New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01
LEGAL ABUSES.
wINcUEsTER BRITTOYs CASE.

WINCHESTER BRITTONS CASE.
ANOTHER ELABORATE SERIES or CHARGES AGAINST
| pIsTRIcT- ATTORNEY BRTTTON-ELEvEN THOUSAND
FRAUDULENT VOTES CAST IN KINGS COUNTY
| THE D1sTRICT-ATTORSEY PROTECTING THE PEh-
PETRAToRs.
The Committee of Fifty yesterday fled Its
reply TO the defense Of Dstrct-Attorney "hohes'er
Britton TO Its previous charges reeratng In eDorao
detail the startling statements OF malfeasance IN ONCE
These charges 1t will be remembered were laid pSiore
Gov. Dix some weeks sgo; the last DOCUMENT VIII
| probably hasten the investigation.
The Committee begins It's last document ny Drehy %
posing OF the irrelevant personal issues raised by MT
Britton by declaring that Judge Morris and Col A. W
Davis instead Of acting from motives OF persoha
ity to Brtton regularly retained as counsei Vi
the Committee OF Fifty and were In no wise responsioo
for the charges against Mr.. Britton. The Commttee
then adds, in brief and blunt phrase, THAT IL mas
" had the charges under consideration for months
but only presented them when we were LETT no
room to doubt that Mr.. Britton was faitniess
and dishonest public officer, aud was standing
between the people and their just rights And'' IL
adds the more we examined into the ohclai con-
duct OF Mr. Brtton the thoroughly convinced have
we become that he has guilty OF wfu maeasance
and non-feasance In Office"
Mr. Brtton his to the first charge OF shield
ing corrupt official from indictment, denied that ne
had any knowledge OF the charges against the OFFICIAL
and claimed that Charles 8. Bayis the foreman OF the
Grand Jury put TO him cunninglydrawn hypotheticai
question instead OF telling him the facts In the CASE
These allegations the Committee emphatically deny
and aege that Gen. Jesse c. Smith, II. H. Chttenden'
ESQ.,, and william A. Colt made complaint against Tue
official open court and provided the Grand jury Win
full papers and proofs substanae their charges ana
that Mr. Baylis, when he returned these papers ana
proofs to the Committee Fifty stated that Mr. Brtton
had the Grand Jury that they had no right 10 nVe
tigate the
The second charge based upon the MONTREAL OF the
"baot box suffers" The answer OF Mr. Brtton To TINS
charge that his predecessor in office had informed him
there we're no convictions 10 be had The reply OF
the Committee is very yoIumnious and exhaustive CIV
ing detailed history OF the efforts OF the com,
mtee Of Twenty-Five to unearth the iIaud s, q.
the election in November ISL ana Ito, 10 s nm
more than 1900 fraudulent votes were cast that 30 IN
dctments against poll and city officers guilty OF hese
frauds were found most OF which have not been pressed
OF Brittons alleged corrupt bargains WIN ths
officials conclusive proof OF whose guilt has long been
in Brtton's hands, are still holding once anu
have offices In the building with him. 1hey qnote
MT Brttons speeches March and reports Of the Com
mitee OF Seyenyve To show that he tDen thought that
and then show that he has never prosecuted single
eth further in proof Of his delinquency IN me
report OF present counsel Ludoyic Bennett, TO show
that he reluctant to avail himself Of the evidence
against them. that he not disposed 10 perform MS
duty adding that there reason TO believe that he
refused to sf the election frauds because not confident
The Committee of Fifty claim that Mr. Brttoa's re;
turned majority about $780, while the Conmttee OF
seyenyye had clearly demonstrated that the fraudu
lent vote cast at the time Of his election was over
Of which put into the baotbox In the Ist DIS
tric OF the sixth Ward by Alderman James Dunno and
Patrick Keenan, both OF whom are holding pubhc omces
In the same building with Mr.. Britton
The tenth charge, that Winchester BrittoD c0rrupty
shielded william L. Rasbeck, client OF his from IN
cnent for perjury, and entered Into conspiracy with
him defraud the Gardener estate out OF s2 Is sup
ported in the reply Of the by six
that an application made 10 Mr. BrttOn 70 put the
before the Grand Jury, with view to lndletng
OF Raisbeck when he committed the PERJURY
threat that IL attempt were made to ndlct Rails
indic the witnesses who appeared against
him and he dd ndict three OF the witnesses,
alleging that George Gardener, Daniel Gardener ana
Catherine M Flynn were cOmpialhsnts against the'
The affidavit OF each Of the last named persons Is sub
mtted by the Fifty to show that they we're not com
planans and not before the Grand Jury, except
70 testify against Raisbeck for perjury.
The reply of the Committee to the eleventh charge In
which Mr.. BrttOn IL alleged TO have used the Grand
Jury as cover ascertain business OF The
ceedngs against the proprletors OF that paper sus
tanned by six adays. Three OF these atlantis Henry
A. Clabin, Edmund g. Graves, and Palm H. sims were
the Grand Jury and each swears that ow-
ing transpred before the Grand Jury and other
official conduct OF winchester Brtton ought TO be thor
oughly investigated by the Governor. Mr. Richards,
Mr.. stillman, and Mr.. Green swear that they we're
subpenaed before the Grand Jury TO TESTIFY as 10 the
truth OF the charges which they had made IN Inc
OAronicIe against Mr.. Britton, but when sworn they
were sworn 70 give evidence the OF the people
AGAINST the Chronicle permitted to testify
against Britton at all ALI SIX OF these WITNESSES est
maj Mr. Raylis OF the Grand jury seemed
TO be acting either friend and agent OF Mr. Brtton,
entirely under his control The three Graud Jurors
claim that the partial Endorsement OF Mr. Buttons omar
fairly obtained from hen and That they did not inyest
gate official character Of Mr. Brtton, as they were
directed by Judge Moore, because Mr. Brtt0n called
them until the last days OF the session
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