The New York herald., 1873-09-16

The Late DefaIcation in the
City Treasury.
sPX-Treasurer Cortland A. Sprague Arrested for
u Embezzlement and Official MalfeaSanco.
Afidavits of District Attorney
Britton in the Case.

yesterday marked the latest sensation IN po-
ltical circles OF Brooklyn. The great event was
the arrest Of Cortland A. Sprague, late Treasurer
OF the city OF Brooklyn, upon charges OF most So
rious character, being none other than ''embezze-
ment and malfeasance in oiiice." 1t will be remem.
bered that when Martin 7. Rodman, the defaulting
Deputy City Treasurer, was arrested on similar
charge OF plunderng the treasury, while acting as
deputy for Sprague and filing the dual capacity Of
Treasurer Of the Trust Company, almost everybody
| expressed the utmost sympathy for Treasurer
! Sprague, whom they believed to have been duped
Dy MS cunning and dishonest subordinate in ONCE.
But there were those who looked at the
matter in very different light and, throwing
all sympathy aside for Sprague, contended that he
was las deep In the mud as his mare was
In the mire," and that he too should be made to
feel the weight OF the strong OF the law, which,
through connivance or torpidity. he had permitted
to be violated with impunty. He knew, said they,
that his subordinate was manipulating the &C.
counts Of the city and Trust Company two years
ago. and instead OF permitting Rodman to continue
to fill the responsible duties OF custodian OF the
municipal moneys he should have turned him over
to the tender merces OF the law. This he failed to
do, and herein lies his offence. When Rodman was
arrested three weeks ago he remarked, 'It was
not who got the golden egg" and though ne has
ever since his Incarceration In the Raymond Street
Jail, declined to converse upon the subject, he has
maintained suspiciously menacing demeanoy,
which has led those who know him best to
infer that in good time he "would
tale unfold" which would criminate
the recipient OF the "golden egg.n So
that trouble has been Matching for the other onl-
cial there has existed little or no doubt for some
time past. Sprague resigned Oh Tuesday last and
ex-Alderman Andrew Cunningham was appointed
treasurer in his place. Since that time the ex.
Treasurer has been confined TO his house, and is
suffering from an attack OF intermittent fevey.
There are sums OF money receipted for by the ex-
Treasurer for deposit in the Trust Company to the
amount of $150,0O0, which were never deposited in
that repository. The question which the trial OF
Mr.. Sprague will determine Is whether he turned
1t over to his deputy, Mr.. ROdman, or kept the
money himself. The accountant, Mr.. Warren, is now
engaged III going over the books OF ex-Treasurer
Sprague, with the view of ascertaining when and
under what circumstances the money placed Tor
Treasnrer or his denutv rhs nvestiua,fous W VIII vuG
occupy at least two weeks
THE ARREST OF MR.. sPRAGUE.
County Judge Moore was applied to by District
Attorney Britton yesterday morning for a warrant
Tor the arrest Of the City Treasurer Mr. Britton's
application was based on the following aildavlts:--
ton No 2l0 Carroll Street q the city Of BROOKLYN
ssns ay e % y Of Hs
see'sd m ana M o se from & &anuay % 1872 nn
urer received and became Of large sums of
to several millions OF dollars, and dcponent alleges
information and belief that the said Sprague
such City Treasurer did, within the three
5 and q TAKE AND
large sums OF money belonging TO the city of Brook
n, and by him held as such treasurer of said city.
sum Of $soocc or hereabout still remains unpaid and
Wherefore this deponent prays that he may be appre
anu DC dealt with fT
Sworn before me, this 18th day Of September, 1873
HENRY A. MooSE County Judge OF Kings county,
State Of NcD York, County Of Kings @winc hester Brit
ton, OF No 20 Carroll street. OF the city of Brooklyn.
Sprague was Treasurer of the city of Brooklyn, duly
elected and qualified such from January H. 1859,
TO the 4th day OF september 1873; that as such
Treasurer he received and became possessed of large
sums of money belonging the said city Of Brook.
lyn, amounting to several millions of dollars, and
that such Treasurer 1t became and his duty.
OF said city, but that dcponeqt alleges on inor.
nation and beef that within the three years past
and in violation OF such duty the said Sprague did not
preserve deposit and keep safe said moneys but loaned
thererom and intending TO realize therefrOm large
increase and interest thereon whereby pOr-
on Of the said moneys OF said city became lost to said
Wherefore this deponent prays that he may be appre.
hended and be dealt with ace9TanS ihe law directs
HENRY A. MOORE, County Judge Of Kings county.
Judge Moore issued the warrants, and the Dis
trlct Attorny detailed Odlcers Davy and O'R0urke
to execute 1t. They Immediately proceeded to Mr..
Spragues house, No. l26 willow street, and
learned that that gentleman was confined to his
bed by illness. The officer was instructed to
keep him in charge until he should be able to ap-
pear before Judge Moore An application will then
be made by his counsel to have him admitted to