New-York tribune., 1874-04-25
THE NEWARK RING.

CITY OFFICERS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO DE-
FRAUD THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DAY OF THg
TRIAL
In the Over and Terminer Court, Newark,
N. j., before Judges Depue, Ellsworth Harrison. Con-
dit and Ricord, the present week has been occupied
the trial OF indictments found by the last Grand Jury Of
Essex County against several city officers. who charged
with conspiracy TO defraud the city. The indictments
found were against Alderman william Stainsby Chair
Of the Committee Streets Of the Common COun-
ell Thomas O'COnnor, contractor Michael and Bernard
NJ Stanley sub-conraetors Messrs. Peter r. Rogers
and Favel W sullivan Street Commissioners
Chief OF Police and Mesrs. Valentine Bechler and
william Dyckes inspectors. The charges from al.
legged improper done spriugied-aye. The case
attracts much attention Newark for aside from thu
high standing Of the defendants, It Is alleged that we'll
defined plan has been discovered By which tho city
to be defrauded OF 100000, By the presentation to
the Common Council OF false certificates 10 thu
amount and character OF the work done in the
named. The history OF the case Is as follows
On July Z, 1872 the Common Council passed ordi
nance providing for the paving OF Sprin ghcdaye with
the Teord pavement. The specifications provided the
manner in which this work was TO be done, among
that the pavement should he 10 inches in depth
IL is admitted that to the Spring OF 1919 when the work
had reached Lttleton.ave, properly done. but
from that point the city line exactly TO the contrary
Between these latter points, it is alleged, tho depth
varies from inches. and hardly onehaf the
teria and labor expended that should have been.
yet full estimates paid IL is alleged OF Sroot
Commissioners Rogers and Sullivan and Inspectors
Bechte and Dyckes that they were cognizant Of tho
manner in which the work was done, YET took no
steps to prevent IT, the former continuing to sign tho
monthly estimates their official capacities II Is also
Of Alderman Stainsby that though repeatedly in
formed in which the work being done.
he tried to convince propertyowners to the contrary.
and his capacity Chairman VI the Committee on
Streets majority Of the members OF that Com
mttoe to sign resolutions appropratng for tho
work, and upon this recommendation estimates Wero
passed paying SI2 900 to the contractors when
100000 would have met every contingency. Further IN
dictments found by the Grand Jury against Alder
man Sainsby and JOS. Il. Young Commissioners OF As
sessment In the matter of the opening of South Four
teenth-st charging them with misconduct IN Office.
separately and conJointy. The indictment charges Al
derman stansby with purchasing lot on the line OF this
proposed improvement for $780, and receiving an award
Of ST. portion OF the property was taken by
the city alleged OF Young that he brought about
this and OF all transactions accompanying II.
yet neglected to inform his co-Commissioners that the
award Of portion OF the land In excess OF
the amount paid for the whole.
At the opening OF the Court Tuesday last Col. @.
~ Abeel County Prosecutor, and Attorney.Genorai
Robert Gichrt appeared for prosecution. and the
Hon. Cortandt Packer for the defendants. Motion was
made to quaSh the indictments. and was argued at
length Judge Depue reserved his decision W Lhe gay
following and then denied it, The Court held that Tao
ollense Was clearly made out the allegations of CON
spracy well defined and the charge of obtaining goods
under false preenses good The defense admitted the
respective positions Of the defendants ana the payment
of the estimates. Paul Buchanan, President OF the
Springfield Avenue Railroad, testified TO having seen
Alderman Sansby, Messrs. Rogers. Sullivan ana others
nften Looking at the work. and that he complained TO,
the Inspector OF the In which 1t was DONE ana
received for reply that it was none oi MS Dlslnoss
He owned considerable property along the avenue ana
was assessed for Improvement. He held contract
the grading, subject 10 OCOnnors orders Inele
was verbal agreement that the grading TO be low
enough
road-bed, several tunes OCOnnOr had ordered MS
At this point specimens of the pavement were shown
the jury varying in thickness from 81 to II inches Inc
testimony OF Alderman Eli III. Reynolds and exAder-
L. III. Armstrong, both members or the street Com
mtee the effect that it was the custom on the
Street Committee 10 sign estimates without very Gloss
scrutiny, the Committee looking 70 the street Commits
In which being done. for all reports the
matter. When they made no complaints 1t was taken
Chairman OF the Committee was not necessarily ex-
pected TO take supervision Of the work.
A number OF witnesses examined yesterday, but
little evidence was adduced George W. Cross who
was the stand when the court aaJourned on Thurs
day, was called He testified to complaining to in-
spector Bechtel that dirt being put on the pave
men Bechte told him that t was done by order o tno
man Stainsby, who answered that the pavement was
good enough The witness said that he measured The OK
cavatons before the pavement was aid and found IL
only inches deep. In other places measured from
nine TO furtoen inches ami place sixteen inches
Charles Rayners, Superintendent OF the springfield
and Irvington Railroad Company stated that no sa.
dirt dumped on the layer stones, and he told
Inspector Becher that It not right Bechler re-
marked that 1t did not make difference as the prop
erty owners would have TO pay anyway He also SAID
that the city hired him. but the contractors would pay
him. Alderman Trsudt testified that while the
pavement being laid he received COM
plants from citizens that dirt being
mixed with the second layer or stones on tho
avenue he told StansOy because that gentleman was
chairman OF the Street Committee. and therefore, the
proper one. he thought, TO make complaint 70; Mr.
Stainsby said he would tell the street Commissioner rs
similar plants had been made TO him. saw StainsDy
the street Commissioner OCOnnOr, and Bechler on tho
avenue while it being paved refused 10 sign OCon-
nors final estimate for work on the avenue because
OConnors foreman told him something about no" inc
work done; signed it aferward because hc under
stood another tnal estimate was 10 be made.
The Attorney General moved that the jury examine
Sprin that the pavement be opened Tor
their inspection The defendants counsel opposed the
movement and 10 abandoned, the plea beAg that IL
had already been thoroughly examined.
Tue trial will De continued this morning.