The New York herald., 1873-11-26
THE RING TRIALS.


Defence.
Promptness in the discharge OF the criminal
business in the Court OF oyer and Terminer before
Judge Davis, Is the order OF the day. No sooner
had the proceedings in the great contempt case
concluded on Monday last than the case or The
People VS.. Ingersoll and harrington was called on.
These parties jointly indicted for forgery in the
third degree-ln presenting bills Tor goods alleged
co have been furnished to the county and for use
in the new County Court House in the name Of
Heath g. Smith, and signing the names OF this firm
to the bills without their knowledge authorize
tton. The great interest in the Tweed case, which
attracted such crowds to the building, has no
counterpart in this. The head and front of the
great ring offending having been disposed OF, little
interest and less sympathy is felt in the trial Of
the lesser fry of leeches that fattened upon the
public so long.
THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Mr.. Peckham briefly opened the case. Ingersoll
he said, had been one OF the Court House Commits
soners. He presented bill for County Court
House work in the name of Heath & Smith, though
that firm had some months before ceased to exist.
The bill set forth that the articles and services
were furnished by Heath Il Smith after the firm
had ceased to exist, and on it a warrant was made
out. The prosecution would show that Heath &
Smith never presented this bill, and that 1t
never endorsed by Mr.. Heath nor any member of
the firm that 1T was endorsed by harrington, in
the defendant ngersol, appearing on his deposit
ticket. They would show that Heath, the business
He had seen Mr. smith, the OTHER partner, here,
and did not know what his testi mony would be.
But whatever he might have done his authorize
tion OF the signature would not make the defend
ants less guilty; 1t would merely make him
participator in the matter.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Auditor Earle was then called and proved that
the bill and warrant came from the Comptroler's
Office.
Mr.. Lynes, who was county bookkeeper in 1870
proved the character OF the voucher and the genu-
lneness OF the signatures on the face OF the war
rant, and that the warrant had the banks mark of
Payment, and that the warrant was issued on the
Mr.. Peckham read the bill at length and then
called
EUGENE A. HEATH
who testified was one OF the firm OF Heath X
Smith, organized in 1857 by Smith and myself;
Smith had charge OF the factory, OF the business; ;
In June, 1869, we dissolved the firm by mutual
consent; the endorsement on this warrant Is not
in my nor Smiths handwriting; believe 1t is in
Farrlngton's: he was private secretary OF Inger-
soil, aud saw many OF his letIers lngerso was
President of the Heath Il Smith Manufacturing
Company, organized on our dissolution: he became
President in January, 1870 and is President now /
am familiar with Ingersol's handwriting; the sig
nature to this bill Is his; he was at that time
a,ting as Court House Commissioner; the firm
OF Heath Smith never furnished these
articles; they never had any account with the city
or county or any OF its boards; the signature 'E.
by me; the signature "Heath 4 smith" is not in
the handwriting OF either OF our tirm nor was 1t
got any part OF the money named in this warrant,
and mad no claim on the county; after the dsso-
luton OF our firm Mr. Smith took charge OF the fac
tory OF the Heath Il Smith Manufacturing Com
pany in Connecticut; he was there, and l think
lives there stlll frst heard OF this matter after
the publishing OF the accounts, and before the
meeting of the first Tweed Grand jury when Mr..
Taintor spoke to me Off
10 Mr.. Fullerton-The Manufacturing Company
purchased our tools, machinery and goods; they
purchased the good will, but were not our success
sors; we took part OF our pay in the stock OF the
nurufnn ftpxy
company extended their business to various arti-
cles, street lamps, toilet sets, umbrella stands,
not manufacture, but we may have done SO; con-
tinued with the company till 1T was thrown into
bankruptcy in November, 1871; cannot say that
my connection has ceased yet IL is still in the
courts; the company supplied goods to the Court
House; / don't know what they We're; there
were not many OF them; they were supplied
goods in this bill were not supplied to the Court
dd no nad supply m 70 any one !ne
lleve the company had any part Of the money; 1
don't know that, though; was then general agent
treasurer; as treasurer had nothing to do wife
the books; the secretary, John H. Hall, had chargh
or them; understand that they are now in charge
Of Mr. Root; / understood that Ineersoll, while
president, purchased goods from the company and
paid ior them in his own check; don't think he
ever gave check, personally or as
treasurer; / don't think ne gave me, about De-
cember, 1870 a. check for nearly the amount
OF this warrant; Ingerso mad control Of the busi-
ness; and Mr.. Smith had q special charge OF
parts, but he had general control; managed the
sales, but he had the supervislon the mannfactur-
ing was managed by Mr.. Austin and Mr.. Smith; /;
.Ingersoll visited the factory; should say l saw
him there twenty times; he was at times at the
selling ONCE every day, and then there were
times when he was not there for days weeks.
(Check for $4,000, dated December 90 1870, shown
to witness.) The body OF this Is In Ingersoil's
handwriting; the endorsement is In mine.
q. Wnat was that check given for ? A. II given
at all II was a loan to the company; l don't
member that particular check but about that time
Jngersol made considerable loans to the company.
A letter was then shown the witness which he
identified as probably letter sent by the secre-
tary to the bookkeeper IN Connecticut stating the
days transactions.
When bills came in to us for goods purchased
they were stamped correct" and ! at one time put
my initials beneath, as on the bill shown me; TINS
.'E A. H." Is my writing; my initials &c. H."
'mean Court House, and show the goods were pur-
chased by the Manufacturing Company for the
Court House; this other bill OF 1871 is to Smith a
Heath, and is similarly stamped by me- these other
Diils are all goods purchased by us for the Court
House harrington was never employed by the
ne was sent by lngersol once or twice TO help
bring up the books when they we're behind ana
once or twice he was sent West to sell lamps; he
Drew lor MS expenses when he went West on the
company; don't know that they paid anything
more to MIN he was understood TO be employed by
lngersoll; these bills were made out TO Heath K
smith by very common error OF Shipping clerks
OF other houses; don't know tnat these goods
don't recollect giving any directions tnat these
SHOULD be so entered.
Mr.. Fullerton here produced certair cbecrs
drawn to harrington by the witness as treasurer
aud number OF letters sent by the witness To- Faf
IingtOn.
Witness resumcd-In the bankruptcy proceed.
Hngs FarringtOn's name was used; IL pa We rise to
considerable bad feeling; may have said that In
gersoIl behind Harrington II suppose everybodv
Knew that; there have been various civil suits be-
tween us since that time; never said l would
have Harrington and lngersol In state Prison; /
don't remember having made any threats against
1thcm may have done so, but don't recoect IL :
"a suit has been begun against me IN the name OF
Ives for embezzng the property of the company
land was held bail In IL, but Ives Is merely as.
iegnee and believe Mr.. ROOTS at the bottom oft
Mr.. Austin has also begun suit against me, in
which an order OF arrest was granted.
10 Mr. Trcmaln--In the bankruptcy proceedings
John ID. harrington, Jr. was, the moving creditor
on claim OF $500; In the summer OF 1871 ne "
hrm was formed, composed Of Mr.. Austin and my.
'se'L WIN M, mseSsal - 4 special Rar there