The New York herald., 1875-12-22
THE BROOKLYN RING.
Papers in a Legal Action Served
Upon It's Alleged Members.
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS INVOLVED.
The Defendants Anxious That the Suits Shall
&c Immediately Tried.

DO llnlculhltly ITltu,
Al last the papers have been served upon Messrs W.
q Kingsley, Abner Q. Keeney, W. A. Fowler, f. J.
Lowber and Archibald N. Bliss. The first two gentle
named the contractors for building the new
storage reservoir at Hampstead and the iatteD were
Commissioners OF the Water Board at the time the con-
tract was awarded. Fowler Is s.ill member OF the
Board OF City Works Mr.. Bliss is q member or Con-
gress, and Mr. Lowber is in private life They are
charged with colusion and with the illegal payment Of
money for that work, to the amount Of $45612 The
return OF this sum TO the city Treasury is now de-
manded The summons and complaint drawn by Mr..
John e Parsons, who represents Attorney General
Pratt the prosecution In behalf OF the Taxpayers
Association, served upon the defendants yester-
day Tho latter say that they glad that tho aega-
against them have been transferred from
the newspapers the courts The counsel for the de-
fendants General Tracy, Catln Pryor and Others ex-
press themselves ready meet the ISSUE and say
they will urge early trial The suits will be tried in
New York.
The following is the text OF the document about
which so much has been written
THE COMPLAINT.
SUPREME CoURT-City and County of NeaD York. ss -
The People OF the State New YORK against William
Kingsley and Abner @ Keeney, William A. Fowler,
Edward J. Lowber and Archibald NJ. Bliss.
eral, complain OF the defendnnts-
L That on February 13 1871, act was passed en-
titled IAN act to provide for the further supply of the
city OF Brooklyn with water and for the payment OF
the expenses thereof" by which II provided that II
should be the duty Of the Permanent Board OF Water
and Sewerage Commissioners OF the city proceed
carry into effect the plan for furnishing increased
supply Of water for said city, and for the such
sion OF the then present water works Of said city, and
She construction OF such further reservoirs conduts
and other structures might be for that
pose, therefore, submitted by the said Board TO the
Dnf said Nftv aA
resolution OF the Board of Aldermen said city of July
IL 1870 which said resolution finally adopted by
cember II, 1870 provided the whole expense thereof
should not exceed the sum of one million four hundred
thousand doars and to the end that the said Board
shall acquire in the OF and for the city Brook
lyn the title TO such hands, ponds and might
be necessary therefore and that upon the acquisition
of such lands ponds and streams the said Board should
cause the necessary work To carry said plan into effect
a that by an act passed May s, 1870, it had been
provided that IL should be the duty the said Perma
nent Board of Water and Sewerage Commissioners to
prepare and submit to the Common Council of the said
city of Brooklyn plan for furnishing increased
supply OF water for said CITY, including such extension
of the then present works and the construction OF such
further reservoirs conduits and other structures
might be necessary for that purpose together with
estimate OF the probable expense thereof and that
plan mentioned in said act of February 49, 1871,
the plan which, by the said Permanent Board of Water
and Sewerage Commissioners had been prepared and
submitted 70 the said Common Council pursuant the
act Of May s, 1870.
8 That the said plan consisted In the construction
In the OF Hampstead of storage reservoir for the
storage Of large quantity OF water TO be retained
said reservoir until the necessities OF the city OF Brook
yn should require its use, such water then to Be
a supply and 70 be- in addition that fur
the city Of Brooklyn with water that the pro-
posed in said plan and subsequently determined upon
and in part constructed, is known as the Hampstead
l. That OF about January 0, 1872, a contract was
executed by and between the city of Brooklyn through
the said Permanent Board OF Water and Sewerage Com
mlGSiOlerP dAfQUdnntQ IL.
