The New York herald., 1876-11-28
COMMISSIONER FOWLER ACQUITTED.

THE TRIAL CONCLUDED BEFORE THE BROOKLYN
COMMON coUNcn.--HE DID NOT DIsoDEY THE
LAW, NOR DID HE coSspIRE WITH THE
RESERVOIR coNTEACToRs-THE VOTE.
Tho trial of Commissioner William A. Fowler, who
was suspended September s. 1876, by Mayor schroeder
as member OF the Board OF City Works, on charge Of
non tcasance in Office ended yesterday. The trial Of
the case has occupied seventeen days, and q vast
amount testimony has been taken showing tho
nection OF the Commissioner with tho construction
OF the Sl,400, 600 storage reservoir ut Hampstead.
Tho prosecution has labored to show that thero
was necessity for the reservoir at all !
that there collision between defendant
and the contractors, W. Q. Kingsley and A. c. Keeney;
that proper competition was not invited for bids for
the work. and that the amount paid for excavation
the reservoir was excessive The defence was gen.
eral denial The cost OF the somewhat unusual trial
has been large, testimony beng taken verbatim and
printed N IuL 1t would require two-thirds vote OF
ihe Common Council TO remove tho suspected Com
missioner who is a democrat, and the republicans
have majority Of four members tho present Board
which consists Of twenty -four Aldermen, little
party eeng has been awakened pending the
nnai result For long while the republicans
expressed confidence In their ability to secure
upon tho evidence whict they promised to produce u
sufficient number OF democratic votes 10 eject the
muval Of Mr. Fowler. II will be observed, however,
that I'll. minority party reinforced from the ma
Jory that the suspended Official Was reins,ated by tho
vote oil the Aldermen.
President French called the meeting 10 order when
Alderman Burnet moved to divide tho two general
charges ON which the case Is based, and that cacn
Alderman give his reasons Tor his vote. Carried.
The Clerx then read Charge First. charge that
the SAID William A. Fowler been guilty OF non-
casancc oiilcc in persiscntly refusing 10 obey the
directions o! tho Common Council when he was re-
CURED to obey the same by law
Alderman Burnct reviewed the charges at length.
said that ho did nnd the act Of the respondent
In regard 10 the resolution OF the Common Council
thus tar cupabc Tho respondents s'was not permit
ted, by his suspension before the order entered
and the mandainus grantcd to either comply with or
disoDey the oracr u the Supreme Court
Alderman Rowicy said that no hold the charge Is
proven, aud 50 voted.
Alderman Arnot voted not proven and Alderman
Murtha the samc way Alderman GuEaer voted not
proven. Alderman triswold. proven; Alderman Don
ovan, not proven; Alderman Ray voted proven; Al
dcrman Rcardon not proven; Adcrmen Parker and
Ackcr voted proven Aldermen Coitrell Guthrie aud
Jennison, not proven Aldermen Williams, French,
Fisher. S2rist aud Hill voted proven.
The Clerk announced tho the first charge
Proven TO- not proven, 10; Aldermen Burnet, Arnott
and Coitrci, three republicans voting with tho NH
norty.
Tue question as TO tho second charge was then put
The charge stnat said William a. Fowler has dis
opeyod the directions OF the Common Council Tor the
purpose oi bcneGtng William e. Kingsley aud Abncr
g. kcency to the injury OF tho city," several of tnc
| Aldermen again explained their votes. tho result
bcmg-Provcn, 10; not proven, H.
Aiuerman Fritz. who nad been absent when tho Noso
was taken on the first charge, was gwen psrmon "
| bc recorded as having voted proven.
| the democrats on tho IaItcr charge
| President French announced that tue cna5gcs MOI
| being proven tho n accordingly d,smissou
soner Fowler was surrounded ny hrs iriends,
who con grntulatcd HIM upon tho result nc win ro-
sums his duties IN Board Of cy Works 70 morrow