Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-11
FIRST EDITION.
NEW YORK.
OUR MI D w EEK LETTER

TuNIsiiiNo REVELATIONS OF FRAUD MEDAL.
MANUFACTURERS AND JUDGES SOLD OVER AND
ovER-FRAUDuLENr PIANO AND PLATED WARE
AWARDS.
Special Correspondence Of The Commercial.
New York, Feb. 10.
The extraordinary cold over-Iides all other
topics just here and just now. 1t comes home
to every ones feelings. Particularly those who
cross the ferries, in attendance on their bust
ness or homes or on Judge Nelson's court
with the army of newspaperites, feel the tre-
mondous effect with which Boreas is lobbying
for the East River Bridge this winter There
has been nothing like it since the cold and ice
of 1867, which first fairly launched the long
talked-of enterprise. At the next most critical
period OF its history, the potent patron comes
again to the rescue. Repeated ice block
AIDES, completely cutting of
all communication between these
two great lobes of one great city, and constant
ly, for days together. making that communica
ton tedious, precarious and comparatively rare,
plead trumpet-tongued for some less primitive
connection than ferry-boats between these
shores. Distinguished counsel not unfrequent-
ly find themselves ice-olated from their clients
and the court is kept waiting. The progress Of
the great bridge just now demands little more
Legislation and some new arrangements in con-
formity with the constitutional amendment for
bidding cities to take stock i'll aid of private en-
terprises.
THE GREAT TRIAL
drags its Glow, tedious length along in the sixth
week, and 1t is not half through. Gross exam-
nations are voted above, and much gratitude is
felt 10 Mr.. Tilton especially by Mr. Evarts, for
exerting himself the last two or three days to
enliven the monotony with sallies of saucy re-
partee and bursts Of sentimental eloquence In
fact, his alacrity in turning himself wrong side
out, often leaves little for the hostile counsel to
do, and gives them mucha amore pleasure than it
gives his own. Buth is irrepressible, and will
not be controlled, as Manager Moulton found,
to the ultimate defeat of all their deep laid
schemes. All men who are controlled by high
flown sentiments prove incorrigby obstinate 10
practical guidance, at one point or another.
1t is pity, for be would make capital wit
ness, hardly second to Moulton, if he could re-
strain his eagerness to exploit false chiyalry or
generosity by the avowal of unpopular senti-
inents and associations, which the other side
would fail in their attempts to fasten on him
without his own i'll timed and impertinent aid
For instance yesterday, Mr.. Evarts exhibited
him in procession in New York in honor of the
Paris commune. But Tilton, not content with
this, launched INTO eulogy of one of its leaders,
and gratuitously emphasized over and over his
own friendship for the communist demagogue Of
New York, John Swinton all which the defend
ants counsel listened to with unalloyed Salts
faction well knowing that if they had attempt
cd TO introduce such sentiments rs evidence,
their opponents would have fought it all day
if, indeed it were necessary to resist 30 absurd
an affair at all, before the Court.
Another mistake tins witness makes, is that of
being occasionally little too smart. Mr.. Evarts
slowly commenced question with, "Were you
afI aid" and Mr.. 1ilton interrupts him with
"No, p This docs well enough, in a deartb
of amusement, and the crowd make the most OF
it with one of its puerle outlaws Which are fast
wearing ont the excessive indulgence OF the
Court But on being mildly requested to wait
until.the question is put, MIR. Evarts again COM
mencing III the same drawling form the witness
has the fatuity to repeat at once the linperti
nence and the poor joke, then makes 1t worse by
mockingly begging pardon, and finally gets re-
buked by the Court.
SENSITIVE JURY.
did not say sensible; and shant, until they
render verdict that does them moro credit than
a silly-solemn demonstration with which they
opened the proceedings yesterday afternoon.
The Judge had closed the forenoon by
remarking upon complaint the had received,
that persons had been heard commenting on the
III close proximity to the jury box. Judge
Nelson said this grave offence, Witch lie
should punish severely and summary, II re-
poated and directed the officers in charge OF the
Jury box to report any such,ofender to him. on the
spot At dinner, the jury took this into grave
consideration, and resolved that they had listen
ed in silence to these lawyers and witnesses long
enough, ard that it was time to let the world
hear something from themselves. SO, on COM
ing in, the fornan asked permission to address
the Court. and the whole apostolical num-
ber stood up IN fine style; in confirmation
OF the protest delivered by their epokesman, to
tho effect that they had not heard any comments
on the case, and they considered the complaint
that had been made an understandable reflection
on the Jury. Such is life, and such is trial by
jury.
ANOTHER SCANDAL.
1t il something to be able to modify little
the inevitable dish, and if we must have perpet
ual scandal, that there are varieties ill it, Pub
lie corruption, however. the next style in crdel
here il Il style on which We have surfeited fol
n few years back. And yet there is something
audacously fresh in the story have direct IRON
a prominent firm of New York piano manufactu
rers-. with full permission to publish their names
which l should feel ashamed to do.-in confirm
alton of the direct charges OF bribery III the
awards of the American Institute with whicl
Professor Chandler, of Columbia College, has just
shaken off the dust of his feet at the door of tia
establishment. This frm-whose names, re
peat are of high repute and prominence-havt
stated plainly to reporter in the employ OF TINS
correspondence that the series of awards, gold
medals, &c. they hold AZ piano makers from the
| American Institute were, everyone of them paid
| for in cash that gold medal they received a
| a State Fair in Michigan, was obtained for thu
| paltry brbe of 500 that on similar occasions
| they have repeatedly secured the award by the
present of piano that at the last considerable
competitions of pianos at the fair of the Amerl
can Institute in this city, about five or six year'
ago, some sixteen manufacturers staked tho rep
utation of their work on the impartial honesty o.
| the awards Ill huultlOu W Miiui ici"hSo Wv
| firm in question obtained the names of the judg
| es, five in NUMBER ent rtained them ut theil
| ware-rooms repeatedly with
| FEAsTINd AND CHAMPAIGN,
and " clmaxed the entertainment with nea
| douce,t' of $500 to each of the musical arbters
| on condition that their liberal hosts should re
ceiye the award besides $50 apiece as considera
| ton for strong personal testimonial to the ex
| cellence of their pianos, to be signed by all TIN
Judges Only one of them, musician unknown
to fame and perhaps the neediest of the lot, re
| iected the bribe. l have all their names, bu
| perhaps 1t is inexpedient to mention even tn
| single honorable exception. The testimonial
they say they got and paid for. But competi
tor of low degree go far az Instruments were con
| cerned, who had not go much as a workshop
but who bought his Instruments OF thlrd-rat
makers who were not above lettering their worl
| with his name as manufacturer-was too liberia
for them in the single and vital item OF bribery
The award, such as 1t was, went to this more ell
terprising party whose checks went in turn +
the. four purcliasable Judges for 5000 apiece
to the deep chagrin of my informants, VIII
frankly assure me that they would have beel
glad to double their offer, If they had had an
idea that judges ruled 80 high. They had som
consolation, however, in the denouement, 70
the fraud of an award to a pseudo manufacture
of third-rate pianos was too palpabe, and th
Judges dared only give a second premium dc
clning to award the first to anybody.
curious part of the story is that the poo
musician who spurned the first bribe was th'
. only one who did not accept the second, an
| .l,at I,a octualIv uaya biA vote in favor of til