New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-17
BROOKLYN'S ENEMIES
THE CORRUPTION FUND.

RoDMAN TURNS STATES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CON
FEDERATEs ALREADY KNowN-ELEcTroNs CAR
RIEp BY MEANS OF TIE CITY's MONEY.
The statement made in yesterdays TRIBUNE that
IL WAS fully established by afidavts filed IN the
District-Attorney's Office that Mr. Spra2u5 was the
principal culprit and that in connection with mon-
bers of the Ring he nsed the money OF the City
Treasury for speculative and election purposes,
created great excitement in Brooklyn. The TRlB-
UyE. il will be remembered had taken this ground
from the beginning, and repeatedly asserted what
was proved Yesterday At early hour the District
Attorneys Office was beseged by large crowd, ana
later in the day Mr. Brtton stated that the informal
ton he possessed was strengthened by the state
ments of Mr. Rodman who had turned States evil
denee and revealed the whole scheme of plnnder.
He furnished TRIBUNE reporter with posuoh
of Rodman's confession, but it IL under
stood that evidence is in his possession which
duplicates those who have hitherto stood high III
the community These men borrowed money at
Sprague for use in the political campaigns, and paid
him large sums as bonus" They are not equally
liable to arrest with Sprague, because it is dltbcnt
to prove that they had knowledge that
they were using the money of the city. An
examination in progress yesterday to show
that those who received the money bad knowledge
that il was stolen The bank accounts of several
officials will have to be examined, but il may
safely be stated that enough has alre ldy been made
manifest to show that the borrowers imp-
Gated in the tbefts Mr.. Britton desires to ferret
out all the facts and make the proofs Of frauds 40
convincing that there will be no doubt that Others
are quite as guilty as Mr.. Sprague.
The following conversation occurred last night
between TRIBUNE reporter and a gentleman IN the
Distrct-Attorneys office, who has all the inforna-
II. sl. riot
Attorney:
Q. What is the evidence showing that others
beside Mr.. Sprague handled the money in the city
treasury A. We can show that with some com
panies in which Mills and Sprague were stock
holders a regular system of borrowing and lending
existed.
Q. What companies or individuals Others than
those which have been mentioned by Mr.. BrittOn
had dealings with Spraguei A. A political organi-
cation received money several times from the City
Treasurer. The Treasurer of the club was paid at.
different times sums of money varying from
81 900 to $1,000. The amounts returned are
not sufficient to cover the loans. There still
exists deficit of $4,000 Beside this, individuals
who figure as leaders of the political parties have
been large borrowers from Mr.. Sprague. These
transactions have been made quite plain; fer III
stance, on Sept. TO- 1872 Mr.. Sprague paid prom
inent politician $1,000; Sept. IA, $1,000 and
Oh Sept. %, $1,000 more, or $4,000 altogether.
On Oct 4, a payment made by Mr.. Sprague to
another politician of $135OO; Oct. 10. of $1,000;
on Oct. 10, OF $500; and on Oct. Is. of $500.
OF S26,500 more. The amount loaned to these
two persons was therefore $4,000. On Nov. ~, Mr.
Sprague received from a prominent politician OF
Brooklyn check for $51.j00. As $500 would be
the interest for one month at Is per cent OF $4,000
the amount paid to Mr.. Sprague is supposed 10 rep
resent the amount borrowed with the interest the
latter of which was divided between Mills and
Sprague. Evidence will probably be advanced to
show that the borrowers knew they were using the
city's money.
Q. Are you in possession of any Of the evidence
which tends 10 show that Sprague's e0nicderates
were political leaders. A. / am, but ii would be
premature to disclose II these exists an identity of
amounts representing what was paid ont by Sprague
and what was received by him. so as to reIder the
character of the transactions plain. Sometimes the
amount borrowed was returned without interest,
and at other times the interest was added.
In either case, however the facts appear
plain upon their face. The only thing remaining 10
be proved-and that mnst be shown by satisfactory
legal evidence before arrests can be mado-is that
the borrowers knew they were using the money of
the city.
reporter called at Raymond-st Jail last evening
TO see Rodman IN relation to the confession made
by him duplicating Sprague as the principal
criminal. The prisoner had ordered Mr.. Conrady,
the Keeper of the Jail, not to permit any persons
except his counsel. his wife. nephew and a Mr.
Standard of New York to see him. At about {. p. NJ.
his counsel E. I. Wood, called and was in consul
tatiOn with him for more than an hour.