New-York tribune., 1873-02-28
4 PUBLIC LAWYEES OFFENsES.
ELEVEN CHARGES OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT IN
OFFICE MADE BY THE BROOKLYN COMMIT
TEE OF FIFTY AGAINST DISTRICr-ATrORNEY


ELEVEN CHARGES OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT IN
OFFICE MADE BY THE BROOKLYN COMMIT
TEE OF FIFTY AGAINST DISTRICr-ATrORNEY
BRrTToN.
ALBANY, Feb. 27-The Committee of Fifty
Of Brooklyn, filed. to-day. with the Governor IL
charges against DistctAttorney Winchester Btitton
OF Brooklyn These charges based on facts revealed
by the investigation Of tho Committee, conducted
under the advice of Col A. c. Davis and ex-Dstrict'
Attorney Morris IL attempted to obtain acton oy
the Common Council of Brooklyn but this falling the
Committee OF Fifty, on Feb. a, voted 10 submit the
charges TO tho Governor.
Tho first charge is for improperly preventing an In
yestigaton by the Grand Jury OF the alleged miscon
duct OF public officer" and recitcs the circumstances
under which Mr. BrtOn declined to take action before
the Grand Jury against Isaac Badeau late Collector OF
Taxes aud Assessments In Brooklyn 1t specified that
Brton advised the Grand Jury falsely as to heir duty
by telling them " that it was not matter for their n-
vestigaton but only the subject for civil proceeding
and was not criminal oense. The second charge, OF in
tenonay protecting persons guilty OF violating the
Election laws by refusing aud negeetlng to prosecute
them" reces the fact that the prosecutions conducted
by Col Davis aud Judge Morris, as DistrctAttorney
under which they convicted several officials and secured
their incarceration In the penentiary for stuing ballot
boxeswere suddenly discontinued when Britton came
into Office and Others against whom charges were pend
ing were allowed to go unprosecued. It Is asserted
that In this way John j. Campbell poll clerk; James
Dunno, Alderman OF the Sixth Ward; Matthew Nc
Kenna another poll clerk and Others who were guilty
Of stung ballot and accessories Of the onense OF
this conduct were allowed escape The third charge
for gross neglect OF duty 10 not prosecuting inspect
ors of election known by him 10 have violated the Elec-
tion laws" The circumstances reeed under which
is charged that certificate OF election as Alderman
OF the Eleventh Ward given to Andrew Foster when
in fact John L. Douglass had been elected.
The fourth charge, neglect OF duty and improper
fnfar kVlth
John Droln, in the DlsrictAtorneys office, made an
arrangement with Dreln. without tho consent Of his
counsel to quash the indictment against him for at
tempting take the life OF some person not named The
fifth chargeis misconduct in protecting an abor-
tions" under which it Is specified that Briton improp
ery nOie prOse7 in the case Of Mary Van Bus
kirk under indictment for numbering Emily A. Post.
Madame Van Buskrk tried under Britton's prede-
cessor and the jury disagreed. The sixth charge is
"wilful neglect OF duty and improper
Patrick Keenan, indicted FOR mafeasaRce as Commits
of Deeds and also for forgery, by which Keenan,
proequ was be entered the indictment for forgery.
This done without notifying Keenans counsel. and
counsel should not be informed of the arrangement
Keenan, is member of the political party 10 which
particularly active the First District Of the Sixth
Ward where 500 fraudulent and fictitious votes were
ton" The seventh charge is grossly improper
conduct IN making an agreement with Sergeant Quick
member OF the police agreeing not TO call his wife as
witness in the trial OF L. b. Irish II is further stated
BrittOn brought brothers OF Mrs Quick all the way
from Oregon to the facts which she knew and
that they paid out OF the County Treasury $4,000 FOR
expenses, &c. for giving Information which Mrs. Quick
could Just readily have furnished without cost. The
second specification says BrittOn paid Andrew Jackson
another witness in the Irish case 300 to testify In behalf
OF the prosecution.
The eighth charge, "cOnduct calculated To bring the
administration OF Justice into contempt specifics that
Britton ia In the habit OF using foul aud insulting
language; advising visitors who annoy him with aaes
tons to go to hell :" asserting " that he bound to
convict" Irish causing the arrest and imprisonment
OF parties" without any just and legal grounds" and
for corrupt and improper purposes and that he has
political friends The ninth charge, for bribery and
corruption" embracing the facts lately developed by
Committee of Fifty relative TO the Increase by the
Supervisors Of Kings County. Of Brtous salary "a Dis
trOt-Att0rney, alleging that the arrangement was COZ
ruptly entered into The tenth charge was for "cor-
ruptiOn In Office" In shielding Gilbert Il. Raisbeck.
former client OF his, under an indictment for
perjury. The eleventh charge Is for Improperly using
investigation by Grand Jury into his alleged official
misconduct I Is asserted under this charge that after
Judge Moore had ordered the Grand Jury TO Investigate
the alleged corruptions of Brton. he, DstrictAtor
ney told the Grand Jury that they had not time to make
tho Investigation and adjourned them at the end OF the
week. during which Investigation was carrying on by
the Committee or Fifty
These charges, in substance. submitted by the
Hon l.. 4. Backhouse, Chairman OF the Committee Of
Fifty, who, in few remarks. called the attention OF
the Governor the impedment3 which Mr.
Britton placing III the way Of the admin
istration of justice in Kings County. The Gov
was evidently impressed with his REMARKS
assuring him that the matter would secure early and
careful attention The Governor Immediately trans
iIted the charges TO the Attorney General for his
good deal Of excitement, especially among Brooklyn
politicians.