The New York herald., 1873-12-18
TRIAL OF HENRY w. GENET.

Close of the Case for the Prosecutions
Ex-Iayor Hall on the Auditing of City
RilIs-Genet's Exculpatory Story in His
Own Behalf.
There was another large crowd in attendance at
the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday-Judge
Daniels on the beneh-to witness the second days
proceedings in the trial OF Henry W. Genet. AS to
the alleged 'lront and o1ending' OF the alleged
Harlem Court House frauds he looked as calmly
serene and seemingly unconcerned as on the open.
Ing day of the trial. He sat by his counsel, Messrs.
Beach and Waterbury. and made frequent sug.
gestions to them, particularly in the cross-exam-
nation OF the witnesses. District Attorney Phelps
was still too i'll to appear. and Mr.. Peckham con-
tinued as the sole representative OF the prosecu-
lion. 1t will be seen by the repor. below that the
trial is being hurried on with all reasonable de-
spatch. and the lateness OF the hour at which the
Court adjourned shows a desire on the part OF
Judge Daniels to reach the close as soon as pos
sible.
OPENING FOR THE PROSECUTION.
On Mr.. Peckham rising to open the case Mr..
Waterbury seemed quite unwilling TO regard him
rs the public prosecutor until Judge Daniels said
that he had the full authorization OF the District
Attorney to appear in this capacity. Mr.. Peck
tam then proceeded without further hnderance,
although mis- opening was brief. not occupying
over ten minutes. lie began by explaining that
the present was an indictment Tor procuring, by
alse representations, the signature OF Mayor Hall
TO a warrant on q false bill for supplies and work
On the Harlem Court House. He briefly mentioned
the acts under which that building was erected.
de charged that the defendant got from Mr..
Davidson certain bill for supplies to that build
Ing and got on 1t the certificate of one John
scanlon who was architect for the building, and
happened" to be also architect OF another build
Ing. which, while projected to cost the same
as the Court House, had been more fortunate than
II in being completed and was now Genet's prop
erty. The bill was for iron work Not one dollar
or this iron work had ever been put in the Court
House. The bill was wholly false, and 1t ior
presenting this bill that Mr.. Genet was indicted
1t would be claimed that this was mere anticipa-
tory bill Mr.. Davidson having declined to furnish
any goods unless paid in advance bit it would be
SHOWN that this money was drawn, and 1t was not
till some months after, when the great outcry
about the frauds had risen, that this money was
offered to MIR. Davidson and refused. But this was
20 defence Even II it was true, Mr.. Genet, as
Commissioner OF the Court House, had no right to
do this. His duties fixed by law. 1t gave
him no authority to anticipate payments before
goods were delivered. II was a fraud and false
pretence even IN that view, which he did not con-
cede TO be true.
TESTIMONY roR THE PROSECUTION.
=, Ihv hrst mItness called lor the prosecution was
MI. donn McB. Davidson. lie testified foows:-
J am sale manufacturer; this paper you hand me
have seen before; the bin was made out by me;
never furnished the goods; handed it 10 Mr..
was after the exposure OF the frauds; at the same
time saw the paper attached TO IL; never got
any money on either; saw the warrant warrant
shO~nl at about the same time; the endorsement
Il not mine: don't know whose it is
10 Mr. Beach, have lived in the city ten years
have been engaged In the safe, hardware and
foundry business; knew Mr.. Tweed, but not Mr..
hcQnade nor Josiah Porter; / have Mr..
rweed's. writing, but am not sufficiently &C.
1uantcd With il 10 say this Is his; had talk
with Nj. Tweed at Albany about furnishing this
IRON work; remember speaking to Mr.. Genet at
speak 70 Mr. Genet about it; Mr.. Genet had said he
had no control OF u and bad better Mr.. Tweed;
that Was during the session oil the Legislature or
1871 remember an estimate and specification OF
the ron work being made; l prepared 1t; MT.
., Gene, tod me wha, the building would requrej
TIE hiil was prepared with the estimate, ana !
agreed 10 furnish tile materials, but said could
not furnish the materials unless the price was
paid a the materials we're delivered; made out
lhe bill and told Mr.. Genet TO collect the
money, that had had much trouble in
eonecllng my bills nom the city and county
that must have the money as the goods were de-
lvcred; told hin | would order the goods pre-
gs - so9a a. m was s assured - oi the s money i6
aud was away think IN july and August; did
DOT see M. Genet during that time; don't know
when returned IN September he offered TO pay
one the money as delivered the goods; refused
70 NtNtNI tue koOlh.
TO Mr.. Peckham-Mr. Tweed suggested to me
that furnish the iron for the Court House, and he
laid that Mr.. Genet could arrange 1t; saw Mr..
Genet the same day, aud he said something about
uaing his influence TO get IL for next saw Mr..
Genet IN nay store, when ne stated what was re-
Qulred, and made out.an estimate and this bill
said then the money must be produced as deliv
cred the goods he said the money should be ready;
put down January, February, March, &c. by his
directions; the next time saw him was alter my
return from Saratoga, In September that was
after the frauds had been published; never had
anY contract, except wnat have related; had
not the window frames on hand; II would have
taken me day or two TO cast them; never dld
cast them.
10 M. beach, understood was to do this for
the city J; dad not know any commissioners In the
matter; took advice from my counsel, whetner
goods; he told me not 20 have anything to do with
anything connected with the city and county OF
New York Tor any Court House. The clerk who had
general charge OF my business In this city In my
absence knew nothing about this matter; he fur-
nlshed me written memorandum OF what was
wanted, but I haven't Kept IL; DON'T remember
what was said about putting the months, or ION
contract as per agreement with the Commission
erA, on tue bill; 1 remember ] made the bill
c0rdng to his directions but don't recollect what
particularly his directions were.
To Mr.. PecKham-My clerk would have received
any money from Mr.. Genet, and lis receipt would
have been bindsag en- me.
Ex.xaYCR HALL As A WITNESS
HxMaycr Han was next called aud testined-I
was Mayor IN lse9, 1870, 1871 and 1879: the sigma
taTe on this warrant n mine can't cay, from re-
coectlCn whether had or had not these other
papers before me when l slgped the warrant: q