The New York herald., 1877-10-30

as honestly as possible on such a building
Mr. Harris was asked 10 explain what no meant by
his statement that the that bad been spent on
the new Capitol building expended honestly AZ
upon any public building aud replied
81 will not say as honestly upon any public build
ing IN tho world Won't say exactly honestly but as
honestly as any building"
T. That word sexactlyG implies that there has been
some little dishonesty A. take u Tor granted hat
thcre will be some little dishonesty every public build
ing OF that kind, but Is dishonesty that you cannot
provide against some man will steal brick and some
man will steal this and that but firm convic-
uon Is rom what know Of y that the money appro-
priacd Tor the CapitoI at Albany has been hon-
esy expended Tor carrying forward the work as any
money that was ever appropriated for any public build
ing IN this country; that IS tho idea; won't say that
| there has been stealing.
| O. DO you know Of any dishoncstyg A. believe
have answered that, but DON'T know OF any.
y Even OF this MINOR sort? A. l have heard OF a
good many cases OF a minor sort, but don't KNOW ;
ibere In these investgati ons which have been
| had during those series OF winters many things vi
'hat KIND brought up. and could furnish the names
Of persons who made charges during these winters Of
such things, but don't know that they know any
tning they have tried to prove thom thus far and
| have iaied
| @ And so tar ! understand you to say that you
have never received any money from or account OF
| the contract IN which Edward Learned or Bangs &
Gaynor or seward y Co or jacob Holler had any in-
terestf A. Yes, sir; say
O. What was the light Bridgctord said he was tired
oiy A. The Capitol light, suppose, It was because
1874
O. And he was discharged whenY A. Mr. McAlpin
was appointed superintendent IN June 1873; tor
the ngh suppose ho alluded 10 these Capitol
wherein no was charging me and the other Commis-
| sioners with having abused and Improperly treated
| HIM, and charged US with receiving moneys
O. Did he charge the other Commissioners tosY A.
He charged Mr. Rice; don't know about the others.
| y The fight that he was goiug to stop, you un-
derstood him, was that he would quit making these
accusations about you aud Rlcey A. suppose 80.
q Hyou would do whalY A. He didn't say what;
he wanted peace, simply.
| Q What had you done? A. had asked the Com
mittec OF Ways and Means--consdertug tho stories
| Brdgelord had tod-ior AN investigation, aud had
commenced ard given my testimony iour days before
/ this conversation
uons A. No. sir
/ THE FIGHT WAS ABOUT
ldon't understand what the light could have been
/ about thenf A. We had asked ior an sligal,on
ia vndicaton oil ourselves and after had gwen tho
testimony which have related here then he
the office, and this conversation eusued that have
gwen. WHAT he meant by the fight cannot say. Tho
impression which was lett upon my mind was that he
should not DO overhauled that investigations, but
whether that was his motive could not say.
O. What had he done 10 DO overhauleds A. Nothing
| except his conduct on the Capitol.
| = What was III A. don't know OF anything
against him except our Gushing. He accused me- OF
things aud accused him oil things
Y What did you accuse him Or A. He wanted TO
run the Capitol independently OF anybody else without
| taking the advice OF any one
| O. Do you mean running II frauduicntlyG A. No,
o AT tho limo Of this conversation had you heard
OF MS making these accusations against your A. Yes
| q And tho fight on bis side was accusing you OF
| taking porcentagesr A. Yes. Sir
O. And the hght on your sido was that no tried TO
run the Capitol Independently OF the Board2 A Yes,
sir; had no fight against him; had nothing against
him; ~ soon as he ceased to tackle there was
| peace
| Q. And yet this was after you had heard OF his
charges against your a. Yes, sir
O. Aud you were willing 10 have peace he was ?
A. was; had nothing against hm.
q What was the reason OF your discherging him
A. That ho insisted upon running the work indepcn-
IDENTITY Of the advicc and counsel OF Commission
O. If no purchased the material honestly and eco.
nomically and you say that IN your letter OF recon.
mcndation, and no iault could be found, why not
that AS good plan as any oiherY A. Because hAd
| to pay for II and we wanted TO know about Il.
