The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01
THE JERSEY CITY FRAUDS.
Martin Shifts the Responsibility on Bray and
Bumstsd-The DISTRICT Attorney Sums Up
for tho stsga1The Attorney Gene
raj to Speak To-Day. -

IL the opening of the Court OF Oyer and Terminer
In Jersey City yesterday morning the cross xami-
nation OF Garrett Vreeland was resumed. He
showed that Platt figured prominently in the Bene-
diet property, but evaded the question to
whether Platt was his partner He remembered
speaking to John Wilson, Charles j. Roe and others
about the transaction; Plat urged that five per
cent ought to be obtained, and it was fixed at that
price.
Q. Is 1t usual to purchase property so exteh-
svely for cash DOWN A. No; think not.
To the Court-On the Goth OF June got $4,000
rom Mr.. Bumsted; OF course 1t was to help me ia
this matter.
u. F. Welsh and w. II. Bumsted were recalled TO
give explanations about certain checks, after
which the defence closed.
Mr.. Martin, member OF the Board OF Public
Works, who had been unable to attend during the
previous days. was then called by the State but he
seemed to know as little about the proceedings of
the Board as the other members who were exam-
ined. He stated that Bray and Bumsted carried on
the negotiations for the purchase OF the reservoir
property; witness took no part.
District Attorney Garretson then arose ana
summed up for the State. He said that the Jury
must have arrived ut the conclusion that the Board
OF Public Works Is by Bumsted, first for himself
and secondly for the city. Bnmsted devotes nearly
all his time to the city for 500 year. Vreeand
has not only peculiar facilities for learning what is
going on in the Board, but he Is connected with
members OF the Board in speculations. Welsh and
Martin dispute as to which member OF the commit
tee shall buy the land and Ii finally turns that
Bumsted buys it. Goetze, one Of the Police Com
missioners, goes into the same business; and Bum
sted tells him he must get ont OF the way; that he
tBumstedl was buying this property. Platt
swears that he had information from vree-
land that the property was for reser,
he told anybody that he was the agent OF the
city. Mr.. Hornblower testifes that Mr.. vreeland
cnaes ' the on the s 9th the
passed resolution to purchase $4,000 worth OF this
property vreeland sold to the city two days before
he had concluded the purchase of the greater
appears from the evidence, Bumsted was
land and of Ioaning money. The District Attorney
then traced the different loans Of Bumsted to vree-
land, after which he held up the Skinkle letter and
launched torrent Of wirherlng sarcasm on the
head Of the writer, creating quite sensation in the
Il would recommend" said he, 'that when vree-
land gives his next exhibition to the Sun
day school children he will place this
the moralNhere is specimen Of lie II any man,
after writing such letter and then going on that
stand and swearing it y false from beginning to
want to have nothing to do with that community.
lt is sad thing to see man who had been re-
community give himself up in his old age to such
debasement" He closed with q forcible appeal to
the Jury. which made deep impression throughout
Mr.. Dixon then spoke to evidence for the de-
fence. He, too, was very severe on Mr.. vreeand,
whose conduct he said, was ndefensible as far as
the SkinSle letter is concerned. He analysed the
bank accounts and the different checks for the
purpose OF showing that the transactions
were. not inconsistent with the innocence
OF the accused He was not there to
defend the Irregularities Of members OF
the Board Of Public Works, nor to sustain them
against charge of lDcompetency. There had been
done he admitted, grievous wrong, and he would
not undertake to defend that wrong. But he sub
mited to the jury that the charge OF conspiracy
had not been sustained and he warned the jury not
to be carried away by their Impressions as to the
Irregularities the part OF certain members OF the
Beard as developed during the trial.
When he closed his address the Court adjourned
TIL this morning, when Mr. Winfield will sum up for
the defence. The Attorney General will reply on
behalf of the State, after which Judge Bedle viii
charge the jury. Whether verdict will be reached
to-day is more than any one outside the jury bog
can tell.