there was suit
against contractor, In which he was Implicated
as surety. Tnere was alsO'a 81. 600 note with his
endorsement which was secured by $lS, 900 worth
In regard to mis- ssOuoo judgment against the city,
he explained tnat 1t grew out Of the Hackley street
cleaning contract. The city was the chief defend
ant: the other defendants were parties having In
terests with the paintn. The SUIT tried Dersre
q referee and lasteu SIX or seven years. JUDGMENT
That Judgment was lor $4,000 and over, and on
the lace OF 1t his interest was 50 OO0 but by assign
ments ana verbal agreements his real interest was
Mr. Choate then inquired BY whom
THOSE ASSIGNMENTS
were made and Tor what consideration. Mr., Devlm
refused TO answer these questions, and Judge Car.
dozo appealed 70 for his decision as to the right
to ask these questions HIS Honor held that II Mr..
Devn's interest in the judgment was TO be taken
for $50 questions at issue should De answered
Mas 5aSa sEysnSsa 9ss the Judgment should be
The examination was then resumed, Mr. Devlin
stating in answer to Mr. Choate, that he mad signed
bona for United States Revenue Collector Morgan
l.. Harris; did not know that there was suit pend
ing IN the United states Courts on that bond, and
didn't know that there was judgment against him
Sn ne n sias
he had against the city was In connection with the
STREET CLEANING
Department and suit to recover 1t was begun in
1851 by James r. Brady; 1t was given TO q referee,
who found the facts In favor or the claim. but DIS
missed the Claim on the ground that there was no
appropriations; an appeal was taken, but was not
argued as yet, there being q similar case before
the Court pending which is regarded precedent.
His stone-Dreakmg machine he values at $4,000;
Mr.. CHoATE-Dld any Of your real estate come
from Mr. Tweed or Mr.. Connolly
Mr.. DEvLIN-l never got q dollar from MI. tweed
in my life.
Mr. CHoArE-I mean your real estate.
Mr.. DEvLIN-Never got anything from either OF
them; no one but myself mas any inieres. In any
Mr. Devlin then gave in detail an account OF his
real estate which he had previously testified to In
Mr.. Choate put HIM through severe cross-ex-
animation, asking hum what he paid originally for
his lois, wnen and from whom he bought them and
how he estimated their present value.
Mr.. CHoATE next asked him II he knew distiller
named Thomas Butler. He said he ala not; but ne
knew John Butler: he signed bond tor him IN
blank bond produced for $7,000 with Mr. Devlln's
slgnature; that Is my signature. Tne pond Is dated
October 90 1868, and counsel stated that there Is
suit pending IN the United States Court against
Devlin on that bond. Mr.. Devlin, however says he
knows nothing about 1t, and was never served in
any such suit.
Another bond was produced for $4,000 for Joh n
Halloran distiller, which was acknowledged by Mr..
Devlin, but he could not say whether he was now
engaged In the business.
Inc bond Tor Morgan l.. Harris testified to by wit
ness, was nut IN evidence, and ne was asked II he
had heard anything Of SUIT brought on IL, or he
mad been served by a United states Marshal. He
said he had not; he mad heard the rumor. and q
meeting OF the other suretiee was called, ana Mr..
Harris explained satisfactorily TO them tnat he was
not indebted to the government at all; he never
heard OF the case since.
10 Mr.. Burrill-l do not know OF any suits brought
by the city against me ON those contract bonds; In
these contracts shown here all except 1ve nave the
receipts OF the CONTRACTORS for the money paid
nexed: thirty per cent OF the amount or the con-
tract is always held until completedi to my knowl
edge there Is labiity to me IN either the Butler
Halloran or Harris bonds. The next bonusman