Here Alderman Cowing asked Senator Harris II there
/ the Senator said, IL don know o anything eso."
sUPERISrEsDENr BRIDGEFoRi PROTESTS
"Hod on!" interrupted Mr.. Bridgeford rather a
loud tone rising IN his scat "You not through
yet want 70 put some qucstions."
Alderman Cowing told tho witness sharply that no
was not on the witness stand then and to cease
| taking
Mr. Bridgeiora said, with considerable excitement
| "You ought not to back me of herc-one moment II
| you will allow me TO have little deence. THIS u
| this mans notion OF doing tnings He comes here
with nlg hurrah but have positive proof that he II
lying, every word Of II"
=! viii have you committed for contempt Of Court
empbaticaIy said Alderman Cowing
| Mr.. Bridgcford-lf you Will only allow me | have
other proofs gcLtlemen. have come here under nm
| attachment aud have no chance Tor defence. have
no counsel | am prevcntei IRON saying anythiu &,
and want things to so IN here IN tner proper place
/ Mr. Townsend mere reminded Alderman Cowing that
in his (Townsends) opinion the questions put by the
Alderman had been lhe most leading possible, and II
he would allow his client 10 put some questions now
he would be delighted
Aier considerable rather acrn onious discussion ID
was lnaiy arranged that The questions Of Mr Bridge
ford should be put through tho mouth Of SIR. Cole,
who thercupon announced that whilo no aid not ex.
acty Ike mis- duty he would perform tan
ment that Mr. Bridseiord agreed TO with great
aacrity.
the letter which has beon read evidence
Ing The character Of Mr John Bridgcford written and
signed by you ard Mr. Rlcer A. Ii was signed In my
office. IN the presence OF Mr.. Miller and Mr. Reynolds,
| my partner, ana Mr. Rice.
Y. Was Mr. Smith present. A. No, sir.
q. Dd you ask Mr. Reynolds advice with regard TO
signing tha, letter. A. dont remember; We talked
| about IT,
/ O Who wrote tho letter A. / forget now.
/ Who presented the letter TO you to be signed ?
A. think Mr. Rec DID IN the drst place; | am not
sure. can give you the substance OF the conversa-
tion; II was III regard to the possibility OF Mr. Br,dgc-
lords improperly using this letter IN he got OF
Tended with us. SIR. Bridgeord disclaimed any such
! be used for such purpose.
| y Did Mr Reyno,ds say he would not do Il II ho
was In your placer A have forgotten
Y Did you suggest that the letter be put into the
hands OF Wesley smith until after the investg gat
was compctedy A. ! don't remember. IL was pu,
| into his hands l don't remember at whose sug
gcston or whether al my suggestion or why. know
that II was put into his hands and that he there
Y You did not take minulo oi that conversation
| A. No. slr
| Q Was Il your custom TO take minutes OF such
conversational A. No. sir; but II was Of such convcr
i
mar had done wrong, and The other was statement
! that he had been honest economical, &c.
Do you recollect ever gong 10 the house OF John
Bridgeford while TINS examination into your couduc
~ Commissioned Of the Capitol was going on and beg
glng Bridgeord Tor God sake 10 let up you and no
to make tbese accusations against your A. Never;
reeo.cc, going to his house, but never made suci
expressiona
q Did you carry letter 10 him al that time iron
! Henry smith A. | went 10 soc Henry smith abou
thai lime, and after al interview with him bridge
ford ana smith and myself met. but whether TOOK
letter Bfidgeioids mouse TO have BridgcIord om
down to Smita's, aud exactly how the meeting wa
Trough about have forgotten. think this lette
/ was TO nave Drldgeiord eaiL cannot remember IN,
conversation between smith and myself that led le
| tbe giving ol the letter.
Q Yos didn't take any minute OF that conversation n
/ did your A. No, sir.
The witness WAS cross examined az some length BY
Alderman Cowins, but nothing material was added Ia
derac,cd from his testimony, aud the mnlittce
then adjourned uuti next Thursday morning, al ten
O'Clock, when Mr. Harris - expected TO DO again
present
| MUNICIPAL NOTES.
Il s understood that Mayor Ely wkpot send 10 any
4 poll md Pa m nlqsIQ