The New York herald., 1875-08-28
THE CANAL FRAUDS.
Arrest Of George d. Lord n
Rochester.
DAMAGING AND CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE
Bennett SwearS that Lord Induced Him TO
Increase the Sums in the Hand
Relief Bill.
ALBANY, y. Y, August 27, 1875.

ALBANY n Y, August 27, 1875
The Hon. George D. Lord, ex-member of Assembly
was brought before Justice A. NJ. Osborn, at special
term Of the Supreme Court to-day under the following
warrant
ALBANY CorNrY, ss:-rhe people Of the State of New
York 10 the Sheriff ofthe county of Albany
GREETING Whereas complaint has th day been
made by Alexander +. Orr and Daniel Magone Jr OF
oath before Hon A. NJ Osborn, Justice OF the supreme
Court that they have just cause to suspect and do
pect and believe, that George d. Lord of Rochester in
this State, did about the 9th day of February 1871
within this State, commit the crime of agreeing and
consuming to receive large amount of money
other than his legal salary fees and perquistes for per-
forming official act To wit:The iavoring and voting
in the Assembly Of this State the said Lord then being
member thereof and officer of this State for
entitled An for the relei OF John Hand passed
April 10 1871 and that said voting for and voring
said bill in fact, performed by the said Lord
on or about the 10Th of April 1871 with the express un
dersandng his part and under the influence OF SAID
agreement and consent and that the said Lord did sub
seouentlv in 1874 m consummaton of said agreement
receive large ofmoney, and the said Justice hay
ing examined on oath the said compainants, and APP
pearng hererom that there is just cause TO suspect
that the said Lord has committed the said offence;
We therefore, command you forthwith to take the
said George D, Lord and bring him before the said A
NJ Osborn Justice of the Supreme Court at the county
court in the City Hail. in the city Of Albany, to be
dealt with according TO law
Hereof iall not at your peril.
Witness the said, A. NJ. OSBORN Justice OF the su
preme Court, the city of Albany the county oi
Albany, the 10Th day 0. August, 1873
Justice OF the Supreme Court.
The complaint is made by the Commission appointed
by the Governor investigate the Canal frauds It ia
claimed that Lord while member Of the Legislature
1871 procured by improper means the passage Of
under which the State has since been detrauded OF
500 OOo 1t is further claimed that of this sum Lord
has received $40 OOO the corrupt agreement which he
entered into giving him two-thirds of all the money
made under the in question Deputy Attorney Gen
era Farchild appeared for the people and Mr.. W. T.
Cogswell, of Rochester, for Mr. Lord.
Mr. Cogswe said that the prisoner would waive ex-
am nation, and desired to give bail
Mr. Fairchd replied that the prisoner had an un-
doubted right to give BAIL but that the people desired
to go with the examination in order get the tcsti
mony OF the prosecuting witnesses in writing for
the District Attorney of the county in which
the to be tried
Judge Osborn then inquired of Mr.. Farchild the
amount at which he thought the bail ought to be fixed
Mr.. Farchild replied that, considering the impor-
tance of the and the readiness with which the
prisoner could procure ball. should be fixed at $50 000
Mr. Cogswell Insisted that the sum excessive
The Court replied that the punishment for the crime
for which the prisoner held Imprisonment fol
five years fine Of So 900, both He would fix the
bail at $751; 600 James f. Walker and Daniel Rose then
presented themselves and were accepted as bail.
was then decided to take the testimony Of the wit
District Attorney for his use when the up.
BENEFITS TESTIMONY
Lewis ]. Bennett, OF Buffalo, was sworn and examined
by Mr.. Magone, OF the Investigating Commission. He
testified that he Interested with John J. Hand in
contracts 1869, 1870 and 1871, to dredge the Ohio
basin, the Erie basin and the Black Rock Harbor.
Through the suggestion of George d. Lord in the winter
of ISL he employed said Mr. Lord to get act through
the Legislature providing for the relief of John ].
Hand on this work The agreement was to allow Mr..
Lord two-thirds Of the award paper was draw up to
that ELECT with the name of John Cuyer inserted to
whom was to be paid Mr. Lords two-thrds Mr.. Lord
member of the Legislature at the time
Mr.. Magone then read copy of the agreement show
ing that Mr. Cuylers name inserted that OF the
TO receive Mr. Lords share Of wothirds OF the
awarded
Y WStness--ThAt was the agreement we entered into;
theUtcounts for the Relief bill presented TO Mr..
Lord and he returned them, saying they large
enough he directed to raise increase them; Mr..
Lord was the only one who suggested tins To me.
Witness further testified that the price paid under the
contract sufficient and that there Justice In
going the Legislature for award. Witness
also that Mr. Lord was to his influence in get
ting the Relief bill passed. and 1t understood that
he beng member OF the Assembly, could succeed In
the undertaking; became assignee in 1873 OF John J.
Hands interest in the contracts; never received any
thing from the auditor this award; brought suit
against George d. Lord and JARVIS Lord TO restrain
the collection Of over .wocthrds OF The
obtain vouchers for the accounts; | presented
the original accounts to Mr. Lord; he SAID they
small and wanted them increased; increased them
made a false and verified 1t had thought OF
making any increase until approached by Lord; re-
ceived general instructions from HIM showed Lord the
account in 1874; he wanted II Increased and referred
to Mr. Bowman, OF Rochester presented the account
TO the Canal Committee in Thaddeus O. Davis office;
the account was returned by Mr. Bowman as being too
small changed the account; Davis verified II being
correct IN his Office; the charge OF ., 9,l64 days oil
labor is fuse the whole bill is of the same
character; the bill for $36, S55; gave
Davis 81, 900; have obtained false estimates from
the inspector in charge OF the work have paid him
large OF money; the appointment OF the Canal
Investigating Committee my books have been changed
by erasurcs.
Mr. Alexander f. Orr member Of the Investigating
Commission sworn and examined by Mr.. Magone.
He testified that he familiar with accounts had
carefully examined the accounts OF the Ohio Basin;
they were the accounts presented the Canal Board
there were as DAYS work charged while there
only POS days and AZ hours work done; he yet
engaged IN examining the other two contracts.
HANDS TESTIMONY.
John J. Hand partner with Mr.. Bennett sworn: -
He the bill for the relief of John J. Hand the
for the work at pretty low hgures he did not
Keep the accounts; they made profit on the work;
when he retired from the three business he had
made about Sll 0OO he received of the Of
the award he signed the papers however; Mr.. Lord
told him they would be good for nothing unless he
signed them the back; he called them blank certi
Gates and pointed 10 the spot, saying 'slgn there"
The examination here terminated, Mr. Magone saying
there others yet at large, and IL would not be
proper to make public any further testimony.
LORDS ARREST.
/ The arrest OF Lord made Rochester. The
placed in the hands of Deputy sheriff Herman
Wednesday, and he proceeded 10 Rochester,
where he found Lord at his office about eleven O'Clock
I A. NJ. yesterday Alter introducing himself he ex.
hibcd his warrant the arrest Lord who read IL
carefully and though cool exhibited considerable sur
( prise. He announced his readiness 10 accompany the
officer, but asked permission TO see his wife, who no
said not we'll To this the officer consented, and
the visit made. He then asked the officer TO ac-
company him to his lawyers olice and they went
there They then took the four T. NJ train and arrived
here early this morning Lord appeared thoughtful
during the journey, but in good spirits.
Lord returned home the twenty minutes TO twelve
T. NJ train The alidavIts his will be sent "a
Erie county at once. and the Grand Jury of the
county will act upon them.