The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-20
HONEST HARBoR MASTERS.

The Case for the Defence Strong Testimony
in Favor Of Hart-A Liberal Wharnnser.
Yesterday morning Captain JONES' having recu.
perated his exhausted energies reopened the court
OF inquiry into the alleged frauds in the Harbor
Masters Department. The case for the prosecution
having closed. Mr. A. Q. Davis, counsel for the de-
fendant, called witress, David Trundy, who,
being duly sworn deposed as follows:-I am sail
maker, doing business at % South street; intro
duced Niver to Hart at his own request; Niver
spoke to me Of money to be made in The canal dis
trict; he said that II Hart would iet him manage
the thing as he wanted to laa
GOOD DEAL OF MONEY r
was to be made In the district; he told me he had
made Hart present or $500, and that Hart had re-
fused to keep 1t; he said Hart foolish to decline
to retain that money; he said Hart had made q
mistake; that he ought never to have been sent
to that district; he was too honest o man;
that conversation was alter Hart had given
the money back TO Niver, but before 1t had been
returned 10 Knapp; he wanted me to persuade Hart
TO take the $500 and keep It, spoke to Hart as re-
quested by Niver but he said he thought he had no
right to receive the money and consequently could
not take 1t from Niver or any other man; don't
think told Niver what Hart said; Niver spoke to
me about getting up N ae
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT CT,
for Hart in the shape OF a nice watcn; he wanted
me to 90 to MIR. vosburgh, Schuyler & Co.'s, and
ask him for $780, and then II I'd 20 to the Erie Rail-
road Company he thought they would give $50; he
from Milton Knapp; he said he could always de-
pend on Knapp Tor $50 for hing like tnat he did
jecs; Hart SAID ne had watch of his own aud
would not receive one as present; said he had
come 70 do ms duty as narbor master, not to bride
or be 6rlbed; Niver told me that II Hart did not
allow Cushman to run mis- piers Uushman would
have him put out Of tine district, az he had done
m otnRo haf fora trnsh oA
Gian with Niver after Cusnman nad filed charges
against Hart before the Governor in January last;
be a strictly honest man; told him i had been &C.
amaInted Win Hart Tor many years and had always
iouna MN 70 DO AN upn,our NAN.
that was about the time Of getting up the present.
was IN almost daily conversation with Nlver, we
BY Mr.. BENEDIcr-It was In the fall OF 1870 that
Niver spoke TO me about there being money IN the
him to Hart Ihever spoke to Hart on the subject of
Nver having said there was money In the district;
them; Nver told me he had given Hart me $500; il
was after Hart had returned that Ntver said SO;
1 oa ai sba not mention me dse OF It's he
pay Hart; Ispoke to Hart ABOUT 1t in consequence
s aS ns ask H to
me about making Hart Christmas present; ! met
Hart IN the street ana told him about IT. he said be
WOULD ACCEPT NO PRESENT; .
/ own an interest IN about a dozen vessels ana
know that some OF them have been berthed In the
an affidavt In the proceedings before Justice Led
with; made 1t because Hart or his counsel asked me
Oushman had threatened; spoke TO Mr. Gariick. OF
scnuyler's line, about raising present for Hart; /
ana not ask Garilck for money, merely represented
I BY Mr.. DAyIs--Have known Hart about twenty !
years; have done business with him; more par.
ticu arly during the last seven or eight years; ne
bears first class reputation as o strictly honest
John W. Gardiner called and sworn.
r. DAVIS-Am WarohOlseman hue
ness at No. 70 Water street; have heard Niver say
le made present Of 500 to Hart, which Hart re.
was foolish In refusing to keep the present; Niver
,as said 70 ne that Il Hart would allow him to run
Lhe district Hart could
rat roa.CI MAKE MORE MONEY
han any other way, as he lNive1 was well posted
and better acquainted win people than Hart was;
AFFIDAVIT he made against Hart and filed with The
Governor year ago, that that affdavit did liarI
t. and that II he ever got out Of this scrape he
e % Ssq Ha % ssi1 s
lhnk ne said he was too honest for the class OF
people In the canal District Will not be certain
ms all occurred In one conversations; keep ware
IONS goods; have not been for the past two years
n any Way associated with Hart In business; net
sv nor pros mas nv ne AMY se
nave We any arrangement or bargain BY which he
does or shall at any future time receive any share
. THE PROFITS AcCRuINa
20 me from the said business, or any other Win
which am In any way connected.
The examination OF this witness occupied con-
siderable time, and space will not admit OIL MS ev-
dence being given in full. lie testified 10 the non.
esty and integrity OF Mr.. Hart, and answered az
questions put to INN In such straiRntorward anu
prompt manner as to gain universal crcdence MI.
Benedict cross.examined him at length as 70 tne
stability aud convenience OF his premises ana tne
Harness OF the charges IN the bills ne rendered ,or
the -four OF Messrs. Coleman Il TO- stored In MS
last November; but he proved conCiu;
sivey that there was no coluslon chernS
the pier upon which It hay and that the defendant
was only acting IN accordance Win MS uuues Wnen
captain Jones has adjourned the Iurtner nearing
Of this case until half past ten O'Clock todays