The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-25

y,,u IL more than Probnhie that st5. Ooo,-
900 win Keprr-rnt the Thrus In Ics- thnn
Three Years aud ~ Hair at the Rings Kule
How the Percentages were Traced.
The spectators at The opening of the soa-
,lon ~ tho Adcrmon's uvostigation Committee
ycsiordlv wore unuaually few in number and
anon them were no p"raons a. deserving Of cs-
p,ial mention. with the poss blr exception II
Me- Hon. Hamilton Harris. who entered the
rhlnber with his friend. Alderman Cowing.
nnd consulted with him for some minutes
sef,rv the meeting. Mr.. Tweed lid not arrive
,n,il tho proceedings vrro we'll under way and
hen hls fa,~ wore look Of greater illness and
cnin than has b-'n seen upon IT before ut amy
u thcee nrctinrs. lie was uultc pale seemed
oppressed 10y woarincss ani listl'ssncss sat
much ~ the time with his eyes closed and at
one point In the proceedings while Mr.. Tantor
sas on the stand, retired t. n corner Of the hall
b. acok u quictrr plaoc. whore he might assume
IN casicr position.
Alderman Cowing when the session WIS for
mnlly opened. announced that Senator Harris
WIS present 10 reply IA any charges made
against him. and asked the privilege Of being
heard in tinc for any statements or cNplana-
tons necessary 10 do him Justice to get before
M public before The approaching election.
Mr.. Cole said that la subpoena had been issued
iol the witness indicated hy Mr. Tweed at tho
la.. session who WIZ Mr.. John Bridgcford of
.~G State street. Albany. and that il WIS served
urnn that gentleman ut his residence at 6
O'Clock ON the evening Of the 22d inst. hy Mr.
James VI Vdlce. Mr.. Brid.,ford came to New
York. on the 23i inst. and had an interview
with Mr.. Colo. and. notwithstanding he had said
10 Mr. Wales that be would attend the meeting
Of the committee md testify. he here said to
D. counsel that he should not do so having
ben advised thereto by his lawyer in Albany.
loving made tbs announ cement. Mr.. Bridge
lni returned ~ Albany on Tuesday night.
having beh nd him a written statement of his
knowledge ~ tho facts concerning which his
ryil"nrr was required for the committee
Alderman Cowing objected to the reception Of
n statement on the ground that the witness
y ould be- present ~ sustain cross-examina-
Ton. The committee finally refused to accept
or recognize the statement. and directed Mr..
ro't to procure an alta hmrnt tn brine Tho wit,
n's- To the next meeting. Alderman Lewis as
surng senator Harris that every opportunity
would be- accorded him To meet and repol the
NrueatlOns brought against him. Senator IIur-
f4s thcrcupon lett the chamber
SIX YEARS OF COOP WORK
Mr. Henry F. Tantor was then sworn. and
MS 'xamination progressed m follows;
been engaged FOR about six wears in gathering
arrnng M. presenting and APPLYING or sug-
E'@NHN wv. HilnI'NilpN tl mo evidence IN
n'.tioh WIN ine lrxlds p'rreirAt' d aeuust the
cil and county oi NV York prior 10 1872
0,-ln ne employ Of the Finance Department
o. the city Ayes. sir.
Q.-From what data have You made an your
personal knowledge of those Ring frauds A.
tn" foundation has boon certain warrants nnI
voueht RS found in the Compirollrr's office re-.
rr sentng the basis for payments. and the
UlrinH ol those warrants To- their destination 30
iir MS could bee. ana the tracing Of the payments
AGAINST tn9s" warrants 10 their destination 80
far rs could BE-.
a. l.
ton. ot course: hut there have been facts de-
ve"ped from time 10 time. and circumstances
which have gone to corrohoratn the dis .overips
thus made and which nave led 10 new channels
Q.nfou began your invest igatlon by cxnmin-
q 1865 an prior TO that time, aid You notY A.
J. ~, SIR My attention was FIRST called by Gov
! len or ly Mr.. Tillcn before he was elected
Governor, 10 IN" special nudit-that was in 1871
TO the last six millions Of county warrants
pad under the special Board Of Audit but sub
terror p"ripi-say the first Of January ls6s-
and there commenced Ia develop up to the
lime the special audit- commenced.
THE SUPERVISORS RING.
o. want you 10 give as succin,t an account
az practicable OF IA" personnel and operations
Of what Is known ns the Suprrvisore' X nas, t,iy
ing names and dates and amounts in sucrinrt
Why. want 10 know from YOU nrst the history
q mat Ring, 10y th" records and documents YOU
have examined. A.-Wcn. | found "A large
number OF warrants and a portion III the yourT.
youohers drawn IN certain names INN nrnyiNus
evidence had shown there WI. nm el,.n,,nt ~
fraud connected with. Those wnrruut- found
generally went 90 tl"credit ~ one Or two PARTIES
IN certain banks. and | found that there werr
payments spontaneously with the dppoeit-
generally within one two. three or four DAYS
81 certain portions Of those MONEYS. although
ios some time. say three or four wears was
uhtnle 10 regulate the percentages those checks
prcst nted. Had had access To- the vouchers
! ,oui, nave regulatsd them long before. Tut
heyi ,ih' VOUCHERS. had been distracted from
Z. zoe 81
those warrants represented Ind according To-
w. printed proceedings II The Board Of super
Wis, PASSED mat body in very irregular and
lhlorWA manner. Such vouchers a., | could
nAn frequently found had 40 dates ON them.
HNl oven the years IN which the bills purportni
- nave neiuod. and they were often without
iN"0' WIZ 20 NuMrl on heir lace great care
-, ,,,Sh'S, 10 say m least both in the way they
"'f' Drawn up and IN their passage through
w. h1trd 81 SUPERVISORS. | found that gen
'tuy luN-H bills were referred To- committee
o. " Board Of Supervisors and passed upon
'ui YIN" FOR examination. the comm toes r.
b"iiuf ON them Immediately II looked ike
y merits ~ the claims. la Sos Their. WIS "A
laN nHee"i giving the Cumttr0ilrr the -urrau,
aDNnrl,> o. and adIu-t claims against 'hc
"" rumauts should 60 through the form II
ti.iu'N' n1h@ atnns. tut | thiuk that WAS
~ nN'ri Almost entirely. found that on behalf
q. lHi- adjusted. or raid-s NnuIHhHlimlIlious.
nf found That all thoe' Nll- ibat lnd
lI.fi N-N iissed ihcli0aId 900 SDprrA i-.r- lHl
70 1911 .'tNrNed hy the Comptroller lu tlls audit
' i' -" claims; tnnt tho records Of the
t"h h' fn' Pc claims wcr" ict. except prrhaU- "A
i'N 'lil arg "n's, and that the warrants were
VI "'w. - Mt % M" same dr-'unf ous and
" g. distributed ON an rvnct prrr.nias.-.N,
,,NF '- ~" partner. wouFl distribute their
t''h7 IN iNsin'~-, upon 40 -yet.m ol percent
a. 10 vary M al din rHnl periods.
TnE WAKtANTs
y Won SAP thf tue warrants worn generally