New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-16
BROOKLYN JUSTICE.
ARREST OF CouRTLANDT A. sPRAGUE.

Ryp,cvRs IN HIS SICK ROoN-A CITY TREASURY
CORRUPTION FUND FOR POLrICIANs-RoDMAN
MERELY A TOOL
The croups which had been drawn to the vicinity
Of the District-AttOrney's Office Yesterday morning
bv the announcement made in yesterdays TRIBUNE,
that Dsstrict-Attorney BTitton had been collecting
evidence against those who had been plunderng the
City Treasury, and that immediate proceedings
might be expected. surprised to see Mr.. Brtto
issue from his private Office about 10 a. M, and aier
noddng to his acquaintance, walk rapidly TO tne
room of the County Court, where he presented tne
following affdavits to Judge Moore
THE AFFIDAyIrs.
state OF Ye,r- York. County Of Kings S.; Whene1 h
Britton OF No Carroi-st OF the CitA OF pCopand
SnrsSnS was treasurer OF CITY Of BROOKLYN uuk
elected and qualified as s1cn from ~; S"" ma, as snch
treasurer he received and became possessed OF d
sums tn, IN several million dollars and deponent al
ie On Information and belief that the said sprague as
past frauducntiy and feoniously take and make away
with and emheZZe and convert 70 ms 1 e, 5S I'd
sums money belonging TO the CITY OF BIookHn "u
by Inn held as such Treasurer Of said city, to Wit; sum
exceeding IN amount SoOOOS ana taae Iv re s
t50OO0 thereabout still remains unpaid anu tS Ie
10 the said civ Wherefore this deponent prys that ne
may be apprehended and be dealt with aGSor9g az e
state Of Ne,o York County Of Kings, S. Winchester
BrttOn OF No. CarrollSt., OF the CITY OF blVohS
being duly sworn, deposes ana says I9St SSIn 6rI
sprague was Treasurer Of the CITY OF BrOoKNn, u.g
elected
day OF september 1916 tha as sucn & g ,n,nS he
oeiyed and became possessed OF large sums Oh Inoc' ~
longing to the said City of Brooklyn, amounting 10 se
eral millions of dollars and that such Treasurer u
became and his duty 10 preserve deposit anu Keep
safe moneys for the OF said city, but that dep
nent alleges on information and belief that within the
three years past and in violation or such dut e
said moneys hut loaned large thereof to various
persons realizing therefom and intending so TO realize
therefrOm large increase and interest nereOn
rame last 10 said city Wherefore this deponent prays
hot p m I've apDrCleudeu
ipg as the law directs. WINCHESTER BEIIToN
Two warrants were Immediately issued and placed
in the hands of officers Davy and ORourke OF the
Dstrict-AttOrney's Office for service. They pro-
ceeded to the residence of Mr. Sprague, who was
confined TO his bed by illness. One OF the officers
was left in charge and Mr.. Sprague will remain I'M
der surveillance until he shall have recovered suf
GENTLY to leave the house, when he will be taken
before Judge Moore for examination. The evidence
upon which Mr. Sprague has been arrested shows, as
The afidayits state that be used the money in the
City Treasury for his own purposes. This does not
mean that his subordinate, ROdman simply used the
CITY funds which passed between the Treasury and
the Brooklyn Trust Company, but evidence is at
hand indicating that Mr.. Spragues private checks
were given several times in payment of stocks,
or used in other enterprises. This money came
from the City Treasury. These checks have
been traced through the New-YOrk Clearinghouse.
The whole scheme of plumber has been brought to
light and shows that for many years the funds OF
the City Treasury doled out TO politicians to he
used by them at the polls and that the City Treas
urer Mr.. Sprague, who specially appointed to
guard the city's money, not only permitted the
treasury to be pfered by others, but himself used
the city funds for speculative and private purposes
From testimony based upon affidavit and filed in
the Office of the Disrict-Attorney, it appears that
since 1863 Mr.. Sprague has been in the habit of
loanin0 and using the citys money in sums ranging
from 100000 70 S500,0O0 year. As money was
loaned only for few days. the amount thus used
reached millions Of dollars. Mr. Sprague needed
and used Rodman in carrying out his plan of plumber
without detection He made tool of his subor-
dinate His plan may thus be outlined:
II $4,000 were paid into the City Treasury
on any account $4,000 would be deposited
in the Brooklyn Trust Company, and the
remainder be loaned 10 politicians who de
sired to use money for election purposes. The
money would be set down as drawing 3per cent in
terest. whereas Mr. Sprague received TO- II, and 10
per cent month for the use of it, the difference
went into his pocket. Sometimes the money was
returned. and sometimes it was not. This process
WAS carried on for years. From lending
10 outsiders to lending TO himself was
an easy transaction, and soon Mr. Sprague
himself began 10 borrow money from the treasury,
which as is usual in such cases, he found himself
unable to return 1t Is clearly established that
Rodman was simply an agent of his dishonesty, re-
ceivlng the few crumbs which dropped from his
table. Those to whom Sprague loaned the city's
money are now known. Most of them are prominent
CITY officials and adherents of the Ring. The only
point 10 be established is that they took the money
knowing that it belonged TO the city. Investigation
is now making in this direction and in two or three
DAYS the public will know who these persons are.
and their cases Will be brought to the notice of the
Grand Jury.
The summary action of Mr. Britton is favorably
interpreted. 1t Is said that the prosecution is
abundantIy able TO prove all 1t has undertaken, and
that Mr. BrttOn is in earnest in the prosecution of
the Treasury thieves. Mr. BTittOn stated Yesterday.
10 TRIBUNE reporter that the evidence which he
has obtained of Sprague's connection with the
frauds in the City Treasury was unknown to Mr.
Cullen and he exonerates his assistant from any
collusion with the thieves. He believes that Mr.
Cullen acted according TO the best of his informa
ton. Mr. Britton says that he is determined to
prosecute all the guilty persons, and does not care
who may be hurt. He intends to make closer exam
ination, and viii take summary action against all
persons connected with the frauds.
STATEMENT OF RODMAN'S COUNSEL.
THE PRINCIPAL CRIMINAL ATTACKED AT LAsT-THE
WAX POINTS OF THE PROSECUTION.
A TRIBUNE reporter called at the Office OF +. T..
Wood one Of the counsel for Rodman, and the fol-
lowing conversation ensued
a do regard arrest Gprapue in its