The New York herald., 1877-10-30
THE STATE CAPITOL COMMISSION.
Superintendent Bndgeford Charges Harris
With Accepting Bribes.
COUNSEL AT LOGGERHEADS

m8oe somewnat spicy ny sptteful aud irritating ex-
prcssions on the part OF the three lawyers engaged in
this peculiar drama. Messrs Townsend. Cole and
Cowng represent the legal sido Of the controversy
At yesterdays examination they gave decided exhibi
lions OF bad temper relieving tho OF much Of
ts drearness Tweed was present usual in custody
Of the Sherl7s officers
DIVIDED wfru HARRIS
Hamilton Harris occupied q in the enclosure OF
tho Aldermanic Chamber.
Tho arst witness called was John Br,dgeiord, OF
Albany formerly Superintendent OF tho State Capitol
and builder by occupation He testified that he was
present at an interview between Twoeo and
Hamilton Harris, whom the subject under discus
sion Was change in the commission Of the new Cap
itoi building; the interview took place in Tweed's
rooms at The Delavan House; Mr.. Harris wanted tho
commission changed; tnero was somc trouble as TO
one man whom they wanted TO get rid Of, and as a
commission was to be appointed Harris aud Tweed
werc 10 do the work and divide was then agreed 10
as TO who werc TO compose that commission; IT Was
also agreed between Harris and Tweed that the latter
was to get all necessary legislation and the former 10
manage the commisslon they were to divide the
profits; the bill artcrward passed. and the
mission went out and the new went In; tho new
commission was composed OF A. Kingsley, Do Wolf,
Hamilton Harris, and William A. Merit; Harris was
made chairman; witness was superintendent OF the
Capitol from tho beginning until 1872.
TRACING THE PAYMENTS
On the leading points as to payment OF moneys TO
Harris the witness testified AS iollows:-
O. We're there any ilegtmate profits derived by
any member Of the commissions A. Yes sir; they
were IN the shape OF commissions.
z. 10 whom they paid? A. They wero paid to
me and paid them To Harris
@ Who gave out the conracts2 A. rhe commission.
@ Do you mean That persons who had contracts
paid you money ana you paid II over to Harris2 A.
Yes, slr.
z. Did these commissions amount TO much money
A. Yes, SIR.
Q. Have you collected from contractors more than
once money and paid It to Mr. HarrisS A. Yes, sir.
q oycu know OF any OF these commissioners be-
Ing Interested IN stone quarry that furnished
A. None, except Harris; he was from ths New York
Granite Company.
q Didyou understand that Mr.. Harris was interested
as part owner2 Yes, SIR and he furnished stone.
q. Any other quarrics that any VI the commission.
had an interest IN 7 A. No. sir.
z. Were you discharged by the commissioners from
your postonY A. Not by Tho missioners; got
u letter from W. McAipn stating that my services
were no longer required.
q Did you have any intimaton why you wore dis
charged? A. No, sir.
cEaripIcArm or CHARACTER.
Al this stage OF the proceedings Dir. Townsend read
letter when had been gwen 10 Bridgeiord Ut tho
time Of his discharge. signed by Harris and Rice.
stating hat he had performed his duties with honesty
and economy Tue EXAMINATION then proceeded as
o. Was tnat letter given to you before or after you
received tho letter IRON Mr. McAlpnY A. Aftcrward.
O. Did you tell Mr. Harris where you received tho
money rom that you gave hims A. Yes, SIR.
q Did he direct YOU to demand and receive money
IRON himY A. Yes, sir.
Alderman Cowing--rhcse commissions you received
you were aware were as1ones' @ a, ics, s, sp
that time aud acted with full knowledge OF your
postionY A. Yes, SIR.
Harris 70 Alderman Cowing-Ask who paid the COM
MISSIONS
ixpgDIMgSrs IN THE WAY.
Mr. Townsend objected to this line oil examination.
Aldcrm N Cowing objected to Mr. Townsend dciend-
ing tins man (meaniDg Briagciordl
Tho wilness here fosc aud about make a speech
to the committee when he was told 10 sit down.
