New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-30
DISTRI0rATTURNEY BRiTTOY.


THE ALLEGED RELATIONS OF CERTAIN BROOKLYN
OFFICIALS WITH GAS CoMPANiEs-TEsTIMoNT
DEroRE The GRAND JURY THE GOVERNOR
ASKED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE DISTINCT
ATroRNrY-MR BRfTTOg DENIES ANY DEHELic-
TON IN DUTY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AMONG
JURORS WHO SIGNED THE CHARGES.
Ii was understood at the time OF the adjourn
ment OF the November Grand Jury Of Kings County ho,
majority OF the Jurors had declared purpose to bring
charges against DrietA,onoy Brit'on which were TO
he submitted to Gov. Tilden. subsequently Il was
rnored that the members Of tie adjourned Grand Jury
had determined to go before the present tDeoemherI
Grand Jury, aud ask for the Indictment OF
Nj. Bliton. Nothing however was made pup
lie OF any OF these proceedings unth yes
terday, when publication OF o communication OF mum
Der OF tho members Of the November Grand Jury TO
Coy Tilden made by OF the complaining jurors
The publication excited considerable comment in Brook
lyn Several jurors WHO signed the document state shat
they gave their Misunderstanding. Mr.. Britt
declares that tie charges have foundation III fact
The circumstances undor which they were prepared ae
stated rs follows:
Toward the conclusion of the labcrs of the Novenber
Grand Jury Of the Court OF sessions. Henry \. Richards
one OF the members drew the attention Of hs associates
go alleged blaclnang by William A. Fowler and others
upon the gas companies. Among the wtneeses who aT
paslod before the Grand Jury william II. Libby
President OF the Citizens Gas Company. officers OF the
Peoples Company, and OF the ovher companies They
testified that Mr.. Fowler. Commissioner OF
City works, Rohcrt FuIey, street Commissioners
under the old Water Beard, and eS-Aide'inan
John KeIsIsw received a certain sim OF money
for caea aGa post in certain districts OF ae CITY OF
Brooklyn. The witnesses produced cheeks vhch LAG
been given the officials by the Gas companies Dis
trict-Aouey Brton stated 20 the Grand Jury that he
deemed further evidence necessary TO waan; the fine
Ing OF an Indictment against TIE officials. aad A. the time
of tho Jurors was about expire be said that IA would
draw tie attention 81 the next Grand jury to tn SUBJECT
No indictment WAS found yans TIE persons named
Br Richards believing he ASSERTS, that the D15Ilc'
Attorney wa simply endeavoring 70 sle.i his friends
from indictment by the p05OneIn mt, asked III" a5so'
otcs 70 fign memorial 10 The Governor requesting rs
attention 10 the subject The eSac; nature OF tie cris
nal document canBu DC GSoertaiE2d IS tnc persons VINO
refused 10 sign 1t declare that - differed from
that which hss been published - though II had '%a pre-
seg,tad 10 the Governor, ard those VIA dId sisl
with on or two exceptions, assert aat they nd not III
tcrstand he Declarations he they arc stated in tae
publication Eylo.g. The co:aoiuac cation, as Il reached
the Governor, s.sned by Henry n R.chard- lhvhas
Owens Edward W. Vaughan, Samuel 5 VOORHEES,, Henry
hitting. Benscr " Hilycr VI. Waiting Thomas For'ier
George H. Norfolk, H. G. Irvine, \. Evans and r Herr
aad contains the following:
We deem it Imperative duty So cal your attention
% toe cnauc OF Winchester Bsttoi District attorney
c! Kings COUNT, m Bis hiritog!se "iil rs a. DfllG
Jclcrs. II came - oar knoweic thHt eeTisi 81 ms
ad been I,Iletiaicd w 81 tn pDIc "tce.s 81
ssr.as cGiIal CQsit1ct t-tNf
in clear yloa1ioa 81 law well a. NJ i1Ols y r. 'hiei
TOOK ;se Yefiiratou 81 these odt;ots and lHDo;d
as,ouousy. as believed, ~ be i1ic interest, sd IL
lhc DISCHARGE OF tlr duties ucaUNet uip" us u! v''I
Cffci4 cath. Notwithstanding TIE Disadvantages we
ahored Under owing 10 th' want u cvoieraue On iae
20 develop, rs the ioce G ne liable it3G sses
Eost ataltng system O. toldi non fit VI .tH;ii'ie On
Tie part o. ccrtn prplinsn; CiAcais We beioHc IN"
minutes at tlc Grand JiG Viii s'Csis yoi hAtrAthC5
- ii,' , - M ~, M. c,cru,,.
