The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04
ST ATEN ISLAND.
The Reform Movement in Rich.
mOnd County.
Serious Charges Brought Against Judge Garrett
and Prominent Citizen-Grievous Tax
ation-The Board Of Supervisors In
volved-Arrest Of q Reformer.

In Richmond county, Staten Island, there has
been for the past few weeks slight fur0re. occa.
stoned by the declaration OF a. prominent Citizen
Mr.. John @. Thompson-that the taxpayers were
being defrauded by the subtle maneuvrlngs Of
the hangerson OF the county onlclas, and
that these officials were guilty of gross carecssness
In their management OF AFFAIRS The charges
brought forward by Mr.. Thompson excited but
little attention until letter published by that gen.
tlemen in the Richmond Gazette contained mention
Of MI. Robert B. Minturn, o member OF the Board
Of Supervisors and we'll known in this
city from his connection with Shipping Interesta
who, II was asserted, had been guilty OF malfeas-
ance in ofllce. This charge was supplemented by
another one OF greater proportions, lnasmuch as
1t accused Judge Garrett OF having been the recip-
lent OF brlbes 1t asserted that the Judge had been
guilty Of derelictlon OF duty and had closed
his eyes to unlawful transactions In con-
sideration OF taxes due by him, 10 the
extent OF $500, being RENTED. Az both accuser
and accused have hitherto borne almost irrepr0ach
able characters the feeling on the part Of their
friends and also that citizens ut large. became
intense. THIS the condition yesterday, and
when the meeting OF the Board OF Supervisors was
called
Mr.. ROBERT B. MINruRN felt It incumbent upon
himself to cause the arrest Of Mr.. John q. Thomp-
son and bring the facts In the before Court.
This was done, and Mr.. Thompson ia now necessl
tated to prove the truth OF his cnarges II he can
far as Mr. Anturn Is concerned, and on the cOnclu-
sion Of that he Will be expected to respond to
the charges against Judge Garrett.
This Is the Us II STANDS; but the Of the
charges lies behind those thus far made public 1t
appears that Mr.. Mlnturn. rs o member OF the
Board OF Supervisors iclt II to be the duty OF the
Board 70 refuse to longer recognize Mr. Thompson
as the representative or the
INvEsTIGA rING CodMIrTEE OF CITIZENS
Mr.. Minturn's resolution, which was adopted by
loOws-
Resolved. That c. Thompson longer recognized as
the representative OF tho Investigating Committee Ct-
and that further facilities be Afforded him. and the
citizens and inform them that this Board will be happy
afford them every opportunity to continue their nvestga-
ons they shall send hhe representative who
will treat this Board and Its members with decency and pro-
prety.
After the adoption OF the above resolution meet
ing OF taxpayers was called and convened at the
County Court House. and Mr.. Thompson made o
statement of what had been done by the Super.
moved that his action declining to recognize Mr..
Thompson DO endorsed by the meeting, and the
motion was carried.
This did not tend to soothe the feelings OF Mr..
Thompson, and more offensive declarations fol-
lowed, until the arrest now noted was deemed q
In self defeuce Mr.. Thompson denies that In the
communication written by him, and published as
indicated, he meant to convey the idea that Mr. Min
turn IN the course he had pursued In local AFFAIRS
had been actuated by merccnary motives declaring
that all he intended TO convey was an imp PRESTON
that MT. Mlnturn had allowed himself 10 be imposed
upon ny set OF men who have infested the Town OF
Brighton aud county OF Richmond for years, and
who have let opportunity slip for preying upon
the TAXPAYERS OF tile county.