A scene OF confusion ensucd, BrIdgclord evidently
laborlng undor great excitement
Alderman Cowing-sit down, sir; sit down and don't
Mr. REORGANIZATION the committee determined
upon my duty here
Alderman Cowing-I Insist
Mr. br.dgeford (agun rlsiGg cxctcdly ana waving
his hand over his head)-li you want to shield this
The Chairman horc raped his gayel vigorously In
ordor To cnJoin silence
Alderman Cowing-Mr Cole, you viii take stops to
compel this witness 10 testify.
Mr Cole-I shad certainly try to do something, with
pleasure, sir
you received tno Eoneysy A. Mr. EDWARD Leonard,
Bangs 4 Gaynor f. K. Seward, Jacob Haler; thero
are o hers, out cant think oi them.
Z Wili you give tho amount you reccvcd2 A.
cannot.
NJ, rwccd and Hamilton Harrs' What year
in a. can't tell.
Alderman Cowing-You must toll. Give tho years
and months.
q Have you not been here In this city this mat
ter before trying make up your evidence. A
have, yes, SIR.
q Can you state how long you talking this
matter IN Mr. Tweed's room with Mr. Harris, and
tell us what the conversation wass cannot s,r.
Alderman Cowlne-You are dong all the taking;
let me do some
q Do you know VINO spoke nrst ana what II
Mr sridseord then repeated the remarks given in
his dlrec. testimony.
v l0u went there 10 assist IN making this steal
A. Yes sir.
Alderman Cowing-well, ,hai's AL
Mr. Coic-Now, Mr Harris, we VIII hear you
SENATOR HAkKis' DEFENCE.
Mr. Hamilton Harris was next called and sworn Tae
gentleman seemed perfectly at in the start but
IL tie oxlnnation progressed he became considerably
excited and nervous. He is a tali handsome man,
about orty nve years old, with smooth lace, dark hair
aaa.llno d oae add Ugh rencad He was dressed 10
black he that he old resident Alb my
ana nad occn twice elected to the State Senate.
Q You nave heard the testimony OF the previous
witness; Is u true Or aisep A. IL Is absolutely aud
entirely false trisihg ana looking ncrcciyj The COM
mission was agreed upon Oy party oil gentlemen in
Inc Executive Chamber; there was never a talk with
Tweed aud Brdgeiord; It's iaisc, ps ialsc (Fcrcay
and ioudlyl Know vi nobody receiving money on
ma. work; u Is certainly iase The work has been
stated, he was discharged; ana Tor wIat com
mee was called 10 investigate certain alleged wrongs
which Mr.. Brldgcford sara existed; reiterate and
testify TO what sworo To before tue Committco oil
Ways and Means.
SCENE OF EXCITEMENT
Mr Harris was dramatic IN his delivery as, with
extended hand, be emphaticaily contradicted the
allegations OF Brdgeord. Tweed watched Harris
closely he gave his testimony, while Bridgeiord
III 'front.' OF HIM ana laughed sarcagtcay at tho Scnu
tors efforts " extricate himself from the charges Of
corruption.
The witness continued by stating that Bridgeford
was discharged because he could not agree with the
Commissioners. lilo next read paper detailing an
interview IN 1874 with Brd2eord In which the latter
stated In substance that ne was willing to discontinue
his quarrel with aim and Dury the hatcho" Mr.. Har-
ris then continued .From that tim. Mr.. Bridgciord
has bcen friendly 70 mc-apparently at any ralco
As to tho letter of recommendation, Mr. Harris said
that was gwen To Bridgeiord 10 show that ho
was not an incompetent workman. Witness next said
that he frequently loaned money to MIR. Bridgeiord,
ana ~ one time whcn hc unc witncss was out Of
town note OF his was protested, aud Mr. Harris mad
to pay the money. From that time had been
trying TO plot against him. and the present
part OF tho plot
CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS.
statement from Mr. Bangs, OF Bangs II Gaynor,
was also read, asserting that tho story of Brdgeofd
ABOUT COMMISSIONS was not true.
MT Coie--Do understand you to say that all the
contracts ior material noncsty a. SO far as