The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-24
THE JERSEY CITY FRAUDS.
Third Day Of the Conspiracy Trial-The Testi.
mony Accommodating the Property
Owners Were Inundated and Forced to
sell out-county Clerk Kennedy and
Police Commissioner Goethe In
troduced-A Teutonic Shot
at the Counsel

ct the Counsel.
ma trial Of Bualsted, Welsh and yreeland Was re-
sumcd in the oyer and Termlner at Jersey Cny sas-
terday.
The testimony of Mr. Nichols was continued. Ha
refused to deed his property to Vreeland; his words
were ~ will have nothing to do with you; wilt
deed direct to the city; wish to have all the money
that has been appropriated by the city, and don't
intend that anybody shall make any money out Of
me )" he stated to me that he was the authorized
agent of the city.
Patrick Ormsby was next examined He CON
veyed his property directly to the city.
Court-Is this one OF the cases in which Mr..
Platt swore he divided with Mr. vreeand
Attorney General-Yes, sir. The contract is be.
tween Patt and the witness, and the deed is direct
to the city. The contract is for $1,000 and tho
deed is for $4,000.
Examination contlnued-Platt and vreeland told
me the city would pay only SO, 100; they brought
the money to Icy house and would not take it
offered to leave it to arbitration, ana they would
not agree; they said that commissioners would be
appointed, perhaps from the far end OF the State,
that did not know the value Of the property, and
that Iwould have to take what they would allow
me.
George Seymour testified that he sold to Platt,
but the deed made out to Vreeland. He sold
for 400 and got only 300.
Frederick Groschell was next placed on the
stand. He had conversations with Platt, Arthur,
Bumsted and yreeland about the sale OF his prop.
erty, for which he asked $1,000; he told them he
would not sell to any party except the city vree-
land offered him the money and said If he did not
take it the property would be condemned by the
city and he would not get that amount; witness
afterwards increased his demand to $1,000; Arthur
told him he could have $1,000 if he allowed Patt
500 commission; witness sold his property for
$4,000 and received $5,45o from Patt.
John G. McRae testified that he sold property to
vreeland for q consideration OF ST., 500; Plat first
spoke to him about it, he was introduced to Vree.
land at Platt's Office; two and half per cent was
deducted from the purchase money for Patt; he
agreed to give this commission; Vreeland stated
that he Nrceland) paid the commission which was
deducted to Platt, but witness knew nothing
further about 1t.
Henry Hotopf next took the stand-He sold prop!
erty to Carrot Vreeland for Ii consideration Of
$4,000; the deed from yreeand to the city Of this
property for $780, which included Callen-
bergs property, also sold to Vreeand for 50, 600s
witness met Bumstcd at the office OF the Board OF
Public Works, and Bumsted told him ne could con-
cludc the sale there but witness refused; he de-
sired to sell direct to the city, as he did not know
Mr. Hornbower, City Treasurer, was recalled and
examined in reference to conversations he had
with Vreeland in reference to the part taken by
reservoir.
Counsel for the State then presented the notices
served on Bumsted and Vreeland, calling on them
to produce their checks from the 1st OF May, 1871,
to LIST Of May, 1872, which notice defendants re-
The Court directed note to be made that the
demand was made in open Court, aud that the de!
PENDANTS made no response. Counsel for defence
here looked gravely at each other and at their
clents.)
Louis Lndemeyer testified that he sold property
to Vreeland for consideration OF 1850; the deed
n
tried to sell the property to the city, and he went to
Jersey City In the belief that the deed was made
out to the city; he found out, however, that 10
was made out to vreeland; it was Mr.. Hornbower,
City Treasurer, who told him he should receive
DXon's ofilce Arthur, who was acting for Patt,
told witness that if he did not go to Patt's office
demned and he would get less money.
Philip Lindemeyer was next examined He went
Patts Office, ana piatt told them When They hest,
tatcd to SELL that the property would be condemned
IA rev days ana fas tney would so get less money
Considerable merriment was created in the cross
examination by Mr.. Dixon, at the expense Of
between the city, Vreeand and those who sold the
property for the reservoir. The Witness whose pro-
nunciaton of the English language was rather
imperfect but who has broad, goodhumored face
adorned by II pair OF spectaces and luxurant
mustachc and goatee, replied with an air Of limo.
quite comfortable when told, "Yaw, vent to de
bank NIT de sleek what you signed, und de cashier
sheck" The laughter which this answer evoked
was increased by the reply to the next question,
"But did you not get another check from me when
you came back ~ "iaw, but he would no bay dat,
too. got mine money ven l prng Mr.. Reelan'a
Vrecand's) sheck."
The Attorney General called attention to q deed
on which the endorsement had been erased
William Augustin testified that he sold property
to Mr.. Vrecland for Sl,56o (Which Vrceland sold to
Police Commissioner, about it.
Thomas Irandegan, whose business 1t is to copy
n ~ n
the. County Clerk (Mr. Kennedy came to
from certain parties to Mr. Vreeland and asked me
why had q certain transfer published, especially
as he had marked on the outside that 1t was not for
publication; Mr.. Vreeland was with me the same
morning In reference to 1t, before Mr.. Kennedy
came to NE; paid no attention to the mark on
me that any deeds of property to Carrot vreeland
coming in at that time were not to be publishcd;
did not publish the deeds Of the reservoir property
afterwards, but the deeds from Mr.. Vreeand to the
city published.
Louis Bohrman testified that he sold property to
yreeland for consideration of So, 100, ana that he
paid $685. IS OF this amount to Police Commissioner
Goethe, who gave him receipt therefor In these
terms, "for services rendered in eIiectng the sale
of said property" He received the first instament
of S25 from Goethe. This property was sold by
Vreeland to the city for 81, 900.
Mr.. Sanford, cashier Of the First National Bank,
testified that on the 10th of last June Mr.. vreeand
deposited check for $4,000, which the bank sent
for collection on the following day to the Second
National Bank, though he was not positive 1t was
the same check; on the 9th OF June Vreeland de-
posted check for $4,000, and on the following
day, according to the records they sent two checks
one for $4,000 and one for $4,000, to the Second
National Bank to he collected.
The examination of this witness was not con.
Guided when the Court adjourned
THE ALsACIANs AND LoRRAINEs.
Preparations for a Demonstration OF