New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-03
HARLEM COURTHOUSE FRAUDS.
DEALINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS WITH REAL
ESTATE AGENT.

ESTATE AGENT.
The eighth session of the Senate Commlttee
was held in the Adermen's Chamber OF the CITY nan,
Yesterday for the continuation of the Investigation OF
the alleged frauds connected with the Ninth DlSce
CourtGouse George Snyder testified TO the prices Tor
which he would print bonds issued he thought $50
fair price, but that price would DC cohSidcfao"
modified IL the engraving on them was less
f. II. Brown testified was formerly owner OF the
six lots In eShth-st Wnere 'no
Harlem Courthouse is building; sold the lotS u
Wynant through Mr. Farchild. who made the business
arrangements regard TO the sale made out the deeu
10 Wynant at the request Of Fachid who told me that
ne was the purebaser sold the land for $1,000 which
was all that L received; part was handed 10
me by Mr. Fairchild for Mr.. Wynant, ana
part by Justice Porter; made the sale on june o. ioo,
and the deed given TO Judge Porter on June ~ hdu
held the land for several years did not pay 5000 Tor
searching the title when purchased 1t; dd not pay
more than $500 do not know that any work was done OH
the lots until after the sale to Wynant am in the haot
OF dealing in real estate and know that real estate
agents sometimes buy land without disclosing the names
OF the principals.
BENJAMIN r. Farchild testified: have heard the tes-
tmOny of E. H. Brown; made the purchase IN the name
Of Albert g. Wynant stated by him. did not Kho" tua'
the lots we're to be used for courthouse until after my
purchase; about the time Of the purchase talked WIN
Judge McQuade one of the Commissioners, about the
los and asked how they would do for the Courthouse
this was before the purchase consummatedi maze
the arrangements for transferring it TO the Commis
sioners with Judges Porter ami McQuade ga" VIM
NJ Tweed on the subject, but ne IeiV
the matter entirely with the other Com mlss8hers W.
nant had no real interest in the land; used ms aie
order to obtain commission on the purchase auu ~
SALE real estate agent frequently Ouy ge inm 1n
Of third persons when expect 70 us'er fnied
diately; in this did not have the tahseI
until had made the sale to the ety. there was ao' To
ing said between me and the CommlssoneIs d. ~ "
the price the city was 10 paay' -
ee e6 the t Com,,sioners agreed to pay the de
manded by do not know mat MT uenet sedit ti
the title for the city; Judge McQuade spent some ume
searching the title, but do aOt KNOW Wcuc y own
else did or not paid the $4,000 to Brown OUT OF my on1
funds and received the whole OF the Ai0OO lnysgH
which appropriated entirely TO my own use paw ~
nant $3.50 for his trouble but no other part Oh Tue
any other person considered the transaction my own
private business and the $1,000 prOnt was ny o"ii
became Incorporated with my other FUNDS dd not Keep
check book a that time, and have no record 10 SHOW
where deposited the money but am sure thal puS IL
all my banks-the Broadway and the Isnn a "a "a
ona have done business for NJ. Genet purchased the
Dykean property for him, and received tie money or
IL directly from Mr.. Genet.
An wiling to produce my bank accounts and will do
So but my transactions are Of so complicated dtuae
that they Will not prove ANYTHING about my dealings
with Mr. Genet; II would require MS chcekDooA 40 iv
know whether any work was done pu the los plor 10
their transfer TO the city by We no authority 10
any person To commence WORK on 1t; all the Fihsac
tons with Mr. Genet in connection WIN me D5 a,G
man property were closed at the time nc pau
H. Is ,o Connection between that business the
purchase OF the Courthouse lots believe that the cly
paid Tor those lots no more than thty were WORTH
would be willing to pay much for them now; have
been heavy real estate dealer for 20 years, aud my
purchases and sales nave III some Years e4ceIg l
100000; In the large transactions spoken OF pr. MN
NJ Tweed has OF the persons interested ne mas
purchased READ estate for years "lthOuI CONSUMING
John McQuade. Police Justice of the IXth District
and OF The Commissioners or the new Couii-Gouss
testified: first talked about the location OF the Court
house with Dir. Falrcnild whom met III ElghthdVe.;
he asked where II was desired tat tne MOUSE sMouu Nc
located ana told hlm about SlAthaye. auu OIe-H i
Observation-Disclosures he dd not say at thaI nm
that he owned land IN tnat locality cinn, say now we
happened ~ mt upon the particular sN IOto , ~
Fairchild do not know now DIT. farcnhd became
aware that We had selected u,e loS Pult tanot
from him; do not know mat any atIeupt
was made to beat Mr. Flirchlld down ON MS
price he was not employed as agent Tor the commits
soneTs he came TO us as the 0nT VI tnc O 40 a V
know who was employed by the commissioners 10 eA-
anime the utle nave 10 personal ma I'm
title examined by anyone had nothing 10 90 Win
purchase except to sign the voucher the bil was
brou ght to by Of the CLERKS Of the commissioners
lions with Mr.. Genet counsel; he was employed to
the way of legal advice; DO not know that
he rendered any such service recognise 6oS my h
do not remember any the circumstances or signing IT,
do not remember having seen the annexed bill oI Items
presume certified the bill without giving any cOnsid
eration do not know OF any expenses or
incurred, made by Mr.. Genet; do not know whether
know OF no stationery having been bought for used
by the Commissioners; the Colahisssgu nel99
one in my Office in the Police Court
know nothing Of the in the statoners BILL did no;
handed by clerk, and signed without cOnSdeTa
ton don't know why or by whom IDgersoll * Co were
employed the walnut desks, carpets rug 5,
shades, walnut cases, lounges, Ocoth, WardrOOes &c
heard OF their having been furnished the Commission,
OF delivered anywhere do not know that any OF the
articles IN the bill have been furnished To
the old Courthouse some new desks and things
have been into the OLD Courthouse but they were
not ordered by me as Commissioner; must lave signed
the bill OF IngersOl Co. for 1888 II without giving
consideration knew John 81 aOn contractor for the
new Courthouse; do not know what work he did or
whom he employed; suppose the bills presented to tue
Commissioners made out by the Clerk signed the
vouchers without looking at the bills suppOsng them TO
be correct do not know that any person except blr
Farchd received any part OF the money paid bH the
city Tor the land have had pecuniaTy transactions
Genet Tor 20 years he Is President of the YORK
Vile Savings Bank, OF which L an wee president;
both self and Mr. Genet have kept personal accounts
in the YoIkve savings Bank since Aug l. 1870; since
have known OF city warrants having been deposited
by MI Genet the bank until II stated IN the re-
ports this investigations Will not produce my bank ac-
counts showing my transactions with Mr. &c net since
August, 1876 will not 60 80 even II subpened Tor VIII
refresh my memory by personal examination and give
verbal evidence in the matter; consider II personal
matter aud no business Of the COmmt.ee.
After long discussion by counsel, tGe Committee oC-
cded that transt pt OF the bank BOOKS should ne pro
duced the at the next session, dLl Justice
MCOuade -TCed to furnish it, The Committee then al
journed " meet ut the same place week IRON next
Tuesday.
AFFAIRS AT THE BLOOMENGDALE ASYLUM.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: take exception to certain statements
which have appeared In THE TRIBUNE concerning the
Bloomn gdae Asylum. DIR. Burrill not and has not
been trial before the Trustees. as he enjoys their con-