The New York herald., 1875-12-20
THE BROOKLYN SUITS.
WEAKENING OF THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
VIEWS OF COMMISSIONER sTRANAHAN- KINGS
LEY AN IDEAL YANKEE, AMBITIOUS, BUT UN-

WEAKENING or THE TAXPAYERS AssocIATIoN-
VIEWS OF COMMISSIONER sTRASAHAN- KINGS
LEY AN IDEAL YANKEE, AMBITIOUS, BUT IN
SELFISH.
No move has as yet been made by the LAWYERS en-.
gagged IN the prosecution Of the Brooklyn Ring suits
Members OF the Taxpayers Association have been tell
ing the reporters Tor over week past that the papers
were ready from day TO day but these long expected
papers nave not been forthcoming, and there
rumors a1oat in Brooklyn that the prosecution
has backed down. that Mr. Parsons has got disgusted
with tho lack Of earnestness the part OF the mea
who have been instrumental In raising the cry
Of fraud against the public contractors, that the money
carry OH the prosecution has been forthcoming
and that the evidence against tho men charged with
fraud is weak to warrant serious of pro-
ceedings court OF justice. II Mr. Parsons fails to
move the forthcoming week in the matter OF bringing
the called thieves to justice, the only motive that
be advanced for his hestancy is the one substan.
TALLY conveyed IN the preceding statement that the
members OF the Taxpayers Association have repented
of their resolve and Jailed TO subscribe the necessary
expenses for the contemplated undertaking.
TALoNIs.
II has been ascerained by HERALD reporter that
serious steps already foot to institute pro
ccednss against several members of the Taxpayers
socatlon conspiracy The counsel for the defend
ants III the suit which Mr. Parsons has hand will
in few days hence take measures, MS Of the
Der expressed himself, Ito bring the pretended
formers TO their senses" Preparations being made
To several gentlemen Tor conspiracy the
law article Revised Statutes, section s. paragraph
ia, which says:
persons shall eonspre either amy
offence falsely and mneousy indict Tor offence
or to procure another 40 be charged arrested for such
oence or falsely 70 move or maintain any suit they shall
be deemed guilty of msdemeanor which is punishable by
hne or imprisonment. &c.
The OF those Who is said are to bo indicted
for libel are as ioows:-Dcmas Barnes Harvey Far
rington Samuel Hutcheson, Samuel W. Booth, Colonel
A. &. Davis and r. T. Backhouse These gentlemen are
TO be proceeded against for conspiracy and defama
on OF character Tho condition of the State suits Is
thus considerably altered The defendants are eager
Tor the Tray, and they invite their opponents to mako
an assault but the latter party seems to weaken in the
knees.
Cott carried on the prosecution OF the State against
Judge Barnard he entertained well founded hope that
the Legislature would handsomely reimburse HIM Tor
his services after he secured conviction. He put in
bill Tor So 600, and Judge Van Cott u more wily law
yerl Tor $4,000 The Legislature concluded to deduct
ory per c mt from the bills, anu the result was that
Judge Van Cott went away little put out but very
happy, nevertheless, with the sum Of $4,000 IN his
pocket while poor Parsons, did all the hard work
and spent money freely in clerk hire, &C. had to be
content with about 50, 800 This lett hm very small
margin and hc naturally complained that the
State was poor master to work Tor Now Mr. Par
sons like the chid who realizes the burn does not
care to go into this case until he is satisfied that he is
10 be remunerated for his great trouble.
WHAT A LRADiNG BRooKLYSIrE SAYS
Mr.. j. y. I. Stranahan is OF the prominent
cltlzcnS oil Brooklyn He president Of the old Board
OF Commissioners OF Prospect Park. lie Is also d-
rector OF the East River Bridge Company, the president
OF the Atlantic Dock Company and one OF the largest
payers IN the city OF Brooklyn He is argehearted
hgh-spiritcd citizen, and the existence OF Prospect
Park, the rival of Central Park may be attributed
in great measure his energy and persistency. A
HERALD reporter called Mr. Sranahan yesterday as
the most likely TO know the merits OF the
pending between the Taxpayers Association and the
Brooklyn Ring, alleged to have stolen millions of dol
lars from the treasury OF tho city.
'Mr Stranahan what are The real merits of the
| payers crusade against the Rngs"
II really do what the Taxpayers Association
possess the matter OF charges against the gentlemen
started Of late years IN Brooklyn but, think, what
ever they may be, there must be some msapprehen-
sion"
/ s'In what regardYn
al understand Mr. Kingsley Is TO be Indicted on ac-
count OF exactng undue payments for the work he has
Of Brooklyn should honor him for what he has done
KISGsLRY's CHARACTER
"What Is the accepted character Of Mr.. Kingsley in
Wlh tho exception Of the small knot of people con-
shutting the Taxpayers Association Mr. Kingsley Is
regarded with great popularity He is modest retr-
ing man. from whom nobody would ever suspect any
display OF ability but no has got all the organizing and
executive ability of Napoleon: and yet all lie does L.,
as know, more out OF IL healthy ambition be dis.
tngushcd in his profession than from any motive of
money He is one Of the class who illustrate American
enterprise Mr.. Kingsley IL only forty years old and
yet he has done more in legitimate way as d con
tractor, than any man have known. He IL as
gentle and approachabe a child and no never was
known 10 do mean act us far as anybody, and as
my SELF have any knowledge
do you mean TO say, Mr. Stranahan that thero is
no foundation ior all this cry OF fraud ~
II am not prepared TO say as TO what may have been
done. No doubt corrupt practices have prevailed i'll
many departments OF the CITY government just they
exist everywhere else, but these matters that
should properly come under the jurisdiction OF local
authority. When the State is invoked prosecute
offences that come properly under local authority
think II Is bad precedent 10 institute
What has sIr. Kingsley doneyr
"Kngsley is not that Kind OF man the papers repre-
sent him TO be. Why only Ior Kingsley there never
would be East River Bridge He gave his days aud
nights TO that project. He sacrificed time, money,
health and everything IN tho prosecution of this
great enterprise. You know the old saying A
prophet is nothing In his own country To my mind
Mr.. Kingsley is OF the remarkable OF time
He illustrates fully any American knew the
ideal progressive Yankee who gives thought to the
money he makes, but all thought to the glory it will
bring his country"
''What has been the conduct of the East River
BrdgcY"
MIR kingscys conduct of tho East River Bridge has
met with the unanimous approval o all the directors
In years 10 come It will be known what days and
nights Of anxious thoughts lie devoted that under
taking. He Is one OF the most unselsh OF men, and
he would rather be known ns the who accomplished
tho great undertaking of building bridge to unite
Long Island with Manhattan than bc the owner Of
gold mine or the conqucror OF an empire Money Is
the secondary item IN his calculations. He is am
bitious, but not with any unworthy purpose