The New York herald., 1876-01-01
THE BROOKLYN RING.
Indictment of W. A. Fowler, Of the
City Works.
FOLLOWING UP ROGUES.
The Documents from the Grand
Jury Room.

The Grand Jury ofthe Kings County Court o sessions
came into court yesterday shortly before noon ana pre-
sented TO Judge Moore batch Of indictments among
which was one against Commissioner William A. Fow-
Ter OF the Board OF City Works in which he is accused
Of receiving money from gas companies holding
tracts from the city The court room was crowded
with officials and lawyers. Among the latter were Gen
eral r A. Pryor and oxJudge Morris, counsel for Mr.
Fowler The foreman OF the Grand Jury handed the
Judge the following presentment which win be found
interesting reading for the year by the taxpay-
ers:-
To rHE Hon. JUDGE MOORE, COURT oP SESSIONS, KINGS
COUNTY
We the grand jurors OF the county OF Kings for the
December term OF your court do respectfully present as
follows
That there have been laid before us by the District
Attorney certain matters relating to alleged corrupt
payments money by certain corporations OF the city
OF Brooklyn These matters were partially considered
by immediate predecessors but by them unhn-
ished for want We have carefully considered
and examined into such matters, and while we find
sufficient evidence satisfy us that moneys have been
demanded from the gas companies by certain officials
and large amounts had been paid to certain officials by
the gas companies admittedly Tor service rendered
but as we believe from the testimony, for purposes
that dscredable 10 all parties concerned Yet we
regret to state that owing to the astonishing
loss OF memory Of the officials connected with the gas
companies 10 why or 70 whom large sums OF money
were paid we have been unable 30 obtain sufficient
evidence to Justify criminal Indictment except in one
instance These operations referred 70 were so care
fully screened the part of city officials from inves
CATION by the employment OF irresponsible agents and
go-betweens that find difficult TO specially
IN this direction without involving by intmation some
who should be exempt from suspicion. Ii is a subject
OF congratuaon that the evidence tends 10 show that
so far least corporations are concerned no moneys
have been paid during the present year.
The demanding or collecting Of moneys by city
officials for other than legitimate purposes from those
who have pecuniary relations with the city as contrac
tors or otherwise and the payment of such moneys TO
them we believe TO be violation OF good government
preudca the public interests subversive Of public
morals and justliying our severest censure and con
We desire to say that the District Attorney
has aided and co-operated WITH US whenever required
during our session CHARLES J. CAVE, Foreman.
The following the text OF the Indictment
State Of Neo York, County Of KiRgS s-The jurors
the State of New York IN and for the body OF the
county OF Kings upon their oath present that
By an act OF the Legislature OF the State OF New York
passed June 2S 1873 there created in the city OF
BROOKLYN. county of Kings, a Department OF City
Warts: that said department was composed Of a
president and two commissioners each of said Commis
oners known and designated as Commissioners of the
Department of City Works, and the said president
and commissioners constituted and were known as the
BOARD of City Works. "
That at the time hereinafter mentioned the said de-
partment duly and legally organized and william
A Fowler OF the city and county Aforesaid had been
duly appointed qualified ana had become and was act
ing of said Commissioners OF the Department
OF City Works aforesaid
That on the 10th day of December, 1874, there was
then existing and in full force and effect certain
tract between the city of Brooklyn and the Peoples
Gas Light Company corporation dong business in the
city of Brooklyn and duly organized under and by vir
figures following, 10 wit
This agreement made and entered into this I'd day
OF April 1874 between the city Of Brooklyn, through
It's and Commissioners OF City Works, party of
the first part 10y virtue Of resolution Of the Common
Council Of said city, adopted March 9, 1874, and the
Peoples Gasght Company, party Of the second part
Wtnesseth that the said party Of the second part for
and in consideration of a OF money hereinafter
agreed TO paid said Peoples Gaslght Company by
party of the first part has agreed and doth hereby
agree TO furnish gas OF not less than fifteen candle
illuminating power for the street lamps and public
buildings in the district occupied by the pipes OF the
said company from the ls day of January 1874 to the
3lst day of December, 1874 both inclusive,
for 81 80 per thousand cubic feet, the gas for
street lamps bo furnished through three feet four
feet burners the Common Council may from time TO
time decide and the burners in said lamps TO be changed
TO conform to tho decision OF tho Common Council
upon ten days notice thereof 10 the said company.
And 1t expressly agreed that in case Of default in
either the amount quality Of the gas supplied from
whatever cause, a corresponding reduction shall be
made in the bills therefor, the city reserving the right
TO ascertain at any time, by actual experiment. what
amount and quality Of gas sufficient and also 70 in
crease or reduce any time the number OF street lamps
70 be lighted Said company also agrees TO clean and
repar the lamps for twenty two cents per month
for each lamp and 70 light and eXtngush the same for
one cent each per night said lamps to be lighted and
extingushed in accordance with the following time