The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-23
THE NEWARK ring TRIALS.
Judge Depue Denies the Motion
to Quash.
Opening Of tho Cases-Unrsvelling she Spring.
field Avenue Conspiracy-Five Officials and
Three Contractors on Trial at Once.

Three Contractors on Trial at Once.
The cases OF the Newark city officials and con.
tractors charged with piundering the city were
commenced in the ESSEX county Oyer and Termi-
ner yesterday. The public interest manifested was
greater than on the preceding day. and this was
heightened when the fact was noised abroad thas
the Court had denied the motion to quash the In
dicrment In the Springfield avenue pavement con-
spiracy case. Throughout the proceedings the spa
ci0us court room was crowded with people
OF class not ordinarily seen In court
auditorums. As on the feast day. the city govern
ment was most literally represented. Besides the
indicted oficials there were present many others,
including "Boss'' Dawes. City Treasurer 6tour.
City Clerk Gi.en. City Surveyor Lchlbach. Alder
men Durand, Pennington. Quincy, Armssrongs
Malone and Others. Judge Depue presided, With .
full bench. The greatest attention was manifested
In the proceedings. Boss Sta,nsby looked rsther
detected and was supported In the rear by hts
venerable father, who holds some snug sinocure in
the New York Custom House. 'Joe" Young made
desperate efforts TO impress everybody with tho
idea that he didn't care tinkers commission for
the charges against HIM, while ex-Street Commas
soner Rogers wore an unusually grim and suriy
expression. The proceedings opened with
THE JUDGES DECISION
III Tue argument 10 quasn the lnOlCCueut lOr COus
spracy against Alderman William Stainsby, ex-
Street Commissioner Peter i. Rogers, Street Com
missioner Flavel W. Sullivan aud Inspectors Will
liam Dykes and Valentine Bechler, and Contractors
Thomas OConnor. Michael Shandley and Bernard
M. Shand!ey. He denied the motion holding that
the Indictment was sound. The trial then pro-
ceeded, Attorney General Gichrist announcing to
the Court in reply to suggestion that he was
prepared to give his entire attention to the cases
ON hand. The impaneiing OF jury took up con-
siderable time, b0tn sides used their privilege to
challenge freely
THE JURY FINALLY SELECTED
was as follows :--Joseph N. Daley, Walter s. Free.
man, Adam Turks, Charles W. Badger, John
Fisher, William Hoagland, Thomas Farley. August
Linder. Ehakans A. Cooper, r Ichabod Williams,
Thomas O. Woodruff, George Ougneltree and John
w. Hacock
well known lawyer, q lookef-on of the proceed.
ings, made o remark IN 'Boss" Stainsbys hearing
about the defence delaying tho case by so much
challenging which so lrrttated the ''Bosss
that he turned sharply and asked, "Do you want
to have US all convicteds, Alter few words ad.
dressed to the jury by Judge Depue cautloning
them Of the great Importance Of the case and their
duty to listen carefully to the evidence and be
partially governed accordingly,
THE PROSECUTION OPENED
by Colonel Abeel for the State, who said IL was the
hrst time men holding high positions OF public
trust had been arraigned for criminal mtsc0nducr
in Essex county. Most OF the frauds charged
against the officials had reference to street I'M
provements, which offered many opportunities for
men to compine for fraudulent purpose. he said
consideration might not have received share OF
the fraudulent proas but contractors may have Sc
cured Tor them the consideration OF votes. 1t was
clear to all tnat there was SOME consideration. No
eight men could do what these men were charged
some kind TO deraud the city. The prosecutors
then reclted the facts in the indictment. ON Sep
to pave Springfield avenue with nford pavement.
The contract also included the two Shaneys. IL
na sfs All e @ se
4 work was begun IL was said 1t was done we'll, but
SIX AZ WAS done 50 Dad ss 70
some places 1t was only TOUR inches deep. Tho
prosecution would show, the Colonel said, that NOT
and yet the Job cost siai. Inspectors were
appointed by the city to see that the work was
reason %hy they 'ns aea to noy the
proper authorities that the Work was beng
/ PAID TO KEEP QUIET.
He then went on to show the completely Of
Rogess and sullivan and ssainsby, SAYING that the
Comrittee, ne took deep interest in the matter,
to slow that all Of the parties were acting In .
con.non design to delraud the city. 1T was not
splred in one room Of the City Hail to delraud the
city. II we SHOW by good proof that they were
acting together " IS all We require, ana you must
ind verdict Of guilty"
The first witness called WIS City HALL supernu-
merary named Tnonas w. seaman, who was wanted
to prove the genuneness OF the contract. It was
admitted that Seaman was dismissed. Boss Dawes,
the auditor, swOre to the signatures OF the ociala
on the estimates DC, and the figures in them, &c.
Mr.. Paul Buchanan, President OF the springfield
Avenue Horse Car Company, and long himself In
the contracting BUSINESS was called. He testified
| to seeing Stalnsby repeatedly on the avenue In
| specttng the work, as also Rogers and Sullivan.
BechteI, OF the inspectors, seen by the wit
ness often sleeping IN the cars, also
PLAYING CARDS AND DRINKING
Instead OF being at his work. His attention was
called to the TACT that where ne stone ought be
| laid there was dumped In one-tnlrd dirt. On call
ing Bechtel's attention to this the latter told him
| to mind his own business; that he was IAN old
hog and blower anyhow" Witness complained
| about this abuse to young Stanley, and Stanley
said, THAT'S right, Paul; give him hell, Pau" Mr..
Buchanan destined that he was one OF q committee
appointed BY the citizens to investigate the inn
pr0vement He examined 1t carefully in dozen
places or more along the line, and found the aver
age deposit from nine and half to fourteen inches.
Alderman Trandt at nrst thought the charges OF
] improper work were wrong, out on examinatt ton
he admitted they were right. Towards the close
OF his examination some remark OF counsel for the
/ defence to the effect that Buchanan mad some axe
to grind, nettled Paul so that he caused bit OF
| sensation by retorting that no might tell more
about the matter than he meant Counsel on both
| sides prlcked up their ears and the prosecution
A~an - Ns1t hn Nnu1Ht