The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-16

N.HW., IOf
both on the part Of counsel for the prosecution
and the defence, which exhibited q determination
TO night the trial out on the line taken to the end
no matter what time 1t may consume. The exami-
nation of Deputy Comptroller StOrrs occupied the
whole OF the session, and + was not concluded at
the hour of adjournment. Every fresh question
and answer was fresh ground presented to tight
the case inch by inch. Thus counsel got into fire.
quent wrangles, which would have been inter-
mlnable were it not for the prompt rulings OF the
Court. which exposed and rendered futile all the
weILspun webs OF objections and distractions OF
defendants counsel. There was very large
ATTENDANCE OF SPECTATORS,
from the beginning to the close who seemed to
enjoy with great zesr the thrust ana guard and
counter thrust OF the legal Knights The jury,
however, were not so interested in the forensic
warfare, and only prcked their ears or rubbed
their eyes when the oracle on the bench opened
his lips and pronounced his decision on some one
or other OF the obscure-tO lay ears-ponts raised.
The testimony Of Mr.. Storrs, ON the other hand.
was as complex and perplexing to the said jury as
the subtle or confusing argument OF counsel, and
80 between testimony as TO vouchers, certificates,
warrants signatures, pigeOn-holes, Boards Of
Supervisors and Boards OF Audit and the sounds Of
Millions four-nfths Of the jury nodded the noon
away, till walked up by the welcome stir in the
court room which indicated the hour Of recess. On
the reassembling Of the Court the same scene was
re-enacted Counsel had another "set to" and
jurors another dose. Mr.. Tweed and young Dick
sat throughout the whole proceedings unmoved.
The Boss, while pulling on his overshoes, was
asked by casual acquaintance chow he felt"
'OH, FEEL ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
and I'll feel better when 1t comes to my turn to
put witnesses on the stand" was the reply OF the
Boss. From present appearances the trial prom
Uses to be one Of the most pr0traCted held in the
Court Of Oyer Terminer since the Mcfarland
Richardson case. Counsel are not likely to grow
tired OF the rich harvest they are reaping, and
unless Juror succumbs to WEAKNESS Of spirit,
his chair vacant for good before result s arrived
at, the dog days may be upon us before that much
to,be desired event win come to pass:
terday morning 10 the Tweed case.
w. M. Tweed, Dick Tweed General Tweed and
also the two leading spirits Of the prosecution, the
champions for the people-Messrs. Tremain and
Peckham.were all early in attendance.
Justice Davis took his seat on the bench at pre-
cisey eleven O'Clock. s4la III
1t was announced that owing to the decision of
defsncs, the witness first called Deputy Comp
trOler St6rrs, would be permitted to give his testi
mony In relation to the vouchers and other
COUNSEL AGAIN AT LoGaERHEADs.
After the jury had been called and answered.
sci as to the reading Of the statute Which reading
was proposed by the prosecution, under which the
indictment was drawn, and the constitutonalty OF
which is disputed by the defence
Mr.. Field stated that every count in the indict-
ment called the defendant an officer, and he al
prosecution to prove him such before any testi-
n?1s sSsIp Sssdsa to this
every answer OF the witness bearing on the ques-
TESTIMONY OF r. 9. sTORRs.
Richard 8. StOrrs swOrn-I am assistant in the
COmptroller's office; know A: Oakley Hall; he was
Mayor OF this city in 1870; W. M. Tweed was Presi-
dent of the Board Of Supervisors; r. b. Connolly
the Comptrollers office found this paper (showing
OBJECTION TAKEN.
The introduction in evidence Of the paper was
objected to, as 1t was claimed IL was a resolution
OF the Board OF Audit and the resolution being in
itself a crime alleged, 1t not being mentioned in
the Indictment was not competent. The paper
Connolly, the Board OF Audit. Under the decision
Of Judge Potter 1t was claimed that the paper was
not admissible.
The admssbility or inadmissbility Of the dOcu.
ment as evidence was argued at some length.
Judge Davis gave an extended decision and ad-
mitted the document.
The paper was then read.
EXAMINATION CONTINUED.
Witness-I found other things in the Comptro-
lers Office in September, 1871, relating to these
matters; in the latter part OF the Summer OF 1871
found some vouchers; the Mayor was with me
The witness was asked what he found the second
time, and was proceeding to describe their nature,
when the defence objected.
number Of vouchers then were shown the wit
ness, who was asked to state the signatures on
them. He did so. There were W. M. Tweed, X. b.
Connolly and A. Oakley Hall, as President OF the
Board OF Supervisors, Comptroller and Mayor, re-
spectivey. The witness also described the marks
on the warrant made by the bank, certifying that
The witness was asked number Of questions, by
both counsel for the defence and prosecution, as
to the handwriting appearing on one particular
warrant and voucher shown.
Witness first saw the paper shown me in the
were all attached; they were also attached to each
| Other-that is, the bill, voucher and warrant-at
the time Of the first trial Of Mayor Hall; was not
not responsible for their safe keeping.
OTHER OBJECTIONS.
Counsel for the defence said they now objected to
the first sheet of the bill shown there moth
| ing on 1t connecting it with Mr.. Tweed, and the
only portion OF the second page Of the bill admissi-
| bic was that wherein was contained the signature
| Of the defendant; they must show that the first
page Of the bill was attached to the second at the
time Mr.. Tweed signed his name to the latter. The
| question was thoroughly discussed.
| Judge Davis said the ingenious objections Of
| counsel seemed TO him
| ANTAG0NIsTIC TO ANY PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATION
OF JUSTICE
| The papers were admitted in evidence, and the
| objection declared not good.
number OF other objections were made to other
portions OF the papers, all Of which objections were
! Overruled and exceptions noted The papers were
| then read to the jury by Mr. Peckham. The bill
dated July 1882 and gives items of charges for
| work Of different kinds performed about the City
| Hall. The vouchers produced were signed by the
| Mayor, the Comptroller. by the defendant and by
| Il. A. Woodward. The cut mark is evidence that
the bank paid the money. The filing in OF the GER
| tincate Of audit was In the handwriting of tine
| County Auditor, Stephen @. Lyons.
| 10 DEFENDANTS COunsel-There Ia nothing on the
| bill in Mr.. Tweed's handwriting except his name
| The words chairman OF Committee" were written
under Tweed's signature by woodward.
Voucher mo. 2" was then handed to witness,
and the same set OF questions were put and Objec-
Keyser Co. for $27 1897 80; the certificate of audit
signed by the three members Of the Board of Audit
and the Comptroler's warrant and County Clerks
certificate Objection was made as before against
accumulation OF offences.
The next (they were all Keyser's), for $16,o24 81,