The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-14
REPORT OF THE WOOD COMMITTEE.
How Jay Gould and Boss Tweed Helped Senator
James Wood In tho whiskey Business Gensr-
Gus Treatment Of Friend Of Erie-Possible
Items in the Tax Levy and the Con
tingent Fund"-Wood's Conduct
Inconsistent with His Po-
sition ~ Senator"

ALBANY, March 49, 1872.
At the close Of the debate the Erie bill In the
SENATE Senator Allen VINO hau, previous to the de-
bate. endeavored to get permission to make q
report, but was ruled out Of order, presented the
report Of the special committee appointed to nves-
tgate the charges preferred against Senator James
Wood. AS soon as the report with the evidence
was sent up 10 the Clerks desk, motion was made
to adjourn; but after little by.play and counter
motions had been INDUCED In by those who were
hungry their dinner, motion that the report be
read prevailed. Senator Lord. the democratic mem.
Der OF the committee, then rose and explained why
his name had not been appended to the report He
said that the sessions Of the committee had been
held with closed DOORS against his earnest protesta
tions and that he had not been able 10 attend all
the meetings. Although the evidence had been
submitted to him he had not had time to peruse 1t
in Its entirety and therefore he considered 1t but
right that he should be allowed to bring in sepa-
rate report after he had examined the evidence
| carefully IN print.
| was then read. 1t Ia as follows:-
| On the 1lth day Of January last resolution was
adopted by the Senate, OF which the following is q
copy
Resolved, That Senators Ames Allen and Lord be ane
cSasss
oths lth INST, against Senator James Wood. with
In pursuance OF that resolution the committee at
once proceeded to the performance OF The duties
thereby imposed, and summoned before 1t y num-
Der of witnesses, who all the persons VINO had
any Information upon the subject SO fur as the
mittee was able to ascertain.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS.
The following appears 10 be established by the
evldence:-senator James Wood was gIst elected TO
the Senate OF TINS State from the Thirtieth distrct
| In November, 1859, az winch time ne resided III
resided. with the exception OF one or two short in
tsryas for wv years and upwards During
Chamberlain
been or the most Intimate character, especially in
Ssns m s e
Geneseo. removed to the latter place and entered
which Was =,
until the spring OF tho year 1885, at which time
business In the city Of New York. This latter az.
FOR some reason Mr.. WOOD LETT the Concern and re-
turned to Genesco, and there continued the law
continuing the law business there until about 1862
or 1853, when ne commenced the business Of
| DISrILLING OR RECrIFYING wHsKEY
ness until the present time, with the exception s Or
whlskey business two companies were
ses the New fUrE oa %
ing Liquors, anG the other the National Company
States England and france, S BY some pasented
+ process OF which companies Chamberlain Tor
was s with sss Of
$3.50 600, and the other with nominal capital Of
S s Ms4s Of
TALLY one business Or interest although normally
ana NJ iH q
in the name Of Mr. Wood $4,000 or the stock OF the
the New York Company and $4,000 Of the stock
OF the National Company, all OF which, however, Old
ali Of which now stands in the name Of Mr.. Wood.
Wood and Mr. chamberlain. That it was IN the ousi-
ness Of these companies that the money hereafter
Messrs Tweed and Gould respectively was used,
| except that about $4,000 OF the Gould money was
used by Wood for his private purposes outside that
business. 1t appears that
IN REGARD TO THE wHIsKEY
between WOOD ana Cnsmberaln as IS to the amount
| either should advance therefor, or what interest
be TO IL the saa stock
them that they shall share equally In the profits, SO
far as that stock shall be entitled to profits Cham.
beran, at the time Of the transactions Oy Mr. Wood
| with Jay Could and William M. Tweed, hereafter
detailed, were had. was and now is entirely IRE.
TAs evidence shows that prior to JanuaTy
candidate for the senate. was being canyassed IN
the Tnlrtieth district, Mr.. Jay Could the then and
tariy contributed and paid 10 a Mr. P. Humphrey,
9e9 senator at or District s the q sum o.
ns ms renominstoi for that position as against Mr.
| Wood. Mr.. Humphrey failed to accomplish that
Mr. WS0 Inc " 5,s
1
| JAY GOuLD's INGENUOUSNEs5.
Shortly after Mr.. Wood appeared In the Senate as
bany and DESTROYS 10 overcome In ar. Woods mind
| the natural effect Of his action In attempting 10
and obtained an Introduction to Mr. WOOD through
Senator Chapman director Of Erie Of which IN;
what he IGoul0) had done with reference to iium.
pnrey, 10 which Wood replied me was perfectly
always Seen as @s WAS wS ns
| either at tDat time or subsequently and
friend OF MS tWood's) was about going into or mad
embarked in business connected with the manufac.
ture Of liquors in New YORK, and requested Gould
to by him. THIS Could stated, was very soon alter
the interview mad with or through Chapman, and
matter was held under advsement for while 10y
Gould, as he says, and he then informed Wood that
aer which 0a WOOD wens 70 GculSs Sn ods
In New York and Gould then and there advanced to
aSa at at Ss Is wooe aSs
and delivered TO Gould his note for the $4,000 pay
S1s IN one W WI sum Mr.
THE BOWLING GREEN SAVINGS BANK
to his own credit, procured check book, in which
chamberlain, blank In amount, and delivered the
checks to chamberlain with the understanding that
might desire TO use personally, should be used BY
Chamberlain IN That business managed BY MIN
It's sworn to by both MIR. Gould and Mr.. Wood
that Mr.. Wood at or about the expiration OF inc
one year from me time he obtained ,nc s snrerest on
the sum 80 obtained, and that the same was en-
dorsed upon the note alleged TO have peen s"e"
| therefor. ,rr,v
No NOTE WAS PRODUCED TO THE c9 ,sIsvalsI Tho
by Gould, but he stated that nc naa nr comfy
same to one Aonzo Bradner OF LIvins Snmd 70 10
who held confidential relations win uVua, soe ~
used up there for some PURPOSES anu win General
Wood for liz PAYMENT; aud that Bradner still mas
the note In his possession no par Of INC SAME sx
ccpt said interest having been gaiV:
| pRApNER A MON bsr NAM. .s~ty