New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-22
BROOKLYN INVESTIGATIONS.


INQUIRY INTO JUDGE M'CUEs PAST RECORD
A meeting of the Committee of Fifty of
BROOKLYN held at their Tuesday evening
large representation being present The Charter was DIS
cussed at length. and 1t was finally resolved to comm
tho views OF the Committee 10 the Kings County
senators aud Acknowledgment and the President was re-
quested TO ask them 70 confer with the Committee
member stated, for the information OF tie Commit
tee that very Efforts had been made by the
members OF the Ring OF Brooklyn to misrepresent to
Gov. Dix the feeling Of the people or the city ana
county relative the OF Winchester Britton, Dis
trictAttOrncy He stated he had been told by re
sponsibe authority that Park Commissioners. an ex-
Sheriff, and prominent Alderman, had united In mis-
tations which had reached the Governor that
the charges OF this Committee inspired solely by
personal anmosity toward BritOn. Happily, the Gov
ernOr's mind had been dsabused Of this impress
sion but, not content the Ring had sent dele
gates To Albany 20 influence Others and, nnaliy,
benjamin +. Tracy and Judge McCue mad
gone there to talk with the Governor on the subject
He therefore suggested that committee ought to be
appointed to Albany and endedy0r TO set the Gov
right TO the true sentiments OF the people Of
Brooklyn in reference this matter No ono who cir
culaed with the members OF TINS COMMITTEE
do daily, doubted for minute that it was the almost
unanimous feeling of this community that Nr BrlttOh
ought to be removed.
t. T. Backhouse hastily rose, and in an earnest speech
declared that the proposed action not only unwSe
but undnhcd and begged the gentlemen not To enter
tain the proposition He SAID the Committee OF Fifty
had brought their charges In good faith, and more IN
than in anger. They had forced them TO tria
after several yexaous delays and had submitted ali
tho proofs that in their possession The record
OF the trial had been presented to the Governor and
there summed up ana with that the duty Of this Com
mttee had ended lie could look back and declare with
confidence that the Committee had omitted nothing OF
It's duty The evidence of Mr. Brtsons guilt was to his
mind. overwhelming. and he had the utmost
confidence that the Governor would appre-
oate It's strength. That he would decide the
case upon s merits unnfiuenced By any cxtrsneous
OF any political considerations. he had never for
moment doubted He had been teegraphed TO "a few
days ago. by gentleman in Albany urging him TO ~
dnce certain prominent Reformcrs OF Brooklyn 10 visit
the this question. but he had instantly re-
piled by telegraph that mo man should approach the
Governor such subject For his part 10 felt 1t was
ar much the Governor to speak to him upon
tbi, ,se "a It would Judge 10 approach him upon
a case awaiting his decision lie believed Gov DIX IN
tended decide this case upon the evidence anu IN ms
opinion. there was enough to convict hat ho@eh DIS
trirt-Artorneys. -
Tracy AMI Judge Mc1ue had returned from Albany ana
information led him 10 believe they were not a. con
hdent OF Brtton's acquitta when they went there
On motion decided that the subject be laid on
the table and the Committee unanimously oobcurIei
with President Mr.. BdckhJuse, IN the sentiment
that it highly improper 10 approach tnc UoVcfDor
JuDGV Mcrps RECORD.
The secretary of tho Committee read from old copy
of The Edgie a communication from Judge Alexander
McCue introducing column Of figures relative to his
conduct IS Corporation Counsel. and counting inquiry
into his operations. These figures. IL stated, had
been collected by THE TRIBUNE to be used in libel suit
brought against il by Judge McCue but had been OBJ
tanned by Judge McCue and published. They were not
any longer tnc property OF TIT TRIBUNE and certainly
the revelations were not OF exclusive interest TO that
Journal. They Interested every TAXPAYER. aud an |
examination Of the figures would explain in some |
the why Brooklyn taxes were hIgn
Tue speaker had discoyered thar on single day : '
searches OF property for which he was paid 3,U0a
very good days work. Another 'earcher, Francis l.
Daon had Drawn $500 for searches OF property IN the
opening Of Yorkst from James 10 Fulton, distance
Sf O0 9d 100 SO y",d week wke while esrk ore
hud drawn great many thousands OF dollars FOR
searches which ought to have been made by the COrpO
ration Counsel without charge. Somebody mad also
drawn the salaries OF two or three officers as appeared
this record and there was much elise worth inves
tigation II was moved that committee OF four DE dp
pointed TO investigate the subject aud report at an
early day. The committee appointed consisted Of r. H.
ChIttendeu, SIR. Gilbert Mr.. Welles and NJ: Dukes.
THE TRIAL OF sPRAGCE.
Attorney Seneral Pratt u few days ago re-
quested tue Hon. Joshua N. Van Colt conduct the
prosecution OF Cortlandt A. sprague in behalf OF the
state authorities. Spragues counsel, ID. T. Barnard
and ex,Judge Edwin More, in conversation with re
porter protested themselves not at all dismayed
by the array OF talent opposed to them. and
pressed their desire TO have the trial. which Ia set
down for ne 1t Monday in the County Court proceed
without further delay They express the opinion that
the trial Will be Of very short duration probably not
exceeding single day. In event 1t could not be of
nordnate length az both sides had agreed that Mr..
Warren the accountant should be permitted TO testify
IN regard to n single transaction, given days
trje, az q test THIS, IL is claimed, would save
the delay and avoid the inconvenience OF producing
the original records. bfr Barnard said that Mr..
Warren would be permitted to state what the books OF
the Treasurer would disclose. but nc would nor be
allowed 10 give his own conclusions.
1t has been reported for several days that Mr. !0dman
had left the city, aud that no would forfeit his bail hnd
when the time for Mr. Spragues trial should arrive he
would DO absent A TRIBUNE reporter. order 10
,scer ain the truth OF the report called at sIr Rod
mans residence and inquired he was at home
Mir. Ridman himself responded To the call. and was
by reporter whether he had been subpenaed
angry tone and with much yehemenCe: :" I wish the
newspapers would leave me alone II a person gives
the Spapers information thcy d.tOrt IT, and he IL
silent lie msrepresented. decline 10 answer the
question"
ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR BRTTON's PLACE
1t was lately announced that Henry j. Gull |
len. nephew Judge Alexander McCue and at pres
candidate or the DstrctAttorneyship Ia the event OF
Mr.. BrittoR's removal The Republican caucus last |
week divided its recommendations between A. H. Dal-
ley the candidate counted out two year, ago JOhh =
Perry. lately defeated for the Senate by MT Coe ana
John WnsOw, the candidate for supreme court Judge
ship defeated Judge Gilbert ON Iuesudy evening
the National Democracy fixed upon - i Wood COUNSEL
for Rodman. as its candidate Mr. nood was ENGAGED
yesterday Ia asking the support O felotcls IN BROOK
Iyn urging as an argument in his favor that he could
obtain support also OF the RING anu us OWL faction
Of the Democracy The general ~ III brookyn
was understood hat the succession was all that now
occupied the minds of the political managers
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