The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-10
OFFICIAL MALFEASANCE.

TRIAL OF ALDERMAN RILEY BY THE YoNKERs
COMMON CoUNCIL-GUILTY THE VERDICT ON
SOME OF THE COUNTS
The trial oil Joseph W. Riley, q member Of the Yon-
kers Board OF Aldermen on charges Of maeasance in
Office took place before the Common Council In that
city yesterday. Mayor Gibson and Alderman Mitchell
were con spicuous by their absence. When, In pur.
OF report presented recently by the inyesti
tigatng committee, the city attorney was
instructed by resolution of the Board of
Aldermen to draft formal charges against
tho accused and on such charges having been accepted
by the body named, series OF resolutions intended to
govern the trial were adopted by the Board. Among
these II was stipulated, and concurred IN by counsel
both Sides that the evidence taken before the
vestigating committee should alone constitute the
be presented to the Board Of Aldermen sitting
q court to try the charges against Alderman Riley.
1t was also ordered that when once the summing up
Of counsel began adjournment Of the Board should
be taken until verdict be arrived at regarding the
guilt innocence OF the accused.
When the Board assembled yesterday forenoon
there present Alderman Morse, President Of the
Common Council, in the chair, and Aldermen Hicks,
Shonnard, Murphy, Riley, Tompkins and UnderhllL
Alderman Hicks having administered tho oath 10 the
presiding officer the latter turn the Aldermen
individually lexcspting the acc1scdl
mony for the prosecution, occupying the forenoon
session. When the Board reassembled in the alter
n. COUNSEL
evidence for tho Defence the Corporation Counsel
alternately reading the OF witnesses
examined for the defence The testimony on both
sides having closed NJ five r. NJ, II. II. Ellis addressed
the jury hour In behalf oil the accused, arguing
that the testimony insufficient decision
OF equity" upon. He followed by the
Corporation Counsel, who urged that tho
evidence ELECTED in support OF some OF the charges
was In part corroboraed ny the accused himself and
asked the Board to render decision In accordance
with the testimony presented. The Board after hear
ing the arguments went secret session where 1t
remained for over TWO hours in elaboration. The
Aldermanic chamber was finally thrown Open
the vote was to DO taken in open ses-
sion. The charges and specifications
then read by tho City Clerk ana at tho
CONCLUSION OF the reading OF each the President
put the question, "What say you Aldermen to the
specilcstOnY Is tho accused guilty or not guilty,
charged?" The namo of each member of the Board
was then called and his vote givcn.
10 the first specification, charging the accused with
sideralion OF his vote certain occasion
Alderman, the Board unanimously voted equity" as
II also did ON the second specification, charging him
with having offered TO receive $500 Tor his official vote
another occasion.
On tho third, fourth, fifth and sixth Specifications
charging nm with receiving moneys from a contrac-
tor named Kennedy In consideration OF his (Riieys)
guilty" On the seventh specification, charging hun
with receiving $50 from Kennedy for securing tue latter
a city contract the vote was a tic, and thereup0n
the President declared the charge unsustancd On the
eighth in which the accused was charged with having
received $50 from Kennedy Tor similar consideration
to that mentioned above. unanimous vote Of mot
guilty was declared. On the tenth, IN which he
charged with corruption IN the purchase of lamps for
the city, tho Board voted mot guilty." The Board
was still in session at q late hour last evening.