New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-17
Eeic- York, Dec. 80, 1876.

TESTIMONY AFFECTING Mr.. Hustled.
HIS CONNECTION WITH RELIEF ACT FOR MKlEL
AND OTHERS EXAMINED INTO BY TIE PRISON
COMMEMORATIVE WITNESSES TESTIFY THAT HE
WOULD ACCEPT NOTHING FOR HIS SERVICES.
ALBANY, Jan. 1G.-The testimony taken 10y
the Prison Commission last year in regard TO the charges
made against Assembyman James W. Hustled while
member Of the Committee Oh Ways and Means ID given
below Stephen Nickel whose contract for supplying
wood 20 sing Sing Prison had been annulled by Warden
Russell who succeeded Warden Nelson, testified as fol
lows:
O. Was An act passed for your reliefl A. Yes
G. How much was You pad indef thal act iot your III
G. Who acted for You IN poearing te passage OF the
'' o. Wa lie incmScr at tic tiInei A. Yes.
The act Of nc egjane IgTPoTt TO be Tor ga S Mn
BALANCED A. guess II was $500
O. You don't answer my qucstoD-who got 'he bal
ance the other thousandi A That is more than can
O. Did IT cost you amount Of money to get the bill!
drought A. There never Was any agreement made; !
went to HustcG and the member nom our eointy, ard
In oIar words they got 81 900 for their services
A. Yes; / suppose you might call 1t that
@. When you drew The money, for what amount nor,
draft for the whole amount - 800, and think gave
my check for $1,000; cannot tell without looking over
INV clcck-bOOk. -
D. Did sou give your voucher for the whole amount to
the Controller! A. Yes d, ONO
O. Upon what bank was the check for the $1,000
drawn? A. The Fils; National Bank oi Fshkiil;
q Have you no handbook showing to whom the cIcck
was iuade pay abei A. Yes that book will show thai,
and ! think have got the cheek among my 'ouchera
O. Had the party whose favor that chee was mace
rendered you any other service than that legislative ser
vice Tor which payment was included IN that Thousand
dollar chccki A. don't know that ! have had any
particular services; they might nave dohe me some ac-
@. Anything like counsel legal services outsdei A.
No there was never yhng said aUou that matter AT
All: we thought We ought 10 have something for that
matter; MEG Russell WOuid not carry out the contract
Mr. Nickel was subsequently reGxamincd, at his OWL
request, and terrified rs follows;
dosIe to a correction OF my previous testimony
relative TO the claim for damage: instead OF the claim
being S3.5OO ia thai testimony 1t wa; $1,000 as 10
Tie II 900 check that gave to Mr. Hustled to be given
@ What claim had Walker on that ~ ,00oi A. can't
saw that had any unless that we made him
present Of 81 900; agreed TO give anything TO
Mr. Hu sted, Judge Robertson, or Drew .
O. When you gave Mr.. Hustled that check was MI
Walkers maine neniionedf A. think that when gave
Mr.. Hustled e check he said 1t was Tor Wi1her leheck
doscd Or g. r. Capp," who II said by witness 10 nave
been the cashier Of the Westminster County Bank at
Pcekskil al that umeJ; don't think That Mr.. Drew,
member of Assembly ron Putnam County at that time,
or Mr. Hustled, Judge Robertson received Ibng
am slre that never either promised or paid them any
thing az "a consideration
Byron A. Yeonans, who was in partnership with Mr..
Nickel the time of the transactions referred TO- test
fed as follows:
q Old YOU know what cla'rI Walker had on the
II OOOf g. don't think lac hau any Just claim, but that
we expected Walker would help US III getting our claim
tbron9h the way this the claim stuck In the Com
mee OF Ways and Means. and Walker Is man VINO ~
Vn, well posted about such matters and thought he
could help much as any man. though has'eo anu
Drew were using all the influence they could. 49,
o Did y0 give Walker 10 understand ihat he would De
patl n the claim went throughf A. Yes he To- us IL
oud cost 81 600 get IT through the Ways aud Means
Committee ~. =
O Was the II 900 for Walkers servicesf A. ihat
don't know; he said IL necessary 10 have money
O. Were you present when your partner ss'" the
81 GOO check 10 fIus,ed above referred tot A. Yes
O Can YOU tell why did not give 1t directly TO
Walkeri A. cannot tell the only reason was we were
in Albany and lived some distance from walker 80
we sent down 10 him by Hustled
@ Did you ever learn II Walker got the money "a, a.
No. glad enough 10 get our money Oh the ciai
without making any further Inquiry.
O Did you, one Of the firm, have any conversation
with either Hustled Drew VI Judge Robertson about your