The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-31

a.,
and his cross examination was resumed by the
Attorney General.
The witness stated he did not consider the Board
OF Public Works evaded any provision OF the city
charter by drawing the warrant to the order OF the
City Treasurer did not consider that IN the reso-
luton authorizing the purchase there was studied
suppression or the names OF persons from whom
the property was purchased; three or four
pieces OF property were bought on that
resolution; he did not inquire about
the ownership OF the property; they are not author
lied to employ any enc to make purchases for the
city without the passage OF resolution; loaned
money to vreeland, but had no idea that he wanted
1t to pay for the reservoir property could not ex-
plain ali the checks shown him; handled million
and half Of money last year, and could not say
what he did with every check. The witness was
then shown thirteen checks issued by him to
J. V. d. Vreeland, giving an explanation for each,
but cautiously reservng to himself tho privilege OF
keeping the prosecution 10 the shade as much as
possible.
Carrot Vreeland was then called to the stand He
stated that his only object in purchasing the reser-
volr property was to make money real estate
dealer; he purchased for himself; was not acting
us agent Tor any one, nor was he asked to act as
such by any one: After being examined about the
several plots OF land purchased by him. and the
particulars relating thereto, he continued, in
the money for the searches, but gave orders Ras
for the payment; had no interview with any OF the
owners till the contract was signed except In the
case or Llndemeyer; never divided the profits with
any one nor had he any arrangement to divide;
did not represent himself in this purchase as the
the property because he thought he had better
chances OF selling to the city than any one else
Did you ever act as agent for the city In any
capacity in reference to this property
A. Yes; when the subject Of cOndemning the
lands was under discussion the Board concluded
erty owners first, and Mr.. GilletG suggested that
t Would DC proper person t9 make that
the searches came to be paid by the city
in this way: | asked you (Mr., Dixon) to
make out the searches for me- and as the work was
for It; did not pay for it that day. nor
for for, three or o four days; In fact, did
Gett asked me for the abstracts OF the property
told him that they were mine, had been made out
my a sas' paid a' S ;
them over and afterwards gave orders to Mr..
| Dixon to have the bills made out to the city
The witness was then taken In hand by the At
torney General, who commenced by handing him
Skinkle, OF Newark, which the witness read. He
was asked sts to give to the jury satisfactory
sage, ~ have secured three votes OF the
Board for for. the purchase OF your property
sion five per cent" The witness offered In expla-
nation that he had Mr.. Skinkles property for sale
for long 'n time that the owner autho
two and half per cent commission, and that the
letter was written merely to induce the owner to
increase the commission to five per cent. The let
ter was not true as far as 1t rotated to the securing
OF the three votes.
Judge Bede-The letter is, then, entirely untrucs
Wtness-It Is, sir.
Judge Bedle-Not one word of truth mi tS
Wtness-N0t word. U4aughter.)
Crossexamnaton c0ntlnued-Isn said 1t was pretty
well understood among the property owners that
the land was needed for the reservoirs knew that
from conversation with the two Ormsbys and seve-
raj others of the owners with whom came In con-
tact
O. One moment-did you not state that you had no
conversation with the owners OF this property prior
to the signing OF the contract A. met these men
from time to time, and talked to them III general
O. What was the object of that legal tender you
talked about A. The board ] understand, were
legally advised that this step would be necessary
o. Did YOU ever hear before OF such step being
taken A. am no lawyer.
O. Did you believe IL was necessary ? a. did.
O. Was it not made for the purpose OF frightening
these poor people into selling their property A.
No, sir.
O. How did they know you had any money to use
for this purpose A. They did not know, and did
not tell them.
O. Why did you not let us have your checks A.
acted on the advice OF my counsel. ti.aughter)
The Attorney General then handed to the witness
the receipt book of the City Treasurer, and pointed
out the place where leaf had been torn out. The
blotter opposite the missing leaf bore traces OF the
initials and middle letter OF the name, "Garret
vrceland.n The witness stated that he knew moth
O. When You were buying the land did 1t never
occur to you that the city might take II from you
by condemnation A. never gave that a thought.
The C0urt-Where did you expect to get money
to purchase 1t 2 A. would borrow 1t.
q. Did you state to Mr.. Dixon that You were
making Ave per cent two and q half for buying and
two and half for selling A. have no rec0llec-
tion OF 1t.
Attorney General-How did you know where the
boundaries OF the reservoir were when you were
buying this property : A. the only idea had was
from q conversation with George Mclaughlin when
made visit with him to Belleve.
q. on, stop moment. The boundaries now are
not those laid out when Mr. Mclaughlin spoke about
it. How did you know, repeat, that You were pur
chasing property within the boundaries A. did
not know.
o. Then YOU got no information about IL from any
member Of the Board nor from any clerk In the
office A. None whatever. u.aughter).
The Court then adjourned. The cross-examina
ton will be resumed this morning. IL is expected
that Mr. winfield viii address the jury for the de-
fence Immediately after recess and will be followed
by the Attorney General on behalf OF the State. A
great many persons visited the Court yesterday in
the hope OF hearing the two eminent lawyers al
luded to, but they were disappointed. The case
win be positively closed to-day.