The New York herald., 1877-11-22
GARVEY, THE PLASTERER.

TEhER ON THE sTAND-How HE RAKED THE
cHEsTNUTs FROM THE FIRE.
Once more the story Of tho Ring frauds was told
whom Andrew J. Garvsy, the plasterer employed by
Mr. Tweed and his colleagues. took the witness stand
before the ASsermaDc Investigation Committee yes
tcrday. While Mr. Garvey's testimony related mainly
to iacts that had previously been elected there
were many Interesting details which had
Fever before been brought out The great
plasierer's Intelligent face was closely
shaven, save for bristIy gray mustache,
and his har, OF the same TINT brushed into top
Knot Alderman Slevin absent throughout the
session. While Mr. Garvey testiyng Mr.. Tweed
entered the chamber accompanied by his counsel and
bis friend, Mr.. Charles Devlin. He was attentive
listener until the end f. A. Woodward, J. II. Inger-
soil and George H. Miller into the room while the
examination was IN progress, and after holding u
whispered conference with the committee departed.
II is understood that they a been sworn as
nesses and Will testify to-day and tomorrow, being
proposed henceforth TO continue the sessions Of the
committee IRON day to day.
HOW THE "DIvviEs' WIRE MADE.
Mr. Garvey testified IN substance that he has not
been 10 business ior several years past but form
cry plasterer and decorator OF buildings; he first
began TO work for the city In the spring 1867, when
he had some conversation with a committee OF the
Court House in hurry; after that time he had
an interview with Mr. Tweed, and, ~ the request of
the latter, thereafter added fifteen per cent to all his
bills; Henry Smith told the witness this commission
to be gwen to the Board OF Supervisors for sev.
eral months witness handed the percent age
they were 10 wooaxarG as ns0S wnSn
sion gradually Increased after that
until II reached sixtyave per cent? witness
tinued to work on dril rooms and armories we'll as
the County Court House other buildings; Mr.
Tweed told witness that the commissions were
divided among dive Enthusiastically Sweeny, Hugh
Smith, Tweed aud Hall; witness deposited in the
Broadway Bank warrants 10 the amount OF
$ll,7, Alb ~; he actually retained 1907 7ys 53 and
the value Of The work he did about S26l 660 the
difference between the amount witness received
and the value Of the work was sl3s, 2as;
one day while witness was paying the I'M
mensc commissions 10 Watson anu Woodward
tleman simply shook his head ana remarked, .'Oh
Garvey the legislature is very expensive; Il has cost
US US -, ~ seenea 20 me. sara me witness,
"that he told me that III extenuaton or these
immense percentages;" the amount referred to as
having been received by Garvey incuaed payment
for work done or Walter Roche, or Woodward ana
Tweei; witness built the large ana handsome house
Tor Connolly corner Of 1so.h street and
Fifth avenue, and handsome coach
house IN the rear Tor this work war.
rants issued 10 the amount OF S24S AO6
OF which witness received Sl9l72 he had 10 leave ne
city before tho work was peted ana therc were
several payments due upon the house, the real cost
OF Tho house was from $4,000 to 500 60o was cur
that Peter b. Sweeny received his oil the steal
nus Tweed once told witness to call on Peter b. and
which was behindhand; Connolly also d,rected wit
ness TO call upon Potter b. and say that he Connolly,
the bill paid in tho succeeding spring
hore was another bin OF pretty much tho char
acer.
HITCH ABOUT THE BILL
In tho following June. alter the Legislature ad-
journed. witness did cali; there was some hitch
about the bill on ono occasion witness re-
vnrin
public property from Connolly; the latter re-
quesled that no would Bill King; Mr.. Garvey
called upon King anu received IRON the latter only
twenty-five per cent OF the amount OF the Warrants
next afternoon witness met King who SAID he
him the money; 'the old fellow laughed all over his
face when he got the money said King; besides the
Tor individual members OF the Ring and charged il
against the city; be did work for Henry Smith AM
stcrdam, in this state; for Judge Barnard and for
Woodward, At his place In Conneotcut, amounting 10
$50, 900; he also in 1870 and 1871 did somo wvrK for
Tweed, but the latter PAID him large sum for it in
cash; the work done Tor the other persons
never paid tor by them, but witness "got square''
by adding the amounts due TO his bills against
worm about that for Connolly about So:
ia addition to building his house witness did some
work on Park avenue-buiit an addition 10 tho house
and frescoed II, and did some work three small
houses In Brooklyn, owned by Connoy's son and
sonsn law, respectively the n6uso OF T. Town
dollars worth OF work In that occupied by MIRA Ftnian
be did little work, and also IN that occupied BY Mira
uutchings: the latter lady also him orders
about tho Thirty street house; witness made
the bill out 70 Connolly and received check bearing
the lattcr's name from Watson witness also did
work upon the house OF Supervisor john Fox on
Long Island, and upon his house In Morris street,
aggrcgatlng, perhaps 81 900; this work done by
witness without remuneration from the parties con.
cerned, but no atcrward added the amounts TO his
bills against the city and county, witness also du
Lutte work upon small house owned by Andrew
Bakeey would have paid the bill II had been pre-
sented; he was friend OF witness and the latter did
not charge him; for THIS work witness had never
charged the city.
4 WEALTHY pLAsrERER
Mr.. Cole then questioned witness about the real es
tate owned oy him IN lS7L Garvey testified that ho
then held lols Thirteenth street, small house and
stable, the house ne now lives In, some lots Mad-
son avenue, house In Fifty-eghth street and
lots upon the Boulevard This property stands
In the of Mrs. Garvey, vile OF witness, to whom
It transferred when witness 10 leave
New YORK alter the discovery of the Ring frauds; ho
urged 10 leave the city by threats from Roche and
smith ana others; some Of his friends had inter-
view with Charles O'Conor, and tho latter promised
that II witness would come back and testify mo harm
should come TO HIM In any shape or form; :" witness
thereupon returned aud became q witness Tor the
people.
Mr. CoLE-Did you understand that, Mr. Carvey, to
mean that the moneys you had overcharged the city
would not be required oil your
swell, had explanation that point, but
presumed that the proposition covered erythng
never got ythinR but what earned"
To Mr. Cowing Besides the SLIT, 900 drawn from
the treasury ostensbly 10 pay me- there were other
warrants TO meet Dills In my name; could not tell
the aggregate amount; perhaps II was much as
81 00U, 900; could not state much Of II ac-
tualy paid TO me and how much went 10 the members
the Ring yes, WAS used to pull tho chestnuts
oi the trc; there was much more work done than
most people believe.
To SIR. Coe-I never made presents to officials to
get patronage wo had that already there we're sub
scrptions gotten up 10 make presents to OFF,
caIs; that was the fashion, and always subscribed;
o the money sent to Albany control the tax levy
lngersol subscribed 500. 900; keyser $25 900; Miller
$25 O0O anu, Mr.. Tweed says every body that ala
business down there had To. subscribe this money
they got It back as did
1he committee at this point adjourned until eleven
O'Clock this morning.
INTERESTING SHOPLIFTERS