New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-01
mel Jacket and trowsers, and coarse wooden shirt
Tweed was then assigned TO cell No "a. on the second
DlsTRICT-ATToRNEY BRTrToNs TRIAL.

DlSTRICT-ATTORNEY BRITTONS TRIAL.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM-PEriTI0N FOR
HIS SUSPENSION DURING TRIAL FOR THR ALLEGED
MISUSE or HIS POWER
The examination into the charges against
District Attorney Winchester Brton OF Brooklyn VIII
begin to-day before the Hon. Gilbert IT, spier at No 25
washin gton-st, In that city. The Attorney General
Francis c. Barlow will open the for the people, and
Il will be actively conducted by eIDstrictAttorney
Morris and Col A. c. Davis the counsel Of the Committee
OF Fifty, who made the original charges. III Is not
known who will appear for the defendant several
efforts have been made by Britton's friends ana the
leading members OF the Ring in Brooklyn to secure
discontinuance OF the against him. members OF the
Committee and the lawyers have approached under
various prete1ts. but compromise was possible ana
the will go to trial without delay.
Additional charges by the Committee were forwarded
TO the Governor Friday, and the Attorney denerai
has asked their reference II unconsdered the Gov
ernor, 70 tho present referee, Mr. sper. They aIege
late corrupt acts the part OF the DstrctAtoruey In
securing indictments against Sheriff williams aud
Alderman Wylie for political purposes The spechca-
tions state that the DstrictAttorney used Conrsddy
before the Grand Jury well knowing him to be disquali
fed as a witness, he had been convicted OF man
slaughter It is shown that Briton knew this because
he defended Conraddy when convicted, and since his
appearance before the Grand Jury last month has OBJ
tanned hspardOn in order 10 use him as witness against
the Sheriff The Attorney G enera, who knew nothing
OF the nature OF the political persecution OF the Sheriff.
who ia a Republican. betrayed into using his infu-
ence TO secure the pardon. IL understood that
Conraddy was induced testify against Sheriff VIII
lams by promise OF pardon.
Charges against Brtton for faslfyng court records
will be presented and urged by the counsel OF THE TRB
USE at Albany to-day. The evidence land afidayits
showing this Ofense accompany the charges and pet
fpf1au nf
the Committee OF Fifty showing reasons why the Dis
Attorney ought 10 be suspended during his trial
was also subrnttedto the Governor:
THE PETITION
To His ErceHcncy Coz. JOIN a. DIX
SIR: Again your petitioners, comprising Committee
Of citizens and taxpayers OF Brooklyn. known the
Committee Of Fifty. compelled by public eXigences
to appeal TO your EKceency aid them in securing
Justice and bringing 10 successful conclusion their
efforts at the reform Of pubic administration in this
CITY Naturally absorbed with the affairs OF the whole
state your EIcelency cannot be supposed TO know in
detail the wrongs and injustice which any particular
community suffers at the hands OF is local rulers But
when we assure your Excelency that In Brook
lyn exists todsy-shattered and partly broken
Of its power by the result OF the late local eeconsa
combination like that which has just been brought to
ruin in New-YOrk by the conviction OF the chief con
spirator, we have drawn exaggerated parallel. A
your Exccllency then private citizen appealed two
years ago Gov. Hoffman 10 the people OF New
York City opportuutG to secure reform III their To-
cal administration, we, humble imtators. but even
more oppressed petitioners than YOURSELF appeal 70 ou
now holding high office and authority, 10 give them the
proper aid you offer in this emergency.
For two years a ring has oppressed the taxpayers OF
Brooklyn as fagranty, though not arroglnty, with
equal corruption If not openly and as largely as that
through which Tweed robbed the City OF New York until
have become more oppressive than those OF
any other city in the Union and in proportion to the
deprecated value OF real estate double that OF New
York. At the late election an aroused public sentiment
drove into obscurty deserved reproach Of the
men who had made this misrue possible; but the com
bnation is powerful STILL and are again compelled
to appeal to you TO secure fairness IN the hght
for reform which purpose stil 10 keep up.
For nearly two years past one man has shielded
many these public punderers from prosecution. To-
day. political power having been wrested from his
partisans stands in the breach the only protector
they have from prosecution for crimes whirh have
less difficult 10 than to get before the
proper tribunal DistrictAttorney Winchester Brtton
is tine main stay at this moment ola conspiracy the
people have rebuked the polls He that power
still by using his high Office ana preroEayes 10 prevent
complaints from being lodged before the Grand jury by
using witnesses whom he knew TO be disqualified 10 testify
against and to indict political opponents; b. preventing
witnesses tesyng 10 facts against MS political
friends by introducing witness 10 testify AGAINST an
accused person, and tnen urging bm 10 lndct se ac'
cuser in solely defeat ms election; and hnaI,
AZ a
ni.staemr into instructions to tho
Grand Jury and Justification OF court records, 10
hold in duress person who had been Illegally commit
ted TO prison - c..
We are aware that these serious charges Some OF
them are substautiaed by accompanying ahdayits; OF
the rest ample proof be submitted; and We beg your
Exceency to give the papers due ana lnmediate con
sideraton, though they appear necessarily az eI pde
statements.
1t is Of the utmost importance TO this whole commu-
nity that DlstTCt-AtOney BrttOu should mot longer
retain the power thus to prevent justice. He IL about to
be tried serious charges which have TO De sn9sant
ted witnesses. Continue his power 10 prose
cute these Inen for actual imaginary odensos.
and You clothe him with power 10 inumidate wit
nesses. His reckless misuse OF his power hereto
fore warrants the suspicion that for his own
defense he win again abuse his authority. He Will
weld II not suspended during the examination OF the
charges against him on Monday next, the whole power
OF the State to defend himself against charges Of the
gravest character 49,,
ouence OF those mentioned your EXceency will readily
perceive. humby petition you 10 suspend Mr. BRIT
ton during the trial about 10 ensue.
T. T. BACKHoUsE, Chairman.
X. II. CHITTENDES, Secretary