New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-12
A STARTLING REVELATION.
A MARKET BUILT FOR PRIVATE PROFIT
RUINED BY IT'S PROJECTORS.

PRESIDENT OF GRANT CLUB IMPLICATED
TWEED AND MURPHY's MEN IN THE swINDLE
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION PROMISED.
Frauds amounting to more than t25O,000
have been discovered In the building Of the Eighteenth
Ward Market located at Avenue c. Sixteenth and Sew
enteenth-ss. A committee Of the Common Council,
composed Of Assistant Aldermen Geiz COddingtoD. and
the late Mr. Hart has been investigating the matter for
some time and has discovered ndubitabe evidence OF
fraud.
Francis J. Geiz the active in the investigation.
is gentleman Of large means and is above the neeesi
ties OF active business He consented TO become
ddate for Assistant Alderman OF his Ward simply that
he might be enabled to do good work In the cause
Reform and since he has been elected has served ON
several committees OF Investigation. But he has been
snguIary unfortunate. Tho reports he has caused TO
DO made have been smothered in the Council
Chamber, and IL IL probable that IN the
case which he is now investigating he will
simply report that tho Committee has concluded its Ia
bors and will ask that it be discharged. He will then
give the result OF the investigation the substance OF
which furnished below, to the press for publication IN
detail. Mr.. Gels furnished grauitously band OF music
aud a collation. the occasion OF the opening OF the
market and mas been extremely DESTROYS that IL should
prove success.
Entertaining suspicion OF fraud in the building of the
market he offered resolution March IS, at sitting
Of the Board OF Assistant Aldermen requesting the De-
partment Of Docks report TO the Board by what au
thorty IL had taken possession of the plot OF ground IN
the Of the Eighteenth Ward Market This plot had
been purchased by the city 10 be used for market pur
poses. Mr. Geiz also offered the following, which has
resulted in the Developments mentioned:
Resolved That the Controller be requested to report to
the Board the names OF the commissioners for Che cree
ton OF the Eighteenth Ward Market the cost OF erecting
it, by what architect it designed by what builder
builded, by whom the erection was supervised, how
priaton therefor what the income and cost OF the
ket since It's opening, and why and by whom
the north and west sides OF said market building were
fenced ill., whereby the free passage Vt and light into
the same arc INSTRUCTED
The Controller was unable to furnish the desired in
formation, and accordingly the investigating committee
appointed and the replies TO the questions far as
they have given. tell story of deliberate attempt
at fraud unexceed by any of the worst schemes which
devised by the Ring for the purposes OF plumber
In April, 1865, the Legislature passed an act ap-
proprating $4,000 for tho purpose OF erecting
a market property which had been purchased
by the cy the block bounded by Avenue c. Sixteenth
seyenteenthsts and the East River The Commissioners
named to take charge Of the enterprise were Mayor
Charles G. Gunther street Commissioner Cornell, Presi
dent stephens OF the Croton Board and NJ T. Brennan
at that time Controller. The enterprise tagged however
and nothing done by these commissioners who
are In no sense implicated in the fraud did they have
the handling OF any money whatever
Nearly year later set OF Commissioners
appointed under whom the building was subsequently
politician and President of the With Assembly District
Grant aud Wilson Club, and adberent Of Thos
Murphy Forbes Holland, and Edward Moore, Tweed's
superintendent ot the Bureau Of Streets. Col Boeney
acted as Secretary. The Legislature meanwhile had
increased the appropriation to $4,000 This amount was
understood to be sufficient to cover the entire
piece Of land purchased with handsome
structure, the understanding being that one-hal
OF the space should be occupied by building for retail
purposes and the other half for wholesale trade, while
sheds should be provided for farmers wagons which, it
was stated would the ferry 20 be established at
the foot of sxeenths but although additional appro
priatons we're made to the extent of $4,000 or S7O
only onehaf OF the building has ever been erected as
proposed and the entire amount has been dsbursed IN
manner not yet explained.
The property which not built upon is that about
which Assistant Alderman Gels made inquiry soon
he ascertaned that had been transferred TO the Dock
Commissioners. In reply to the inquiry the Dock Com
mssioners stated that they had come into possession
under and by virtue OF resolution adopted by the Com
missioners Of the Sinking Fund Aug IS, 1871. The
resolution was nclosed and the following is a copy:
Resolved That the application of the Dock Commits
sioners hold the property east OF the Eighteenth Ward
Market and extending TO the East River, TO be used
wortvard be granted, and that the said property be
together with the % lots or the Fort GanseYoort
gTCgsry Tor the term OF ten years. az an annual 'S'
In the investigation which has been conducted by Mr.
Gels numerous accounts have been examined, involving
great deal Of time and labor To publish the figures In
detail would require considerable space, but the follow
ing general facts appear from the investigation:
Charles vandervoort OF No 46 Thrdave was the con-
tractor He furnished the material and did the entire
work He agreed to do the work for $4,000, but 1t cost
1887 and by what legal authority that amount was
paid does not appear Mr. Richie furnished the ground
plans and according to the evidence OF Col Beeney Sec
Rotary of the Commissioners paid $50 for his work.
whereas the books show that he received $500.
The warrant which Is also for that amount
was paid to Geo. Ii. Purser, assignee who
appears to have drawn the amount and
made the distribution OF the money Stephen ID.
Hatch architect prepared the plans and specifications for
the buildings for which he received $1,000 Mr. Hatch
still claims an additional amount. Andrew j. GarYey
received $4,000 for plastering. and claims 5000 more
although not particle OF plaster appears to have been
used in the building which is entirely OF iron and sone
Morgan Jones received nearly $1,000 for putting
in co hydrants, which are, however, invisible
Three thousand dollars paid for stationery, but 1t
cannot ascertaned for what purpose was ever pur
chased There other glaring instances OF
fraud but they all eclipsed by act OF the Com
missioners Haw, jr, Holland, and Moore, whereby
100000 was drawn by them from the Treasury
and remains to this day unaccounted for
This amount was drawn from the City Treasury
ostensibly for the payment OF debts incurred in
the erection OF the building, but the investi-
CATION shows that in case was payment
ever made by the Commissioners or their clerk TO any
person. but invariably by Controller Connolly out of the
balance remaining in his hands The Commissioners have
never made any explanations OF this matter and the pre-
sumption Of fraud according TO the report preparing is
strong against them.
While this market was intended as many other en-
terprises were, up schemeof plumber, it was
determined the onse by the projectors that should
not used for market purposes for any length OF time
Shortly after the market opened, permission was
given by Edward Moore. Superintendent OF the street
Bureau 70 John L. Brown, STRENGTHENING contractor TO
use the lots Immediately opposite the new market us
dumping ground and a consequence customers were