The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-21
"CHARITY and CORRECTION. I"
Mayor Havemeyer Makes an Effort to
Investigate Commissions.
STERN AND LAIMBEER.
However-How Much Was Paid
for Convicts' Shoddy.

Yesterday afternoon at four O'Clock. the investi.
CATION into the alleged charges OF fraud and corrup-
ton presented before the Grand Jury against Com
missioners Laimbeer and Myer Stern, OF the Board
OF Charities and Correction, was held by Mayor
Havemeyer in small room OF the Charity Building,
corner OF Eleventh street and Third avenue. For
some reason or another not given Mayor
Havemeyer mad associated with him Mr..
Jonathan Sturges, well known merchant
OF this city, and the examination OF tho
accused was conducted by this latter
gentleman soleys as the Mayor never asked ono
question during session Of over three hours For
over half an hour the representatives OF the DIFF
ierent newspapers were refused admission; but
finally, at the request OF Mr.. LaimDeer, President
OF the Board of Charities and Correction they
admitted to the so-called investigation. There
were present In the room Mayor Havemeyer, Mr..
Jonathan Sturges, Commissioners Bowen Lain
beer and Stern; . Mr. F1agler, VINO holds
q position in the department. and was
present to take notes for the accused,
and seven reporters Three witnesses. who
have already appeared and testified before the
Grand Jury as to the charges made against Com
missioners Laimbeer and Stern, were In their turn
examined by the accused. These three witnesses
were Commissioner Bowen, Francis A. Shaw, AS
sstant Auditor IN the Comptroller's ONCE, and
specially detailed TO examine goods purchased for
the OF the Department OF Charities and Cor
rection, ana william P. Lamson, formerly purchas-
ing agent Of the old Board who was appointed BY
General Bowen, and who was superseded
by . man named Goodkind, who is an APP
pointment OF Commissioner Stern. Messrs.
Stern and Laimbeer were both furnished by
the District Attorney with copies of the charges
against them. the presentment Of the Grand Jury
and the evidence taken before that body. the
Mayor swore the witnesses separately, and each
witness was admitted alone into the room at tho
discretion Of the two gentlemen who have been
presented under the name OF "John Doe'' TO tho
Grand Jury. Mr.. sturges cond ucted the examine.
then Commissioner Stern, who showed great
heat and excitement took up the examinetion
with little assistance from Mr.. Laimbeer. who
asked question occasionally. The evidence OF
sequence. To question or Mr.. Sturges. General
Bowen answered that he had protested against
without the consent Of all the Board remembered
that Mr.. Stern had purchased lot OF straw hats az
not tell ii the hats had been purchased 1t nifty
cents which they purchased on former occasion
heard Commissioner stern state that It was impos-
sible for one house to have all the different kinds
OF goods required by the Board; when witness had
asserted that prices paid Tor goods were too high,
he had got his information from Tefrs, Griswold 5
Co. and A. 7. Stewart Il Co.
Mr.. Stern here read resolution which he had
offered In said Board May so, 1873 making i com-
pulsory to have proposals advertised in the Cttv
Record for all supplies amounting to and exceeding
Mr.. Laimbeer desired to ask General Bowen II
Resrs any GSoas oesn y
sented by the purchasing agent to the Board
Commissioner s Bowen! know nothing Of the
Commissioner LAIHBEER-I happen to know ttax.
ing on his glasses and looking at General Bowenl-
Commissioner Bowen to Mr.. Sturges-The Comp.
owing 70 the sxorbitant prices charged.
1 To Nan 0v1toc tnr Lot an
this item or cloth, which has caused the Board to
be presented oy the Grand Jury, that this Lamson
to 81 TO- and that afterwaras NJ Stern
samples OF as good nature at forty-nve cents and
Seen tser price s0S S1 Nd
Lamson. the former purchasing agent; had
Joint action OF the Board; on one occasion ~ had
found pile OF bills on his table and had signed
them, smong which was bill for goods purchased
audited a bill for 500 blankets on December along
with Mr.. stern; Mr.. Laimbeer was absent then.
To Mr. Sturgess-I did not refuse to sign or
audit bills because suspected Mr.. Stern Of any
lieved that to sign bills " goods purchased
Dy one member was q very dangerous
Board Of Charities and Correction and am saii
OF that opinion. II should buy hour, Mr.. Stern
pendent OF each other, think 1t would be q very
bad thing
Here there was quite heated passage between
lie
his hat and leaving the room to go home.
The next witness Mr.. Francis A. Shaw q
very closely buttoned up gentleman, who looked
as II he might have served IN the Lie Guards az
some time. He had examined some OF the sam
pies OF cloth furnished to the Department bv Mr..
stern, and, on making inquiries at stores in
Church and Worth streets, had found that cloth
equally good might be obtained cheaper than the
prices given by MIR. stern or as they appeared on
the bills sent to The C0mptrollers once, in which
he was Assistant Auditor; had been in the linen
and hose trade In the old country, The witness
was severely cross-examined by Mr.. Stern and dld
not profess TO have any great knowledge OF the
dry goods or linen trade; knew that he could buy
, the same kind OF cloth five cents yard cheaper
than 1t was charged upon the lace OF the bills
quired to be audited
The next witness examined was Mr.. William p.
Lamson, formerly purchasing agent OF the old
Board, who had been removed by the new men,
bers. His examination was conducted Tor three
quarters OF an hour by Commissioner stern, who
shouted at the witness and confused him good
woke up after long and comfortable sleep, and
smiled benignly ut Stern. The latter gentleman
sought to prove that Lamson had been guilty OF re-
ceiving certain commissions on purchases
made by him for the old Board, but this
was stouty denied by the Witness who WAS
astonished to find himself being investigated and
charged with corrupt practices when he had been
testiiying before the Grand Jury TO the same pur-
port against the two Commissioners. He was com.
PEELED to admit, however, that he had bought
goods principally from the house OF Tefts Griswold
4 Co. and bought crash and carpet from A. T.
Stewart Co. Commissioner Stern repeatedly
asserted that Lamsons memory was bad, and sew
era times II was believed that the excited Com.
missioner would use personal violence toward the
witness. me investigation ~ was finally adj
tourned until tomorrow !triday) at half past three
O'Clock by his Honor the Mayor.