The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-01
BROOKLYN TREASURY FRAUDS,
Fourth Days Proceed ngs in the Trial Of
Cortland A. Sprague.
Marvin I. Rodman Turns States Evidence and
Reveals the Secrets Of the Treasurer's Office
and the BrooklJn Trust Company.

the prosecution. Rodman was also Secretary OF
the Brooklyn Trust Company while acting as
deputy treasurer, and had his once, both secre-
tary and deputy, In the building OF the company
at the corner Of Court and Joralemon streets. 1t
will be remembered that he was called by the
prosecution on Wednesday, but failed to appear
having temporarily absented himself from the
court room; and, pending the search Tor him by the
officers, the Court adjourned until ten O'Clock yes
terday morning. At that time the courr room was
crowded to excess. Nearly every oncial in the
city was present. Rodman was on hand, ready to
testify. The defendant, Sprague, appeared cool
and Indifferent, as usual and occasionally looked
at his former deputy, who endeavored to evade
his gances.
Judge Moore took his seat on the bench shortly
after ten O'Clock and the trial was resumed.
R0DAAN TURNING STATES EVIDENCE.
NJ T. ROdman was then called, and stepped
brtskly to the stand. Every eye was Immediately
directed to him. He appeared somewhat nervous
under this scrutiny, and remained so during the
stand during the balance Of the session. After tes-
Trying to his appointment as deputy by Mr.. Sprague
stated that the receipt books in which the Treas.
urer receipted for moneys received, was kept at
the ONCE as were also the book Of daily receipts
and Treasurer's passbOOks. The Treasurer could
any day, BY looking at these books, tell whether
tho amount deposited equalled the amount re-
Collectors ONCE at haltpast nine O'CLOCK every
morning, and the witness entered them In the Col
lector's receipt book and IN the Treasurer's fund
desk for his Endorsement. The Treasurer would
hand them back to him to be deposited. The Treas
urer ordinarily signed the Collectors receipt book
put IN evidence with another one extending to the
y t ssd ss ss made the
deposits while he was deputy
Mr.: Van Cott-When you made the deposits in
DID THE TICKETS TRULY REPRESENT THE AMOUNTS
Mr.. Barnard objected aoI but the cour. admitted
the question. Exception.
The witness said the tickets represented the
true amounts The amounts were entered to the
October, 1871, Mr.. sprague is credited with si1,-
e67 50; before that his credit on the &C
the slst there would not -. have been n
enough to have drawn two checks for the
Sn ss 1a cn ae me
the account was oysrdrawn $50 q; the deposit
Mr.. Van Cott-What money was that deposited
ton After they get in the exact thing that was
done the prosecution have no right to Induce the
witness to gys MS as, conclusions Ss
money. he was inquir1ng about the transactions
OF october 81, 1871 when the account was snort
shortness, transferred to Sprague's account and
drawn BY him In lew days.
The question was admitted, and witness said:-
amount was passed to Mr.. Sprague's private ac-
count ~ the Trust Company by Sprague's dtrec-
ss sS as ss ii ss %sa s
wanted that amount placed to his credit so he
could draw on Il; on November Mr.. sprague was
at the Treasurers Office as shown by the receipt
book; made ont the ticket OF deposit tnat day for
$S,iSS "a; 1t was part Of money received from the
was part or whole OF the days receipts; depos-
tied the money to the credit Of Sprague in the
Trust Company at his request.
o. what conversation occurreds A. He said his
account was short and ne wished to meet two calls
OF the Jefferson Oar company Mr. sprague was at
t$S,99O) that day 10 credit OF Sprague in Trust
Company ;tt was the cashiers check from Nassau
Q. was it payable to order Of Mr.. Spraguei A.
MI. Kernan-I object. It was payable to order
OF Sprague or Rodman. That was shown yester-
Excluded.
The witness continued:-I deposited 1t at his re.
quest
dated October g. ISL, for ,s0S was shown wit.
ness.) l cannot tell without more data what the
OF the ONCE OF that date show the receipts OF that
day to have been $l3,Sl2 "a and the deposits
ss,sl7 81 ana the deficiency s4,ssS. according 70
quest gave him the check for the amount on the
amount could be paid in the Trust Company; he
wanted me to take the money from the city
funds ana withheld II on the 10Th Of October
check drawn On the, eth ~ deducting s4,ssS
pany and crediting the city with that check sent
less the amount named; the ticket OF deposit dated
IL was = ~ ~ S tie
Nassau Bank to order Of 9. a. sprague dated No.
Sprague's private account IN the Trust Company,
but was loan; 1t was given at his request to pay
S R ssns the Is paid
amount on the ticket OF deposit OF November H.
1870; there was not money enough to pay for the
q. How did Mr.. sprague propose to repay the
Trust Company.
A. He said,
"YoU CAN FIX IT.
There isn't money enough to-day, but on the first
opportunity uni wnen there Is enough take 1t up out
The check shown witness dated October IA, 1870,
spragae and j. 5. Murray, According to hi his Tecol.
lection, represented money taken from city funds
Mr. Sprague said It was for his friend Mr. Murray
which Mr.. Sprague said he afterwards received COL
laterals IN the shape OF receipts Tor wnskey, stored
in Kentucky BY Mr. Murray; the deposits Of city
short s., 500; the $500 was given to Mr.. sprague
IN this check; Mr.. Sprague held the whiskey col
lateralSi the Trust COmpany'S check shown me for
and indorsed BY Sprague and J. B. Murray, IL the
exact amount Of shortness OF deposit Of city
moneys OF April 8, 1871; 1t represents precisely
similar transaction with the foregoing; the Trust
Company check Of June ~ 1872, for 5000. payable
Is the Of q the
short IN the deposit OF city money that day paid the
Trust Company Tor this check; the check dated
December 1871, for g. Ola OF the Trust Company
Nassau Bank, to order OF Harry Beam, was given
for BROOKLYN Building stock; the deficiency OF
the $14 10 cash and the check for $4,000 given by
order OF Mr.. Sprague; there was deposit OF
200 to the credit OF the Long Island Club IN the
1ciency Of deposit OF city moneys that date was
$1,000; the note was taken for 1t and the amount
the club; It was Deposited with MT Sprague's
knowledge: Witness identified the $4,000 note
and the endorsement a. Mr.. Sprague's.) The note
laterals: In the three sums have stated we're de-
posted to The credit OF MIR. Sprague and paid out
fnrt pa IA tW@ ~