The New York herald., 1874-05-23
CHARITIES AyD CORRECTION.
Mayor Havemeyer's Investigation
Of the Correction Bureau.
How Money Il Made Gut Of Public
Departments.

departments.
The adjourned Investigation IN the cases OF Com
missioners Stern and La,mbeer was continued
yesterday, at the Bureau OF Charities and Correc-
tion corner OF Third avenue and Eleventh street.
There were present Mayor Havemeyer who
seemed unusually wakeful; Warden Quinn, Com
mssloners Laimbeer and Stern, the new
private secretary Of the Mayor VINO speaks
German; Mr.. Flagler. who Is an en-
ploye OF the Charity Department; a short
hand reporter, who was specially engaged, for the
purpose Of taking notes OF the Investigation"
by Messrs Stern and Latmbeer together with
seven newspaper reporters. The investigation
had little more interest than BEFORE as the
HERALD's exposures had TO some extent mod
Grated the tone OF one Commissioner aud had
shown necessity for pretence OF examination.
at least. Consequently, several questions were
asked by the Mayor VINO has stated that the APP
pointment OF Myer Stern was the best he has ever
made. But practically the investigation was con-
ducted by Mr.. Stern on himself as only those wit
nesses were called who were for the defence, and
the investigation was closed by Mr. Stern, who
summed up for himself In very enthusiastic
manner.
The time OF the Mayor was chiefly taken up in
allowing the Commissioners 10 investigate the life
and character OF man named Lamson. who was
at one time the purchasing agent OF the Board.
Mr. Laimbeer stated that his only reason for voting
for the dismissal OF said Lamson was because hc
had been drunk during business hours. Toward
the close OF the examination, however. Mr. Lain
beer asked that the reporters should exclude the
word "drunk" from their reports and substitute
Intoxicated"
Mr.. Stern also stated that some Of the newspae
pers had oeen slightly mistaken in regard to the
rnl at n nsh Of and Mr. npap vhp
he stated to be the brother OF his tStern's sonin-
law. Mr.. Sternbach was examined. is having been
concluded yesterday morning At ten O'Clock that
1t would be polite measure to bring him into
Court for all concerned He admitted that he had
purchased cloth at thirty cents yard and sold 1t
lor !orty-nve celts yard to the Commissioners OF
The Investigation was adjourned suddenly. to
meet again al the call OF the Mayor who informed
wnen the investigation would oe resumed. rne
evidence IS IN substance as iolows:-
Thomas X. Fletcher testlded that ne was dry
goods merchant IN this city; recollected being In
this onice last september and examining certain
samples IN company with Mr.. Stern; Mr. stern
asked his opinion or several pieces OF goods show
ing piece OF cloth, bought for forty1ve cents the
department. having previously paid over 81 tor the
same KIND; II was at Alderman Falconer's sugges-
ton that he visited the department. Ghe witness
testified that a sample OF nannel shown him at
per or was fifteen per cent better than tnar
previously bought Tor nity.hve cents.
E. Fagler. the general st0rekeeper OF the de.
partment, was then examined in reference TO the
goods purchased by the department He testified
to the correctness OF the bills and accounts OF
department, which were submitted by Mr.. Stern,
who asked that the Mayor place them before the
Commissioners OF Accounts for further examina.
1872, 10 May l. 1873, amounted to $50, $50 IS, OF
which s45,eos % was paid 10 Tent. Griswold Co..
Der OF other firms; from May 1878 to May l. 1874.
the expenditures for dry goods were $4S SO; the
there was "a large decrease in the 1a amount of
goods purchased as compared with the previous
ys. the rCs per Sen,age garments manua
| April 1878, Whitley brown thread had been pur-
chased from Telt, Griswold 4 Co. at 81 IS per
pound and that In May the same quality OF thread
was purchased from Sternbach h Co. at 81 per
pound. two and half per cents on. Other ev-
then shown by Mr.. stern on Mr.. Flager's corro-
boration, that Mr.. Stern mad personally purchased
o. Lamson having previously paia s. tx ts per per
dozen lor hats OF the same kind. These and some
said, that he had ever personally made
Joseph Keen Warden OF the Workhouse, was ex-
amned ~ oy y the Mayor a as 70 the manner IL which
| Clothed. The experience OF the last year was ~
favorable as that OF any previous year, but NOS
better; during the past year l5S,755 prisoners
passed through the Workh0use, which, as Mr.. stern
SAID, Is great revolving machine.
Marshall Bought, warden OF tue Amshouse res.
titled as to the manner OF making the clothes OF
the prisoners, and exhibited two suits-one new.
the other alter u had been worn seven months and
Mr.. Stern stated that, under the old regime,
n L
ter wearing as well and beng OF good quality a.
the former.
Mayor Havemeyer was then asked II he wished
10 examine Sternbach the man from whom tho
clotn and flannel In question was purchased. He
answered that II Sternoach acted as the purchas-
ing agent o. the Department, and as such bought
the cloth at thirty cents charging the Department.
f0rty-nve cents. there was wrong-doing: but II
Sternbach sold the goods as q merchant compet-
Iaisc. -
Mr.. Stern answered that sternbacn had never
- Rna ard nut tnos
the cloth was bought from him by the Board in
stead Of by the purchasing agent; the cloth was
Sternpach as merchant, was able to purchase
the goods at thirty cents and sell 1t at orty-nve
cents. making fair profit, and yet furnishing the
transaction.
Mr.. Laimbeer made similar remarks. and the
Mayor stated that lie did not desire TO examine
Mi. sternbach.
Alter short but animated general defence OF
the Board by Mr. Laimpeer and brIef consulta-
tion between Mayor Havemeyer ana Mr. stern,
Sternbach was summoned as witness. His testi-
mony was simply account OF the business trans
action OF his selling the goods to the department.
on sample, with price anxed; he bought the
goods for cash at thirtynve cents, and sold It Tor
lortyn nve cents to the department.
Mr.. Laimbeer. 10 answer to Mr.. stern, in refer
ence to the cause OF Lamson's dismissal said that
ne mad frequently observed Lamson to be under
the influence OF liquor during business hours:
mad II not peen or TINS ne would not have voted
There being no desire on the part Of the Mayor
TO proiong the inyestIgation, Commissioner stern
garry had been prompted by partisan Feelings on
the part OF certain persons, who endeavored to
have the Department investigated by resolution
introduced before the Legislature II failed, and
these parties then SAID they would get it through
the District Attorneys ONCE. Tne District Atror-
ney was too sharp TO be imposed upon. bue the
Grand Jury was imposed upon, and, no doubt.
ment.
E. II. Bradley, clerk In the Supply Department.
was aiterward called and testined that he had
known Lamson TO have in his possession q men,
0randum book. In which were recorded purchases
OF goods from various firms. over against each
purchase was . percentage mark OF four or I'VE
per cent.
The investigation then adjourned, subject to the
call OF the Mayor.
PILGRIMS IN BATTLE,
Turkish Troops Quiet . Riot at the Holv