New-York tribune., 1874-05-05
SPRAGUE'S DEFENSE.
H1s CONFIDENCE IN HIS DEPUTY.

! AND OTHERS.
| The trial of ex-Cty Treasurer COrtandt A.
| Sprague resumed yesterday in the Brooklyn
| Court of Sessions before Judge Moore Every seat
was occupied The witnesses were William Patter-
son. janitor of the Brooklyn Trust Company Jacob
| b. Murray, who testified that he thought that he
borrowed money from the Trust Company and not
| from the city f. J. Lowber. ex-President OF the
Long Island Club Michael Chauncey, ex-Ireasurer
| of the same Club; Surrogate w ID. Veeder; SER
geant Charles Frost Judge Samuel ID. Morris anu
the defendant Sprague himself. The testimony
| given by Sprague attentively listened to by the
| spectators and his appearance the witness-stand
caused hntter of excitement. While he was giving
testimony regarding the property which was trans
ferred TO the city TO the deficiencies the tears
fell from his eyes, and he seemed TO be much al
| fected The crOss-examinatiOn by Judge van Colt
viii be contin ued to-day
| THE PROCEEDINGS.
william Paterson testified that he keeper OF the
Hamilton Building, and had charge OF the offices OF the
/ Trust Company he remembered that about the
day after the disclosures THE TRIBUNE Rodman ae-
companied by named Smith entered the offices OF
the Company between the hours Of and in the even
ing Rodman that they not yet ready for him
80 he went the front office and sat down he saw
! the in the backrOom selecting papers from
spragues desk they placed the papers in bundles and
laughed together they went out smith was formerly
a clerk In the Office.
Jacob b. Murray testified that he was in the grocery
and provision business in Vesey-st., New YORK; had
known sprague for 20 years the check dated Oct a.
1870 had been in his possession before; he went 10
Sprague about that date and asked him 10 obtain loan
for 1850 from the Trust Company; sprague TOOK his
colaterals and obtained the money by the check
sprague had no interest in the loan; he received
printed from the Trust Company, some time after
! ward signed by an I. Rodman, Secretary" asking
pay the loan possible; he believed the
check made payable 70 Sprague's order because
sprague obtained the oan he repaid the loan on Dee
90 giving check for S2532 81 the 80 81 being the
interest on April g. 1871 he again borrowed
5000 from the Trust Company and in due
tmeN again received a printed request from
! the Trust Company repay in his cheek
of repayment for s. 236 &C he made it payable to the
order Of the Trust Company and delivered the check 10
Rodman secretary of the Company on June a. lSI2
again borrowed $1,000 and in this instance applied to
Rodman for the money, giving the usual coateras and
this was repaid by a check for 1904 CO there was
another loan on Sept L. 1872 Of 5000 he called on Rod
for IT, but the latter replied that the Trust Com
pany getting particular, but sprague would lend
his colaterals would be all rght sprague came IN at
that moment and consented, so Rodman gave him the
money; SpTagues coateras on this occasion we're uI-
! ton Bank stock.
! Cross-examined-He had previously borrowed money
from the firm of Milford sprague; had acquaiut-
with Rodman at the date OF the first loan always
I
| pany and so repaid it,
THE RING CIUB's LOAN.
E. J. Lowber, President of Long Island Club.
testified signed the Long Island note about that
time Jan. l, 1871, the Club owed some money to me
ehanic for repairing the clubhouse and he suggested
that loan be obtained from the Trust Company; Rod
man was the of the Club and knew Of the in
ention borrow the money, and SAID that the Trust
Company would discount note II II were properly IN
dOrsed Judge McCue signed the note IN the clpbr0On,
and sprague ndorsed 1t in the Trust Company office
other than the Trust Company tCross-exaIn-
Ded The collateral security $4,000 first mortgage
bonds the Club the Trust Company never demanded
ne cnn i'm I1ne 1870 ana yept abroad he was never a
director III the Trust Company ROdman paid the semi
annual interest the note, Treasurer OF the CLUB
Long Island Club He indOrsed "A the request OF
M. Lowher he succeeded iOdman as Treasurer III NO.
OF Feb d 10 @ 3 Is 6s s eny & eHS m o a. 0a i Pd
amount Jan. u. 1874 10 Rodman. He received a
tee Fan from \. Brewster" TO the note. but
Surrogate Veeder said ne had been acquainted with
sprague for twelve years Ia august lt7l, ~ ie re-
man. He remembered Rldmans asking sprague Tor a
KEY al the Long Island Club. sprtgue asked what ne
wanted to take OF the safe when Rodnan replied
that he did not want 10 take anything Out Out 10 pat
Charles Frost sergeant of the detective force stated
that when he and other members OF the Ponce Depart
n cut were watching Rodmans house, detective named
Leighton, VINO has since dIed, was also watching the
Jude samuel Morris testified that he had known Mr..
Leighton, and Thought very efficient detective
TESTIMONY OF sPRAGCE.
The name Of the defendant Cortandt sprague was
next called sprague walked 10 the witness-stand and
quietly took his seat He had been in the
| hardware business for about % years in New-York
| The mans OF the firm was milford * sprague but
previous that IL Browne & SpragIe. he was IN
the same business IN 1869 when he was elected city
treasurer: his business was a prosperous one he
elected CITY Treasurer IN the Fall Of s6s ana assumed
the duties OF his Office January 1863. The once OF
Cy Treasurer had been in the Nassau Bank but az the
request several persons interested IN the Irht CO
pany determined 70 remove the oihce to thelr 6uld
ing OF these persons We're Nhis DonuslIeu N. l.
Rodman performed the duties Ms deputy before that
! Office was made legal be was not acquainted win
R1dman previous 70 jan l. 1862 Ihe directors OF he
| COMPANY suggested that kOdnan should De appointed
Duputy Treasurer be was not acqualhed Win Do9k-
Keeping had never made an entry IN the Guy Dophs
| nor had he examined the accounts OOoK calleu
Daily Balances was lad on ms desk eyery noInlI,
looking at the balances IN the various
he usually directed winch Oank the warrants shouiu
be drawn he had also signed the receipt books some
times. but the COllectOr only cdlIcu or tne reCoP.s
about once months SO that he signed them al MS
leisure II Rodnan was out OF town the business was
by the clerks in the Trust COMPANY once peIoIe
Rodman became Deputy be did the work without being
paid for it; Trust Company promised to supply hun
with all hire free Of charge on the cOndltloh tha
ne would use their Office for the citys Work III MAY,
1869 the office Of Deputy Treasurer was created rnd nc
| appointed ROdInan most OF Ills private business "as
transacted by ROdnan who had possession OF all hls Sc
cnres and coateras; the Ireasnrers safe contained
an the papers pertaining 20 that Oce ne never IocAed
ar unlocked il his private papers kept an iron
box in the Trust COmpanys safe hodndh kept the KY
sion until after the suspension OF the Trust Com
pany; Rodman came 70 INN after tne suspenslon, m y,
an the Long Island Clubhouse ana asked TOT the Key OF
tine box ana said he wished 10 put something IN the
box After the suspension OF the Trust Company hod-
man came to him very much excited and SAID ne was
sick Qaughter aud wanted TO go away, he couid get
the consent OF Judge McCue. Tue witness spoke OF MS
papers n the pOx, aud Rodman asked nun 70 20 ana eA
| anime Them Toey both went and Rodrnan took out
some papers belonging 10 the witness sister estae
Rodman went away for a days and his return the
witness went 10 the BOX again and found IN number
of second bonds OF the Willmantn Kairoad'
worth about $50 600 He had had little 10 DO Win tat ~
| Wneuh he a