The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-05
BROOKLYN TREASURY FRAUDS.
The Trial OF Cortland
A. Sprague.
The Defendant Testifying in His
Own Behalf.

The Defendant Testifying in His
Own Behalf
| The trial OF ex-Uity Treasurer Cortland A.
| Sprague was continued yesterday morning In the
Brooklyn Court Of Sessions. The crowd in attend
ance was greater, II possible, than on any OF the
previous days Of the trial. and an Increased In
terest was manifested IN the case. Mr.. Sprague
was In attendance before the proceedings opened,
and his counsel, Messrs. Francis Herman aud D. p.
Barnard, soon followed him. Mr.. Joshua NJ Van Colt
appeared Ior the prosecution, District Attorney
Rodman having withdrawn from the case last
week in consequence Of illness. Mr. Rodman.
however, was present few hours In the earlier
part Of the day, but did participate in the pro-
ceedings sA4E
The prosecution having rested their case on Fri
day, and Mr.. Barnard having opened the case for
the defence, yesterday devoted to the intro
duction Of testimony on behalf OF Mr.. sprague.
Mr. sPRAGUE ON THE STAND
Mr.. Sprague was called 10 the stand and
settled himself for pr0tracted examination. He
gave his testimony In o straightforward manner
and with GOODNESS that surprised many OF the
spectators. The direct examination was con-
Quoted by Mr.. Barnard, and in the opening part
had been In the hardware business for TWEEN ty-hve
years, principally In New YORK. The present nrm
Of Milford b Sprague was formed In 1859. and the
business was prosperous His term OF ONCE as
City Treasurer commenced on January l, 1859,
previous to which time the business ofthe Treasurer
was transacted In the Nassau Bank. He deter
mined to transact 1t thereafter at the Trust Com
pany's once, the directors OF the company having
sc MIN to DO Some q the
before he was elected and the appointment or
Rodman as Deputy Treasurer was suggested by
the directors, who employed him as secretary
ss'.s ~ I S 100. y0S asy
a1sw the bank R sna dom!
in 81 the ooiscsos called for
II n @a ns 81 Sa NJ Ps IL s dH
cspdsa 70 ne duties G1 before
srss The
clerks OF the Trust Company; was to pay nothing
| RopxAN TRANSACTED NJ PRIVATE BUSINESS;
safe was the back Once Of the Trust Company; i
IS e
ne
Ssr Rod%an calling 70. the key In tns Long Island
;o q a ss out % q the h he b:
Ssur o s .y nd r Ssn S
sion the Company Rodmsn came 70 me very much
me- Il Scs
looked sick he said he wculi get Judge McCues per-
e S ss es s, aSd h
ss fSs''asas 'sns
Mr. to s sc q ns 81 s
iniorse railroad note which afterwards went 70
tas CANCELLED checks and book. II desk but could
been ny order WIN ny SaoysSss: NY NY
y
drawn to my order on the NASSAU Bank was given for
sa ss sass the
Q. DID you request him TO
po.,.,vo, TAXI a = From rs3 TEE orr1 ruSDs'
pd yoe ever d - r nSs him, No sir
T. lad eoissss.s enough raise money none, On
sss,sa lin :ss; Ss; Be maze sopd y
E0d%a %aae s good BY rers city
.. BID You Know that he day after tn. check was
W hs ia ys A., q AZ
long Time after the Of the trust Company: the
% NJ sss Ss os S
ne TSSa
do not remember telling MIN to ok 1T" gave him
3 e. s s1s: 81
|
ss fS @ safo jacob fs
j az is. ' SSnSssS a!Sssss
n Nap xDr no .T na Est T y THE
s1Ssi g,
no Interest it, habit Of going to New York
in h S a s ss Gl Il h aa
and others; undersood that the loan was from the
Ssn in the mat
g DID you cb know that that the money tina; vent e
not; !. did not tell Rodman. in any language
'ss out % q The sfss sSs S S:
ee a nc a es
me- 0r Il s r s easw e the Long Island
g esshed y city p eSs;if nm
e. SSa n % 70 e us he s on
& MOI dd not know s nsa On the 10th Of yanusy
iii after the suspension Of the Trust company sue
ceeded Mr. Lowber as President of the club during the
Mr. aoDxAN NEVER OF THE NOTE
sSs.ssa M
box s@oSs sscur.iss thought III nS was
Chimney told that Re lad som%anlcaton from
IN M or Il n
ne sSn sns SH % he
5Sds IL. an nea S.S enas
not go away / handed il to him. when Rodmsn re- re-.
hs n 20 osns ss mt
Mr.. McCue wished to get paper from Mrs. Rod,
McCpe, advised me to send for them dd 50. and got
sas RGis Sr s
three Williamantc hrst mortgage bonds, the
which could be found on Trust cSmpsnys note turned
for 81 ~ So drawn by Trust Company Nassau Bank
TO order Of O. A. sprague, dated February Is 1871 and
Der ne circumstances regardng this check suppose
asked kodman for this money he had ut that time colat
erals belonging to me- which the money could have
been raised did not know that the money TO be
raiscd out Of city funds did not know
CITY FUNDS WERE SHORT
S24y -; did not tell R0dman to take the money;
heard that city funds short that day till after the