The New York herald., 1875-10-17
THE COURTS.
The City Suit Against lhe Late County
Auditor WatsOR'S Estate.
UNEARTHlNG "RING" RASCALITIES.
James Fl. Ingersol Once More on
the Witness Stand.

tis already familiar 10 the readers Of the HERALD
that among the "Ring suits commenced In the name
or the people OF the state against the estate OF
the late County Auditor Watson, his widow Mrs Mar
earet NJ Watson beng the defendant This suit is to
recover the Of ST. 29 2s2 o. and is brought on the
ground that the county was deiraudod out Of this
nmount by fraudulent bills the result Of conspiracy
between tho late County Auditor, William ~ Tweed
and woodward The complaint in the action has
already appeared in the HERALD as has also the AM
davit or the main witness for the people, James H.
Ingerso detailing all the acts Of the conspiracy II IS
stated meantime that the estate Of Watson available
or the satisfaction of any judgment which
nav be obtained amounts to about S5,O0OOO0
About week since the suit was re-
Verred to Murray Hoffman, ex-Judge Of the Superior
Court as referee The referee held his first session
yesterday, Mr. Charles o'Conor and Mr.. Wheeler II.
Peckham representing the people, and Mr John i.
strahan the defendant Airs. Watson. Mr.. o'Conor
briefly opened the case, detailing all the facts OF tho
ssRingp conspiracy out Of which the suit has arisen,
and asserting that, though the claim was FOR large
amount yet all they hoped TO recover such sum up
the amount Of Watsons estate as they could prove
be was pdrticeps criRnis in stealing from the treasury
JAMES II. NGERsoLLs TESTIMONY.
The only witness examined yesterday was James H.
Ingerso and he had little to tell which has not already
been made public. He testified substantially that IN
1869 and 1870 he did business and furnished materials
10 the county or New York through Tweed Woodward
Eweeny. Watson and Others Watson was County Audi
tor during that time and audited the bills his nger-
Bos father had previously been engaged IN furnishing
supplies to the county and he tyitness had conver-
Bation with Tweed about furnishing supplies OF SINH
lar character; Tweed referred him 70 woodward, TO
whom be was introduced by Mr.. Young; was
told by Woodward that he must make his
bills large enough to nay Tweed twenty-five per
cent and Connolly ten per cent; this was in the fan
OF 1867; he furnished supplies in conformity with that
Arrangement; in 1865 five per cent was added, to be
equally divided between Watson and Woodward; in
1869 Tweed getting twenty-five per cent Connolly
twenty per cent, Watson five per cent and Woodward
fve per cent: in 1869 Watson and Woodward had
conversation with him, and understood about the in
creased percentages of division, and it was accom-
plished with their aid; Of the bills went before
the Board of Supervisors; his bills not verified,
there any proof given by him Of their cor
rectness; he would furnish his bills 10 Watson, who
did the guraton OF the accounts TO be divided and he
(Watson him the warrants TO pay Tor bis share;
all these warrants were given by Watson personally;
warrants of ordinary character were given 70 the
claimants by deputy and Watson; when these war
rants cashed Woodward superintended the dstri
button Of the proceeds he Woodward generally taking
Watson his share and he twtness occasionally doing
THE warrants cashed were here exhibited and iden
titled by the wtness.)
Ingersoll continuing his testimony said:-Wood-
ward would generally receive the whole amount of the
charged and superintended its distribution; on
the exhibited there division of sixty per
cent of this Woodward took thirty per cent Of which
he retained five per cent and twenty five per cent
20 Tweed Watson took the other thirty per cent Of
which he retained FIVE for himself and gave fifteen per
cent to Connolly and ten per TO Sweeny
large number Of warrants, amounting to about
$500 000 for repairing and furnishing armories and
drillrooms and other public Offices we're then ident
fed by IngersoI warrants which he had received
forty per cent, the remaining amount being divided
among the other members of the Ring according to
the proportions previously stated by him. In conclu
Ingerso stated, he had stated in his original
affidavit that large number Of the bills presented and
paid by Watson paid by the latter with knowl-
edge that they made out in fictitious names.
The then adjourned to Wednesday next,
when it is expected it will be concluded