liam O. Kingsley and Abner G. Keeney, styling them
selves contractors of the other part by which the de-
fendants William @. Kingsley and Abner @. Keeney,
undertook 10 excavate and build in good, firm and
substantial the said storage reservoir with all
It's appliances and appurtenances and to furnish all the
necessary materials and labor therefor upon the terms
and conditions In the said specified and the
said city of Brooklyn, by the said Permanent Board Of
Water and Sewerage Commissioners agreed to pay tho
SAID defendants, William G. Kingsley and Abner O.
keeney therefor certain specified ofsums, which,
upon those ohe quantities estimated for the said res
ervor specifications prepared by and under the
direction of the said Board included in the schedule of
balanced bids amounted the sum OF over one million
three hundred and seventyseven thousand four hun
dred dollars 377 400 subsequently reduced to
million one hundred and hfty one thousanu hun
dred and eighty four and 1S100 dollars ISL ISL 1S4 lS
as hereinafter set forth
s. That undor the SAID contract there has been paid
to the said defendants, William Kingsley ard Abner
O. Keeney, by the city Of Brooklyn the sum in all or
million one hundred and htyone thousand and
hundred and eighty four dollars and eighteen
ISL 151 1S4 49, thereabouts that the sum paid TO
the defendants, William G. Kingsley and Abner O.
Keeney exceeds by the sum Of four hundred and fifty
six thousand one hundred and twen.y dollars and
upward the amount for which they were paid the said
Of million ono hundred and nifty one thousand
hundred and eightyfour and 100 dollars; /;
that the work could have been well and satisfactorily
pursuant TO the terms Of tho said contract and
that the extent of the said OF four hundred and
fftysx thousand one hundred and twentyav dollars
and upward, the money Of the city of Brooklyn was
without right obtained by the defendants as herein
after particularly set forth
That the Permanent Board OF Water and Sewer
Commissioners OrPaniZed and established
suant TO the several acts passed for the purpose,
among other things OF providing the city OF Brooklyn
with water; that at all the times hereinafter men,
toned the defendants, William A. Fowler Edward j.
Lowbar and Archibald NJ. Bliss constituted the said
Board and that the acts creating the said Board and
well by the general law of the land applicable 10
cases. 1t the duty of the members OF the said
Board faithfully truly and honestly 70 administer the
authority vested in them such and to discharge all
the duties devolved upon them in the interest OF
city OF Brooklyn al the least possible expense
provide for the said city the requisite facilities
and particularly under the acts aforesaid TO provide
and cause TO be constructed the said Hampstead storage
reservoir
provided and that by all the defendants all
times herein mentioned well known that IL was pro-
vided, that all contracts, agreements liabilities in
the nature Of contracts for public works. by which tho
city OF Brooklyn should be held liable to pay money
Involving an expense Of more than $780, should bo
tered into with the lowest responsible bidder after pub
hcation for proposals thereof That 1t has been tho
policy OF the law, and the practice In the Of NUM-
cipal corporations generally and as well In the case
OF this and Of other States and OF the United States
that public work should be done under contracts and
that for such contracts preliminary proposals should
be published and that such contracts should be given
10 the lowest responsible bidder SO as TO secure the
best work at the lowest expense, as was at all the
times herein mentioned well known the defendants
That the said contract for the said Hampstead
Storage Reservoir entered into by between tho
defendasts Fowler Lowber and Bliss comprising such
Board acting in the of the city Of BROOKLYN and
the defendants, William G Kingsley and Abner a
Keeney IN pursuance OF scheme to which the said
defendants parties, tho purpose of which scheme
vuaa 1 an ha aaid defendantg William
Abner G. Keeney, should be permitted wrongfully to
obtain large Of money FROM and Of the moneyso OF
the city OF Brooklyn.
y That the said scheme embraces the passage OF the
at OF May 8, 1870, tho said action OF the Common
Council Of the city OF Brooklyn and the passage OF the
said act OF February 49, 1871 all OF them and
structon OF the said Hampstead Storage Reservoir
should be given to the said defendants, William G.
Kingsley and Abner O. Kesney, at price much beyond
nheri ihani nj ,rhi wnr hay hon