/ Inn - s.-af f.fFf
% 1d at as ass1i rs Us tcre We m t1ne to
uIerre mdjci,ccp ts Agd tat nGic pen'0 |Te 70 ht
iO;,nd he did nos know how g" dIait thehi ahd Ioni
they could not Lc maintained "c gre ciea5 ~ tAe "Yn
igii aat the sa--esous q Nr y it,ol, AID is Nloie
ac.oI ~ ;is inGicr. were tdcticG l "tst 20 aIth
the guilty at thc expense % 'he 0c.iart Of the pdbe
| fa.se as wGasiTe9d feeling among the aW-aDij!As
clrs-es Of King County t5at ay $50 suffering pna3
ions Ihs impression Ne believe to b. veil GUIDED
= Ne appeal o. Yotr Ezcelcnc' % take sice s.tis
R,y tc jot and iroil 10 ier'e "' !r'ii h' 'i.'l ~
lions 10 usstilc Wcn have btca oCtTdstoa47 inter-
psc by the District Attorney in the ease aii"dr" 10
ME-. DsIrroN's EErLANATtos.
tir Brltt1n sAil osterlly tat .aa:-es h2i orE
mated with Nr Richards whom he had arres1ed Is 1872
Tor hcl published me Bco1BH Sg8d1g Chronicle
edited 10y Nr. Richards. He deciaiei tat ,1c scli.i-
tons were without foundation, aud we're inspired by
D.ace. lie added hat his cati prevented Tin tfO'n
telling what occurred before tie Grand jury, ani there
oie hc could make arr ftii statement, hrt he as
serted tLa, he GbaGr5iiy OF tie ;na,, would bc naic
80 manifest in few days thai the persons WHO s!gaya
! me document would be glad 10 lide tl!ei.
.aees N shame He said that tie intilatt.on
| that hs restrained any Witnesses from t"at-. ~
bocre fe Gtana Jju9 who'll; iG.se declared tG2t j."
distinctly told the jurors thar lac should bring ic us
matter before tlcr sacceesoIojbs present Grand jury
as.d closed bs stst8e that VIXEN ta Grand 5oy CONES
into cjutt 9nJ makes its p:esen;nclta tunorroE, 80
action aad announcements viii EiAled,c Ai:l against
,lus charges that have been made
AIsy.IrRs TASuING ANeNG THE JCrOEs
ONLY l. persons Of te = Who composed the Grand
Jury signed the petition Thosa VINO refuaed 20 ask
tlcir signatures were: Gilbert HICKS, foreman Vii
lma Hannah, George T. Miller. Robert Parkinson,
Charles Heinee, Andrew Bradshaw, Frederick Weber
! Tcra'aand StayeEhaeen, and William 4. Tyler
TEUCHU reporter called yesterday upon several 81 the
jurors whose names ale Allied 60 lie memorial They
suited generally thcy did rot understand mat tey
had I'D any STATE nents strong - those li>cd
but were unwilling tell what tney understood 'hey
were signing Oae oi their number however IN in;ei
gent gentlemen Going business in lutou-st, 'Syn,
made the following sta.erent to tbc reporter
Isuppo3c at It proper Tor me TO t~il The Uloe %
VIVA, Las occurred IN tnis uaigeF 10 permit sirlod
stIcncnt. 10 appear III some OF tlr DrCOklyn news
raaers | understood when M. licEGrds Called upon
~ tat signing memorial asking thc Go'einor Or
saiue Oler oIic.ai have matters which came i'o-
:Orc the Ecycmhe! Grand Jlry brough TO me
tic chargcs agaIis; Mr.. britton art u,Jist
and unionnd-d cer'SlnIS never =, M Ii1sd
witI.ses from appearing against ANY person; dld not
CSIrcL iic WIcCE Vi Jnss!cc. bht uIshhtJ3 ASSN us
That ne would bling the matter 70 the attention OF this
Grand Jury. II upon Ute statement OF Ajr Rchnids
that sr Triton did not i!itend % Keep MS promise
TIA: | agreed 10 sign paper urging LlLi
10 40 The statement over ny s@natlre mis-
reIreaents There appeared JtfO.c tho Grand Jury
REPRESENTATIVE froIn ihe nrTtt gas companies Mo
cargca Chcy led paid Robert fnrey Commissioner
and eEAiLcImau hcTsnaW CciiiiIi-siO!,s o.
certain nuiaDcr C sIs lamps. This payment, II was
sla;ed Tor the support OF cerinin p0eA party
ctd certain politicians. IL tao late 10 obtain further
testimony the SUBJECT ana sefeore tie Iat'er Us
laI Ovor Tor tho consider GioA " tLe present Grand
SgEy
Ferdinand stayerhsgen whe refused 10 sign the papcr
presented to Lin by hir Richards said 10 IIBUSE re-
porter at the November Grand jury had resolved 20 1T