New-York tribune., 1873-09-02
MISGOVERNED BROOKLYN.
RoDMAN DESERTED BY THE RING.

proyed futile The friend who is out OF town has
appeared and snguary enough the prisoners eoanse
Mr. Tracy, refuses 10 give the name OF the missing
bondsnan although he assured TRIBUNE reporter That
the gentleman would be in the city this morning when
Mr. Rodman would released. IL Ia urged m some
quarters that VIM C. Kingsley has been acting entirely
for Temporary effect and that after the prisoner bas
remained in jail for few days, and the impression has
been produced that is 10 be severely dealt with, end
after the excitement has cooled the absent bondsman
will suddenly appear, bonds will be given aud Rodfnan
be released Then according to the popular belief he
viii be given a large amount by the Ring, and advised
TO leave the country On the other hand, 10 ~ urged
that the prosecution s IN earnest and that Mr. Kngsey
and others determined 10 make Rodnan bear an me
sins sprague and rest. Alderman Ropes stated
yesterday thGt additional frauds will be brought To
light He said that the deiacaton in the Treasury WA
known three weeks ago, and another dollar Of def
| cheney has since been discovered He was asked
whether the revelations OF Mr. Warren In regard to the
standing deficiency OF the sinking funds were known at
| that time. There might be much in the past he re-
joined irregular but it did not affect values az
the present time. No future investigation would reveal
further deficiencies.
Mr. sprague stll remains at his house, and refuses 10
any one Il is stated that proceedings will soon be
begun against him for malfeaslnce in Office. prom
inent official told a TRIBUNE reporter yesterday that
measures have already been taken to bring his case
before the Grand jury that sufficient evidence has been
gathered TO show his completely with Rodman in Eis
raids and that Mr. Kingsley is one Of the persons most
actively engaged In working up the case This course
said the gentleman significantly, as TO be taken be-
cause, If ROdman peads~in his defense that he was
aided by Sprague who, as he understood, acting
the agent the Ring, and proves by the Treasurers
books that such the fact 1t will be necessary for
the members OF the Ring 20 anticipate the revelations
and make Sprague codefendant with Rodman thus de-
Dying any connection or sympathy with them, and
making the agents appear to be the principals Cor
pOration Counsel DE Witt that he thinks that both
civil and criminal suits should brought against Rod
man. He $4,000 sufficient TO hold the prisoner,
and expresses the opinion that he Will not be able to
obtain bail.
Every one seems to think that the affairs of the De-
partment OF City Works should be investigated; and
that the the investigation is begun the better
will it be for the community. Efforts making by
several prominent residents to have an Investigation
ordered. No satisfactory explanation given by the
officials the Tax Collectors Office yesterday Of the
discrepancy their accounts revealed I'm yesterdays
TRIBUNE. 1t is generally conceded that thorough ex
animation of the books and accounts should be made
at once. ExTreasurer Mclaughlin OF the Fire Depart
ment when asked by TRIBUNE reporter whether he
considered that he entitled TO the 5000 interest
claimed by the Controller, replied that he would not
defend himself at present When the proper time came
he would let hIs exact position be known
When Mclaughlin made Treasurer Of the De part-
men in 1870 the Fire Commissioners had controversy
with Mayor kalbneSch In relation 10 the purpose Tor
which the money derived from the sale OF old buildings
and other sources could be used 1t resulted in the
fling Of a mandamus against the Mayor The Legisla
ture afterward passed u special act authorizing
Controller johnson pay Fire Department fund TO
the Treasurer without the Mayors signature, as had
previously been the custom In accordance with that
law which was III operation untl changed by the last
Legislature Mclaughlin drew the funds Of the Depart
ment AS follows: In 1870 sSl 600; In 1871 S2994S2 IN
1872 SJ3OOO in 1873 s200OOO He deposited them with
the Brooklyn Trust Company and appropriated the in
terest which paid on deposits. IL is not known
whether he will add the interest the fund and turn
over when he makes his report whether he will refuse
TO pay the interest, IN which he will be prosecuted
for malfeasancc.
Alderman Ropes President OF the Trust Company, has
determined 70 separate the offices Of the bank and the
City Treasury Accordingly the Trust Company will
remove It's Office building at Clinton and Montague
SITS. Heretofore both offices have been made louBgng
Members OF the Committee OF Fifty many of whom
are in the city, considering Yesterday the neces
sy fOrltakng immediate action, and It ls understood
that import = measures Will be adopted AT the meeting
which they propose TO hold tomorrow night. Thei.
nyest CATION is 10 be resumed aud If necessary EXPERT
accountants will be employed The Controller If under.
stood 20 favor such an examination. MI warren VIII
enter upon thorough inspection OF the accounts
OF Sinking Fund tomorrow If an UNDERSTANDING can
be had in regard to the matter WIN mayor r9"ell;;
Edward f. Backhouse. President OF the committee OF
Fifty, told TRIBUNE reporter that he had knoTn Nor roa
many months tnat the CITY treasury was peih9
plundered by the Ring which fact was SHOWN by Tue
II
formed by the Ring to enable them to handle tne pubic
money. When they suspended they dld not make any
tin sum i'm gross as reported, but the
OF the and the securities they gave were never
stated. The Ring formed the Board OF Trustees,
with few respectable names sandwiched IN.
and Rodu an was made secretary ani Depnly
' tbc cty's money. Chief among the evils caused by
Ring is the large amount or surplus money
on hand which cannot he used until Ihe year following
lis collection II accumulaes In the Treasury ana places
great power the hands Of the Ring, which VIII never
nuta "a Mt Of
are epresentef In the management Ihus rom s9ooV
coo 10 $60OOO0 is used in this way could moi gei one
of said he TO accept position on the
a member of the Committee OF One Hundred and a
stockhOder IN the Brooklyn Trust Company sald yester
day q TRIBUNE reporter: was induced 10 put my
money into the Company by the late H. l. dlis, WIN
whom had been associated for many years in real
estate matters. He came TO me one DAY ana saN mat
he wanted his friends 10 take some OF the stock
the bank without delay and make 1t success shd 10
nm that / would not object TO invest II he would
put IN a man who understood banking, as L
thought he not well versed IN such matters.
He subsequently, introduced me 10 ROdman as the cash
Ter. was unfavorably impressed with Rodman and
told Mills s0 and wien tue cashier ufgco hm !" take
hold OF the Wilimantc enterprze tried TO dlssnade
him When the bank suspended was out Of town, and
reLnrned 10 attend meeting OF stockholders 10
see about what should be done, urged thlt AZ ail
hazards the bank should resume The Ring directors
AFRAID stop; they feared TO have examination,
the bank resumed believe the Departments OF
Brooklyn all corrupt, and that an Investigation VIII
reveal great frauds.
number OF the members OF the Committed of One
Hundred gathered List night IN the yest,enIe OF Tue
the necessity OF having examination begun 10 the
other departments of the city t was agreed that the
Board OF City Works should first receive The attention OF
the experts and tine meeting had been held resola-
ton 10 that effect would have been offered:
TRIBUNE reporter asce1tained last night that MT.
Schroeder has been for time IN favor OF thorough
investigation into all the Departments, including the
Board OF City Works In order to arrange the Tine tr
such Investigation, the Controller has hsd several
prolonged interviews with Commissioners Palmer and
Whiting, the Republican members IN relation 70 INC
subject. These consultations extended into late houfs