The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-04

An exposure OF an attempted bribery OF public
official, which will call to recollection very wildly
tho fact that no one has ever been convicted OF
stealing and destroying "the vouchers" from
Comptroller Connoly's onice, was made yesterday
under the instruction OF Mayor Havemeyer In
this case no one stole any vouchers, nor did they
mean TO steal any, but an attempt was made to
inaugurate q system OF COLLISION which should
facilitate the preparation OF act OF burglary in
order that public records might be used To aid in
an ingenious plan to ich from the public treasury
by sort OF legal ''shystering" operation The
case, probably, stands alone for cheek in the one
phase and for greenness IN the other.
In the room known as the "GOverner's ROOM" on
the second floor in the r0tunda OF the City Hail. Is
temporarily located q bureau OF the Department OF
Finan CO. known as the Bureau OF Assessments. It
is un der the control OF Commissioner John A. Ken
ncdy, formerly Superintendent OF Police. In this
bureau is kept the complete record OF city assess
ments on real estate, and the books are numerous,
cumbrous and complicated.
MI. charles sutton, formerly Warden OF the City
Prison, Is now Keeper OF the City Hail. and on We'd
nesday week ago to-day he was sitting In his
parlor In his residence within the City Hall building
when
TWO GENTLEMEN ~ VISITORS
were announced. Mr.. Sutton met the gentlemen.
him privately. Neither OF the gentlemen were
over thirty-ive years OF age, and one was consid.
eraby younger.
"Do you want to make some money, Mr.. Suttonp,'
asked the elder or the visitors.
swell, am not proud man In such q case and
wouldn't mind making some," replied sutton.
II haven't made great deal so far, and as I'm
getting Old think it's time commenced, ir ever
mean to make much.'
His visitor then proceeded, with much detail,
to disclose plan that was "workedn success
fully on some occasions when Tammany's rotten
regime ruled the roast. He explained that he de-
sired to obtain access to numerous books In the
Bureau OF Assessments for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning extracts transcripts or copies OF entries
and records therefrom. The officials OF the Bureau
would not permit these extracts to be made.
The visitor proceeded :-"You Mr.. Sutton, have
keys which unlock the doors Of the offices Of this
bureau. am lawyer, and want you to use those
keys in partnership with us. We propose to OBJ
tain certain records or copies OF them and we
know In what set OF books
ALL THAT WE REQUIRE
are kept. Having obtained these records we shall
be enabled TO go to the courts and have the assess
ments vacated in favor OF such persons as employ
us. There is doubt Of ability to do this, as
there numerous precedents for 1t in this and
In this matter we can make 1t pay you very hand
somely. The amount which we can recover or set
aside in favor OF the assessed property owners
is three or four millions OF dollars. at
the least and on this we Will stpulate
to give you good percentage. II You can
cOntrve to admit us to the hail. and get us into the
rooms occupied by this Bureau OF Assessments, we
viii do the rest. as we know exactly where TO look
for the information we seek when once we get IN
there. We can do 1t all In the night time. and II
one night Is insufficient we can do 1t IN two or
ree ~ we saa ee @ ga a
guarantees Of secrecy and for your share Of the
remuneration. OF course we shall, when we be-
come possessed Of the information we are after, go
to all the people assessed, convince them OF our
ability to have their assessments set aside, and
receive from them pro rata commission on the
amount recorded In their behalf. There is not the
shadow OF doubt as to the success of the plan
Mr.. sutton heard them ali the way through, and
sat rubbing his chin and was considerably
flushed. Alter a brief pause
THE "Boss" coNsPIRAToR SAID,
"Well, Mr.. sutton, what do you say VIII you
help us in this thing ~
The keeper scratched his head, played with his
beard, shulled around little on ms chair, and
said -
"wel, I'll just tell you how it IS, gentlemen. |
am getting along pretty well IN ne ana about al
like to keep that much dny'oU as long as cam
I'm little afraid of this thing Shutting one eye)
don't quite ike to go into this business"
"You need have no tear" urged the lawyer. ,
consolinely, you will not be doing any wrong
such might be involved in robbery, ana you can
make handsome sum out OF It,"
Suttons fingers went creeping through his
beard, and he smiled dubious smile Bringing
down both hands In goodnatured way on his
knees, he said
"Gentemen, this is a serious piece Of business
and I'D like to have couple OF days to think OF It,
I'D like to sleep on 1t.
IRIS A LITTLE TrcKLIsH,
and shouldn't ike to be pushed for an Immediate
After a little iurtner conversation in this vein
his visitors went away, and the Jolly keeper went
Ito thinklng.n About noon OF Thursday
HE RECEIVED LETTER,
| of which the following is COPY
OFFICE E, w. SHs Smell e.o Sns qsss Mag r
CHARLES scrIos, ESQ =
evening will trust be held as ii the sreest confidence
between qs-not to be mentioned by either party TO
NY ONCE IS as you see - Wall street room n. 10 NY
GrcbSee New York and Of The aSe
m %nts In question nSoives large sum o. money
and will make IN writing an agreement 70
ton2say ave per cent On The gross reeep,s-whleh will,
u succeed, be very large compensation Tor your ven
trust that you viii consider The in its most
you intend 20 IS whether You will in
Ht truly, ''"'' WIS ~ J. H. CLOVER.
| Alter receiving this ofuetdour the Keeper kept
on thinking, and in q short time made up his mind
| to communicate with the Mayor and the heads OF
departments about It. He accordingly informed
| Mayor Havemeyer OF the facts commissioner Van
| Mort and Commissioner Kennedy, and through the
latter gentleman Comptroller Green was also In
| formed vi the game tHdL was DelDR DrOacncu.
decoration Day." Friday last, was quiet day
about the Hall, all The public offices being closed.
Keeper Sutton stayed at home that day.
ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON
the younger oil the two gentlemen who had waited
upon him on Wednesday called again 10 see HIM,
AID inquired OF him If he was prepared to CO.
operate with them.
awe come to the conclusion tina. I'm little too
old to play in such a game that" replied SUIT
ton, "Dut guess you can get some one else 10
help you. l think you'd better go to some OF the
young men, There's plenty Of men open 20 MAKE ~ ~.
stake, but don't think 1t would be quite safe for
me TO venture into IT, Tor you see II anything went
| wrong 1t would be very rough on me. But guess
/ you can do well enough without me-"
/ THE YOUNG MAN WAS A LITTLE UPSET
| and embarrassed, and as he lett took the opportu-
! nifty to say
'iwell I'm very sorry, Mr.. sutton, that you don't
| feel inclined to go In. lisa big tning anu there's
/ a pile in It, and you could help the affair better
| than any one else. However, as you say, there are
4 Others who will do II. We've pof TO have the thing
/ fixed and we shall make the point yet. Good day,