New-York tribune., 1875-09-27
THE CANAL FRAUD TRIALS.
HOW MATTERS STAND IN BUFFALO.
THE STANDING OF THE INDICTED MEN III.
PAIRED,

| PATTY FOR BENNE1T-wHO DAVIS BENNETT
| AND JUDGE CLINTON ARE.
| lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRBUSEl
BUFFALO, n. Y, Sept 26.-In the case Of Tho
| State against George ID. Lord for bribery nothing
more can be done until Judge Clinton renders his
decision upon the motion Of the DisIict-Attorney to
strike out the upecial Plea made by the defendant
under the statute of limitations This the Judge
has promised to do next Tuesday afternoon, but all
speculation as TO what that decision will
be seems to be regarded as the merest guess-
work. Every lawyer has his own opinion
upon the question, but no one seems to have
any information on the subject. II the Judges lie
cision is in favor of striking out the special plea un
der the statute Of limitations the case will then he
sent at once TO the Court of Oyer and Termner,
which will be opened here tomorrow morning br
Judge Charles Daniels, who convicted Harry Genet,
unless an appeal is taken by the defendant. This
probable and if il il done will occasion further de-
lay, unless the trial can 90 on, and the appeal be
argued afterward in case of conviction. Although
the case comes under the preferred before the
General Term Of the Superior Court it is thought
decision from that Court cannot be obtained in
less than six months and it may take longer. II
Judge ClintOns decision is against the notion al
appeal will certainly he taken by the state.
What will be done in the meantime with the con.
spiracy case against Measrs. Lord, Davis Bennett,
Bowman and Barkley, is not definitely known 1t
is understood that when it does come up they will
be tried jointly, they have been indicted jointly,
although this course will be objected to by moro
than one Of the defendants. Mr. Davis and Mr..
Barkley have both expressed objections TO being
tried with the others. Mr.. Davis expresses great
confidence in his ability to prove his innocence, or
rather, as he states it, the inability of the State to
prove his guilt. He claims to be anxious for the
trial to come on, when he shall be able to establish
his innocence if guilty. receive the proper punish
ment for his guilt. At the same time, after having
met him several times, both before and since the in
dictment was found against him, have failed to
find him in any other than q nervous, anxious
mood, which the discussion of the subject has al
ways increased. lie has admitted more than once,
when under the excitement of discussion, his anxiety
in regard to the matter, referring to the serious
effect it will have not only upon himself but also
upon his family
A prominent and influential citizen of Buffalo re-
marked yesterday that aside from few political
opponents, there is no doubt that Mr.. Davis stood
well here before the charges of completely in tho
canal frauds We're brought against him. He was re-
garded as "a shrewd and successful lawyer, but no
one supposed that he guilty of fraud. His
relations with the community such, in fact that
it was supposed that lie could not afford to do
anything criminally wrong. His position in society
ished when they saw his name coupled with those OF
the Canal Ring. Now, there is no doubt that ini-
mense frauds have been committed at This end OF
the canal as well as at other places, and while 1t
cannot be said that the people necessarily believe
those men guilty in all cases where they have been
arraigned at least those whom they have trusted IN
the past they are impatently waiting for them to
prove their innocence. If they can do this, they
cannot get about it too quickly for their own good
The fact that has been accused of completely
in tue canal frauds is sufficient 10 make him an OBJ
ject of general suspicion and dstrus and the state
has been defrauded out of such large suns by means
of dishonest contracts and awards, that there IL a
general disposition to stand aloof until the charge Is
withdrawn.
The charges against Mr. Davis continued the gem
tleman with whom was conyersing, have not hurt
him any worse than they have hurt Controller Hop
kins and perhaps not badly. Hopkins received
his appointment at the instance and by the iniluchce
of Mr. Davis, and they seem to have been warm
friends ever since Mr. Davis could procure what
no one else could obtain from the Controller. If
bill was not allowed there was apparently one end
only one way of securing its payment, and that was
to 90 TO Mr. Davis. The former held such a rcspon-
sible position that any rreglarity on his part was
looked upon with much greater disfavor.
The action of the Controller in requiring settlement
in full upon certain day, whether the money had
been received not from all the county trcasurers,
failing to do which they threatened with arrest
as defaulters, not received with general favor
here. The times were hard, and when the Treasurer
had not received his money from the people, the
rigid enforcement OF the rule was felt TO be oppres-
sive Tho thinkng class of the community are be-
ginning to question: from the developments that
have been made whether Mr.. Hopkins's main object
was not to secure the deposits at Albany of all tho
State money as early as possible in order that DO
might have il to loan to his personal friends, or at
high rate of interest.
Mr. Davis il is understood, is from Canada, but he
has resided and done business here for the past 20
years. His property, it is stated, is all held IN his
wfes namc He still retains possession Of the olco
of Canal Appraiser, but declines TO state whether ho
intends resgning or not.
Mr. Bennett is almost always referred to with ex-
pressions Of sympathy. Il have more sympathy for
Bennett than for all the others who have been in
dcted" is very frequently heard. His friends indg-
nantly deny that he is weak and lacking in shrewd-
ness or business tact. On the other hand, they
say that he is Straightforward, but sharp IN
making q bargain, and that he has mado
money lie came here about ten years ago.
from the Eastern part of this State, and has sinco
done large amount Of work at canal dredging, etc.
An intimate friend of his says lie is now worth at
least 800 O0O but explains that the dredging bsi
ness is profitable and that Bennett s very economic
CAL He lives in a neat but small brick house on
Nagara-st., which is neatly but plainly furnished.
His friends have advised him not to talk about mat
tiers relating TO the Hand award, and he declined TO
say anything further than what has already ap-
pcarcd in his testimony, and which has be,a pub
lslcd. Since his indictment and admission 10 bail,
L.; ~