New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-05
MAYOR HALL'S TRIAL.


Yesterday two witnesses being examined. The proceed
ngs confirmed the assertion that the contest is strictly
legal one the main questions at issue relating ~ con
sructons OF the law Tie fight Is OF the sharpes char
acter; the testimony IS literally rdded with o9eeuons
the merits OF the case left Of sight and the Mayor
seeks to clear himself by What the prosecution cannot
prove rather than by what he himself can bring fol-
ward TO establish his innocence TIC prosecution u TO
prove that the direction 20 audit was direction 10
examine that Garvey's bill was fraudulent, ana that
Mayor Hall was bound TO know did know, us iraudu-
lent character on this last point the evidence can
necessarily only be circumsabtia and the relevancy OF
each item that point will be contested
TESTIMONY OF RICHARD A. sTORRs.
After the formaty Of opening AMI adJourning the
General Term Of the Court of Common Pleas, the work
OF the day began by calling Richard A storrs, the Dep
uty Controller TO the stand and Mr.. Peckham' for the
first time took the leading part Mr. Burrll crosse KAN
ing Mr.. storrs said he had been an assist
ant in the Controllers office for some years the
first objection arose Immediately upon the question
whether he had searched for papers relating t. the
Board OF Audit NJ Burrill insisted that this was out
OF the proper OF proof Judge DAILY, however ad
mitted the question, and Mr. storr continuing said that
he found this paper in the handwriting Of the Mayor
CoSTRoLLERs OrrcR, Nay ;, 1877
The undersigned under and BY authority Of SO
ton chapter 81 Of the Laws of 40 b.. H., c, , r,,
from approximate Committees Of the Board Of Supervisor all bins and
and TIA: the evidence The o.. By IN.
President and that thersupon Coun Au,or
r ,scte b ii b ae p aorsssd and payment.
A. OAEsY HAIL, Mayor.
Ee Ar iB b. coysc lG9. conrosr o0'' %
O Was there an kept IN the Controller Office,
in 1870 OF claims purportnS TO have been audited by
that Board and paid by the CONTROLLER A. such rec
ord was kept OF County liabilities in 1870. which repre-
sented the payments made on this class OF audits.
The witness asked when he saw the vouchers for
County liabilities replied that he saw them Until
July 1871 TO note them. Then he made casual exsmi-
nation Of them, looked at them in general way. and
saw that they expenditures on County account ana
related TO the Commission OF AUDIT ne hotced TIE sig
natures. IA. -
vouchers, he answered: When Dill IL presented u
the County Auditor he examines the claim ana attic1e
troler and the Clerk Of the Board OF supervisors tho
other certificate IL lgned by me CohIoLefs OeLk IL
direction the County Auditor to draw warrant
O. First the bill then the certificate OF the Commits
there ia also a stamp OF the County Auditor A. Yes,
the first dated and the stamp Is put On al
MI Peckham asked if there any further steps in
the routine OF ths business when he rememoer.d-Io
instance any certificate statement signature OF
Mr. Tweed the paper This was quickly objected TO-
several cases signature OF Mr. Iweed-sometmes his
full name and sometimes hs initials. .
on denomination by Mr.. Burriu, Mr. Storrs said
the claims never passed through his own hands either
on their way 20 or from the Board OF Audit he had
audit-bOOk kept in Controllers office; the County
Auditor had charge OF that book the bOokktper kept
the Book Of Record OF County Liabilities under tue d-
O. Do you know Of your own knowledge that those
entries were correct A No
q You all warrants were signed by the Mayor ana
O. Wien we're the warrants datedi A. At the time of
their entry. -. D., -, an. a.. =, 80
OF anybody A. Yes, and blank vouchers and certn-
Gates AZ, -. A.. -.
from the Controllers ofcei A. BY the County Book.
keeper under charge Of the County Auditor
o. Can you identify any one OF the claims or Ss m
Guided in those packages which you mentioned awhile
ago as having casually examined A. NO slr. ans, nm,
you noticed there A. eau give you names 0f some
and the numbers. .-
| IngersOll, Miller, Keyser, BOuar and j. A. smith.
TESTIMONY OF STEPHEN c. LYSEs.
stephen C. Lynes, late County BOOkkeper, was the
next witness He has held his position since 1858 until
the 1s Of January 1871; he knew Watson and Woodford
the latter has held the position OF Assistant Clerk TO TIE
BOARD OF Supervisors under Mr. Young for nine years In
regard TO the routine business to which Mr. storIs
testified Mr. Lynes did not get chance TO support him
! until series OF objections were disposed OF
bv Tudee Dalv who held that it as competent for
this witness for his predecessor The witness said that
! the Auditor would hand him bill with instructions 10
artacb tbe blank certificate IT, He would attach the
certificate Of the Board ~ Audit to De signed anu tho
! blank order for the County Auditor. III, A..
O. When the bill would be presented with Instructions
norinr 10 be by Tweed This objected TO by Mr..
smith who made long argument on the point, ana III"
AZ the time these bills presented. was Tweeds
naSre ON them A. Yes, Chairman; 10 was wrltbeh
across the page in his own handwriting with Wheh am
| acquainted. ,-,-.s A.. o,or., r0,,.,,a
NJ the bills OF the Board Of Audit A. Yes; Mr.. Tweed
| name was on them Chairman under the items the
bills presented To me were made OUT ia Dlaks tis
| the form OF the blank now shown me- when woud
then be regularly filled up; the stamp OF the county
| Auditor was put after he had examined the Oil.
o. Can you Identity the blank giving directions 20 the
Controller in reference 70 Ms acton a Yes, sr,
O. Was this stamp OF the County Auditor put upon n
before sent TO the Commission OF Audit A Yes
| Sir
County Auditor did 20 them A. No, Sir; when II caul'
back to me would be- signed by the Mayor, Controller
| and Mr.. Tweed would then draw warrant uIidei
verbal instructions, Rnd aIter tackng u 70 ne Varlou
other papers would 10 back 10 the Auditor 10 woni1
return To me signed by the Mayor Controller ana CierL
OF the Board supervisors and would make an entry
of it in the Audit Book tis book ~ daily journal %
the routine OF business la the office; the books IL TIE
! Office will show the nature OF the entry made. 80 .
A warrant shown 10 the witness, who ldentlhed j
as warrant from the Controller, and signed ny tht
Mayor Controller Clerk Of Supervisors and himself
O. What is the general routine OF claimants getting
pay A. Ii goes to the bank-BrOadway Bank-then u
| the Chamberlain and then 70 the Controller
Phe warrant offered in evidence and obiected 70
Mr.. Tremainrsaid they offered 10 for the purpose %
showing that the claim which they Insisted was never
audited IN fact paid so that the time OF the aud
was OF coursegone by should have been audited
before payment. Mr.. Burril said he objected eeeaus'
no foundation had been shown " proof OF contents
the existence Of any claim presented or audited Wy In
defendant.
Judge DAILY said he had received the evidence bear
ing upon the existence VI claims, and be thought N
would be sustained by the decision OF the Court ot Az
peals He finally decided to let the evidence 90 IN a
primary evidence for the Court but not fF the jury III
counsel reserying the right ~ Ouer II again II e'dehc
at the proper time.
The Court then adjourned.