The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-30

No, some trme past rumors have beenaooat TO
a., o,,o,,t ina, there was trouble IN the Board OF
po,.o Various reasons had been assigned for
ar. want nj harmony among the Commissioners,
ma, notbnc was really Known OF the matter outsiae
,,e Koara itself HINTS were thrown out from GER
tain onarters that there was "a ring' IN the Board,
and wise eyes winked at the suggestion that the
adherence was IN that direction. Long and solemn
heads nodded al the Indication OF patronage, and
.aui Loat II was there the difnculty arose. The
,aees IN the bestowal of the Commissioners, 1t
Vas thought were dealt out to the friends OF a few
and others left completely out I'm the cold"
II thai were really the case, OF course
those VINO insisted on the existence OF q
s.ringu were correct. During This speculation 1t
BEGAN TO be lately understood that the cause OF
the annoyance was the receipt OF anonymous
letters containing grave charges against specified
members OF the Board by Comptroller Green and
Mayor Havemeyer. From the tenor OF these com
municapons and the strong feeling they
exhibited IL was Immediately suspected
they were either the direct work OF one
Of the COMMISSIONERS at least sent In his inter-
est ana al his desire. The first, received by Comp
tye4ler Green, and by him handed TO the Mayor,
WAS referred TO the Board OF Police and an lnvfstl-
CATION was instituted. From some circumstance
not made public the authorship OF the correspond
ence was attributed TO Commissioner Russell
commirtee composed OF President smith and
Commissioners Gardner and Duryee, was ap-
Oo,pted To look into the matter, and
this committee sci about finding genuine
speelmep of Commissioner Russers writing for
comparison. A letter was written by this gentle-
mar TO Commissioner Laimbeer, resident Commits
sioner Of The Charities and Correction and ne was
applied TO Tor the communication. Mr.. Lalmbeer,
wishing 10 throw what light he could upon the
matter, transferred the document he received
from Mr. Russell 10 the committee In justice 20
Mr. Russel the committee informed MIN OI
WHAT WAS GOING FORWARD,
and be wrote letter to the Mayor denying the
authorship OF the offensive epistles. The commit
Tee applied to the Mavor Tor this letter; ne gave 1t
10 them. and the entire correspondence was then
OF some days the committee received the report
OF the expert. He gave II as his opinion that all
the letters were written by the same person and
The committee, after careful study OIL the corre-
spOndence, arrived at the same opinion. MIR. Rus
sel was notified OF tins and heard before the COM
mIttee in explanation. A report was made to the
Board that the investigation was concluded, that
the committee were convinced that all the letters
were written by one and the same person.
Hel, member VI the Board OF Police.
Al meeting OF the full Board the
whole matter was put into the hands OF MI COM
missioner Charick who had copies made OF the
letters In compliance with the wishes OF the
Board the originals were sent to the Mayor Tor ms
action, and copies are now being made Tor trans
MISSION to Governor Dix.
The following are copies OF the letters sent to
Comptroller Green and Commissioner Laimoeer =
NEW YoRx, Dec. 4 lHa
AsnREw Il. GREEN, Comptroller:
dean SIR-Havmg unDounded confidence in yonr in
pies entrusted 70 your care, and showing that
ever ready TO attack rasesy wherever found
facts WHICH have come to my hnow!edgs Yor ree,
rs well known fact thar there Is mig existing
" tina, Board composed Of smith Gsrdner am am
IN some time, Messrs pnryee and Russell the only
table figure heads as they the min
oiiy and therefore to stem the tide Of
Cleaning Department source Of great franc on the
Charick and his Long Island Kailrosd Corporation
sf he
s ~, Fsssy
"a ss' you'd ',sss
cnariicf's Properly nfyp and making
properly managed " honest ohcals, nigh! be made
Of hs have sis ne
effort that might be made by the other two comDis
%oae Of ss
na 1S to S s.ess snd
bringing them 70 PUNISHMENT we shall alse
on IN
speak myself alone. out Tor large number Of re-
ssser i1auds perpeirated By board which
viii be forthcoming sustain the above charges bop
and use your best endesvors bring this togh
which know can be DONE remain most rsspeGtfa,ly
VOur IAArAfEK.
FRIEND LAInsKRR-Permit me 10 tender you my warm
s head and ear IN
,Sh en a he the s s
BE selects must be men that Will give HIM an honest and
ss11s 'Ssp1 IN sS '
e &c coope mat unoa s n %sen
mai meeting after had enumerated in clear and fore
leaned forward and in his own peculiar way asked
nh said SY
ssst ss.s'sS ss' s@ .ns
soprssde is a very important one and needs reform
Ssn M it. Ssu x sna
other. know you have always stood up ready 70 com
e
p SGs hmm ef his one
@sys psss perfect stranger to his Honor
r." DO 2 zee Y anOT d I 70
. him subject Of my entire ndepe o.
ns nss s aass iaA be
inst a. we would our private private business e. wit Il
sS .sS ssss1n
should be Monday. / know the Mayor Is greatly
pressed by all classes and nportuned possibly hey
All but also know that he is anxious to send II
all the and of the many offered he wants al
the evidence he get TO enable him to make TN
best selection; and know word from you will weigh
well In the scales OF His Honor's confidence remain
yours truly, JOHN X. RUSSELL
Representative OF the HERALD called on Com
missioner Russell last evening for the purpose o
hearing his side OF the case on learning that the
Letters we're in the hands OF the press.
$50, them said Mr.. Russell TO the reporter "tht
letters are TO be made pubncS"
"Yes SIR"
"welL ALL have to say in the matter is that
never wrote one OF those letters nor ever sent ar
anonymous letter in my life.n
"You have seen the one signed Taxpayer pre-
sume9n
..N0, sir, i have seen none OF them. Mr. Smith
read that one in my presence, but / scarcely re
member now what Is contained. Have you been
RIven the one wrote to Mayor Havemeyer ex plan
1ng the other to Mr. LaimbeerY"
mo, SIR"
''Ah, then You should have been given that. 1t is
the only one in this whole connection | wrote Oh
authorized or Influenced. Ny name Is 10 It, and
that has been the case with every letter sent by
me during q lifetime. The letter to MIR. Laimbeer
was written at time when was very much occu-
pied and had in my employ number OF copyists
constantly at work. That letter was written W
one of those copyists under nv instructions,
and not by me, You Will see from this