New-York tribune., 1875-10-18
THE COURTS.
EFFORTS TO RECOVER RING spons

INK SUIT AGAINST JAMES wATsoN's EsTATE-HEAR-
ING BEFORE MURRAY HOFFMAN, REFEREE-
OPENING BY CHARLES o'CoNoR-TEsrIMoNY OF
JAMES II. INGERsOII.
The trial of the suit of the People against
Margaret Watson. widow ami administrators Of James
Watson. the County Auditor at the time of the great
Ring frauds of 1868 1859, and ls70 begun sat
urday before Murray Hoffman referee. Charles
O'Conor opened the for the People and Mr. Peck
ham examined the witness produced Garvey and
Iugerson were both present witnesses. Mrs Watson
was represented by John II. strahan.
In openiag the ease Mr. O'COnor briefly explained
the methods of payment in the period of the
Ring frauds, The bills which were paid
usually founded something due TO the supply
and mechanics, but 10 each bin was added a per-
centavo To he paid ~ Tweed TO Connolly and to others
and among those Others James watson County Au-
ditor apparent subordinate but really most import
AMI member in the combination. He fixed the appropria
tions. drew the bills and issued the warrants. Wood
ward, who called deputy clerk of the Supervisors
bat without honest legal function in the matter
the agent in the step. His duty 10 attend
70 the receipt of money and that the percentages
taken out that TO be handed TO Connolly and
others watson's percentage was small the vast
amounts stolen il was large Though only sub
ordinate small salary, with other resources
he left a large estate-half million more or
less. attached. In the full progress of the
fraudulent system Watsons part in it was interrupted by
sudden death The proof that his receipts part of
combination to defraud or conspiracy might take little
time, but when they SHOULD establish it Mr. 0Conor
claimed that each member OF the combination ind
viduay liable for the whole loss TO the city OF course
the city could not this action compensatory and
perfunctey from all together than the
actual loss but matter TO De settled the
cution, not ON the judgment.
The amount percentages distributed among officials
from 81 per cent but the supply who, in
fhc lat refa z not
such bills without greatly eXaggeTating them.
All that could he done i'll this regard was TO make
rough estimate that about four-sevenths of hill
genuine and thrcescvcnn added for this risk that is
when the supply got 80 per cent only fourSevcnths
or 20 per cent was about the amount the
supplies worth, and so say 20 per
cent the amount lost TO the eity.
They had in this suit claimed for all the Ring spoa
tions. There LATER eight tea millions be-
sides the sums n suit taken in similar the
citv which IL found convenient 70 reserve for other
suits Nor did they propose to prove all the items even
i'm this sut: The Ieope would probably confne them
selves proof OF items up To the amount Of the estate
Mr. Watson LETT and then withdraw the others Tor use III
James H. Ingcrso testified In 1869 aud 1870 did
some business for the conny my father had previously
done business for the county hut had nothing To 90
with il afterwards knew Tweed james Watson, County
Auditor, i. a. Woodward, and Mr Garvey; in 1867
had talk with Mr.. Tweed, III when siid uhdefsOod
certain percentages he paid, and would do as
Wen - n's uoi nc lViSiou ni w. 60 % nv, cont 70
ward tolh me te erce ege WIS tWchIylNc per 'rI 20
Tweed and ten 90 Connolly the percentages were raised
att4Nifu; accepted tIC dildBGtIitit, anu lNi'"
tulpdS and made out my MlS aceotdlhsly'
In 1865 five per cent was added, two and one
In the Fall IsGs or 1869 this increased to per
for each, and 20 cent for Connolly, IWceds -
per cent continuing Ia bc~,aid in lsto. had person
alk with watson on this matter; in the summer Of SG0
Ia kcd with both Watson and Woodward, aud the new
IT in2enfni confirmed | have paid Watson Con
nOlys percentage and ms own this was Win reference
10 "adius,ed claims :" know thai NY bills did not
before the Board o Supervisors made veriiicatiOn
proof of them simply handed my Dil to Watson oT
would get the warrant from Watson; he would then
ccai9 his pefGcnI,sc anu you'd 80 3y er dis SlcoH
drew the money IN other cases, where l Grew the
money. wOud hand Woodward the percentages except
Twced's, which took often 20 Tweed niyselL
Thcse three warr2rtsot sept aid sept were divided
la tins way: One Of these is not 10 order, but %
George 3 Mier's, Dni they passed through my ands
10 per cent was divided as tniows; 70 Iweed; -;
Connolly 20; Swccny. TO- believe; Watson, - Wood
ward =; Woodward kept for Tweed and himself 30 per
cent Watson took 30 Per cent ana Qoht KNOW now re
divided IL al that time aftcyNafd knew better; N&t-
took bis 80 per cent in bills retained 40 per cen
did not ac the interest, did Mr. Tweed get any OF
it, il was divided among the others. The three war
rants OF sept. 20, 10 {. u. BOllar Miller ana nsefsO
arc Am ndarse hy Iuyerso & Co; got them 90 per
warrant $50 OF February, 1870, ~ one on Which
received 90 cent and paid out 40; on TIE next TWO
per cent paying ont 40; on SIX warrants now SHOWN
me August, 1870 made the division; two va
warrant OF October IS'O, was dFtdfd IN tne same
way on three warrants OF jug =, l"s9 SHOWN lhe,
and two warrants OF july - were divided IN the same
4. g.. Miller was name | used; George :. MDcl
was real person. oi thc amount Ietined 3Dout ior
seyeiiths fair price tr ule supplies 1unishedi
thIcc-scXcnhs addition 10y me beyond falr price
The then adjourned to Wednesday at noon.
The warrants proved were IN number 20 and III dmOont
Nocc of trai i'm the chief sut Of People agains;
William NJ. Tweed. that for S6,oOOOOo was served on
Sqturlav b, Mr. Perkham the dc'cudtnts counsel.
This necessary preliminary to the Trial OF the suit IN
November.