The New York herald., 1873-10-01
THE NEWARK 1'W.EEDITES.
Effect of the First Financial
BOmbshell.
City Officials in Tight places-How They Writhed
and wriggled Under the Journal stic
Lash-A Desperate Attempt to Sup
press the Press-The Herald in
the Grand Jury Room.


The startling report OF the Newark Citizens ln-
vestigating Committee, published in yesterdays
HERALD IN ertenso fairly astounded the honest
people OF the city beyond the Passaic and threw
the ring and their organs into the greatest dis
quietude, which not even their almost complete
silence could conceal. Outside OF small circle OF
journalists, officials and committeeman, nobody
knew that anything was coming so soon from the
committee. and not even half q dozen persons
knew in advance what was really coming. On
the people at large the report acted like
o bombshen entirely unlocked for The chief
apoogist and slate washer OF the ring, which has all
along insisted that every thing outside fBroadwel
was as square as dollar, and which, within a few
days, sneeringly said that the committee ought to
go to North Carolina to investigate some alleged
frauds there's and, further. that the only criminal
likely TO be shown up was 'the thief Of time"
yesterday had scarcely word to say in regard
to the report, and even went so far
as to garble the report Itself. speedy and thor
ough work. it said, "is wnat the public demand,
and the committees now constituted should either
meet their expectations in this respect or give
way TO those who will" And now, when speedy
work has been done, this organ has next to moth
ing to say pro or con.
THE PfTH OF THE REPORT
is that certain bonds, worth S45,oo cannot be
accounted lor, and that the city funds generally
have been 'manipulated' as the committee say,
in manner not at all in accordance with
good, square, honest Official dealing The
positive refusal OF the city officials too, to keep
their promise and give the committee opportunity
to examine certain books, tells terribly against
them in the public mind, and seems to Justify the
very strange remark OF Colonel Dillon, OF the COM
mittee, to the effect that this action was only 10
be construed as sttppfessO re,'t which Is equiva-
lent to suggestio Jalsi. There are good
beginning OF startling developments regarding th9
"manipnlatons" OF the ring with pubic funds and
private property. Tie Committee on Tax Re-
ceivers reported progress, and said two books were
found missing from that office, bet that the official
had promised TO hunt them up. The
COURSE PURSUED BY PRESIDENT HEDGES
at the meeting on Monday night, In making re.
port based only on e mere ama
and everybody Is wondering how the keen, out
spoken veterans anne to forget himself III the
The public have already been apprlsed OF the
fact through the GERALD that the ring and its Or
gans tried all thar united efforts to stlne the cit-
Zens' movement - Tie outset and next to destroy
tile working pow and efficiency OF tAe citizens
Committee OF Cne hundred. Ever since It's ap-
pontment IT has NET with sneers, insults and bar
res OF cewateY rpg-inspred editorials. Falling
to accomplish anything in this direction the ring
nest tu mel it's attention to It's press castgators,
A DESPERATE Arrsner TO MUzzLE THE PRESS.
For weeks the rim hss writhed and struggled
under the mercess iesl OF truth, swung by the
HERALD and portion ui he local press rendered
Wild and furious by TIL rles OF exposures made
recently. Those NeyafN 'mtators OF Tweed and
Bumstead ana Rotm4u AID Sprague. to say moth
ing OF the departe 81 rch pillar Mllls, and
lishly resolved to Try and throttle
those individual membss. of the press who have
ferreted out and EXPOSED heir Infamous wrong
DOING ergetul oi the IA t that even If these
Should be silenced-son.e Alng that is as likely as
tnat the ring very log continue unbroken-
would
and leave no stone untur "a 10 bring more EVIL
dence oi guilt directly nome 20 the public punderers
THE HERALD IN TIE GRAND JURY ROOM.
The hatred OF the noble army OF ring oilicials
ring eXcniclals, ring contractors and ring Journals
is concentrated on the HERALD. The other day in
tue Grand Jury. room a press man who mas
taken prominent part in bringing frauds
10 the light OF ~, print was snn
asked what lie knew about frauds and he
ratified Off so much Information that he was
quickly stopped and urged to reveal the name OF
me writ oi a ce tain article articles on 1.-The
Newark 1weedlres," IN the HERALD. on this point
the witness was know-nothng. III CHIEF ques
toner was Mr.. j. c. Ludlow, who, though acting
on Grand Jury, expected to act upon certain city
orlciais, IS
PREsIDRNT or THE COMMON COUNCIL.
The significance OF this Iact is increased when 1t
is stated that several other officials are on the
Grand Jury. 1t certainly does not look well TO
city officials sitting as judges over other city of
Gals the personal and political friends OF their
bosom.
THE LEYERs-FRANcIs CASE
About week ago the HERALD published exclu-
svely the plth oil statement made by Florlam
Leyers. respectable German, OF Newark. in pres
ence OF Juoge Herman lse OF the Court OF Common
Pleas, to the enect tnat he was compelled by City
Counsel Francis TO sign paper for double
the amount OF his claim against the city
before he could get his money. HIS claim
sl.70o He stated deliberately that he only signed
one paper, ana that that was plain manuscript
sheet. without printing. 1t Is now explained In
behalf Of Mr. Francis that Leyers simply signed "a
bond ofindemnity 10 the city TO cover all possible
CONTINGENCIES. Anew days since Leyers and the
and equIvocatlnp Levers was shown the
paper. lie was astonished to find two
papers instead OF one. one he readily ad-
other, a printed deed OF indemnity, pasted on the
back, he could say nothin about Ills Signature
was appended TO it, but he declared he could not
swear to 1t though he could TO the other.
Subsequently the HERALD man examined this
document, and, In company with cali
graphic expert, agreed tnat there was
a very marked dssimllarity between the two sig-
narures Francis hass made no explanation OF the
matter, but quietly Instituted civil SUIT for
$4,000 against the proprietor Of a Newark paper,
then went before the Grand Jury and made
charges against Judge William Il. Guild and others.
For several DAYS past the rumor has prevailed
about the Court House that Francis, aided oy Lud-
low and the other city officials, had procured the
INDICTMENT OF THE HERALDs INVESTIGATING COM.
MITTEE or ONE.
Thus FAR the latter committee has had no Official
notice in the matter and calmly enjoys such rest
as his abors VIII permit. u Is significant TACT In
TINS connection that OF all the charges made
against the members OF the ring tnis OF Fran
els Levers Is the only they have dared at
tempt TO tackle. Verify drowning men grasp at
straws.
THE REFORMERS IN COUNCII,