Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-01
New York Canal Frauds.

The operators against the rascals Who
have been plundering New York by Erie
Canal swindles are assuming the proper
tons of n campaign instead OF raid.
Gov. Tilden and other officers evidently
mean business. The developments of the
last few DAYS are decidedly interesting and
nromise to make it uncomfortably warm
for some prominent politicians
Mr.. George d. Lord was, in 1871 a
member of tho Assembly from Rochester
and has the honor of being, we believe, a
brother Of the Highly Honorable Jarvis
Lord. State Senator and a leading demo
crat. He is now in the meshes of the law
and of the way he got in we find the fol'
lowing account:
Lewis l. Bennett of Buffalo testified be-
fore the canal commission that in the win
ter of that year he hired Lord, at the lat
| ter's suggestion, to put through bill Tor
the "relefn of Il contractor, partner OF
his. one Hand, who had done certain work
for the State-the consideration to be two
thirds of the money obtained. In the
agreement, one Cuyler was designated as
the man to whom the money was to be
paid. Upon another suggestion from Lord
= larrcr sum was asked for than they ha,
originally intended-in other words, a
| false account was made out and sworn to-
Il obtained false estimates from the in
spector in charge of the work" said the
ingenious Bennett; ''have paid him large
sum of money!
He further testified that the price paid
under the contract was for all the work the
application for " relief was pure swim
die. Under the act passed by Lords ex
ertions, the treasury was bled to the tune
of some 100000; for this sum, however, h'
(BennetO got nothing, or next to nothing
and actually brought suit against George
D., and (Senator) Jarvis Lord to RESTRAIN
them from collecting more than the two
thirds COMMISSIONER 900. Since TIN
present investigation, Bennett added, hi
books had been changed by erasures.
His partner, Hand, the contractor, corrob
grated this testimony SO far as his knowl
edoe of the fact went. They made prof
on the work at the contract price. lie
himself didn't get any OF the eXtr;
pay-haying apparently made over hi:
interest to Bennett-but signed the paper
at Lords request.
On the strength of this evidence, Messr
Orr and Magone filed their complaint
Judge Osborn issued his warrant, an,
Lord was brought to Albany in custody
Bennett and his partner came into cour
and repeated under oath the testimon.
previously given before the commission
Mr.. Orr swOre. from personal eXamna
, ton Of the accounts, that, while 1850
days work had been charged for, onl
2,2OS days work had been done. Th
Judge fixed the bail at $4,000, which wa
promptly given. Mr.. Magone mcntione
that there was more evidence in reserve
but it was not thought best to make it pub
lie until other arrests had been made.
IfLord is convicted, the statutory pen
atty is five years imprisonment or fin
t of $1,000, OF both.
Canal Appraiser, Thaddeus c: Davis.
also involved in this swindle and is though
to have pocketed the snug sum of $4,000
: Davis is a friend of Controller lIOpkln:
| On the evidence before the canal commi:
sion, Judge Osborn has issued a warrar
for his arrest and attachment. Benne
disgorged hts share of the proceeds-$l2
600 He handed over the money 10 Gov
D Tilden's Investigators on Saturday.