New-York tribune., 1877-05-02
TWEED'S CHARTER.
THE WoODN INVESTIGATION.


VAN vECHTES, AhasA j. BARBOUR EX-SENATOR
PARKER, ATToRsEY-GENERAL FAIRCHIID, JOHN
NoRRIssEY. AND OTHERS.
ALBANY, May 1.-AmOng the witnesses who
testified yesterday Charles NJ Clancy Justice OF
the Second District Civil Court Of NewYOrk for the past
two years. and assistant engrossng clerk from 1868 to
1871. lie obtained these offices through the Tammany
Hall organization; during part OF 1869 was complaint
clerk in New-York; was appointed by william NJ Tweed.
then Street Commissioner; was in Albany IN the WINTER
OF 1870; was detailed from the Department OF Public
Works to keep a copy OF all matters pertaining 10 the
City OF NewYork directly or indirectly and answer cor
respOndcnce such letters as Mr. Tweed chose to sehd
him; make out amendments, prepare bills, &c; was I'D
constant communication with Mr.. Tweed, and was
frequently by him to other Senator'S
but know OF the use Of money or any Other lu
proper means to influence egslaon; it was invariably
Mr. Tweed's practice that IL any gentleman cime Tor
conversation he either closed the Odngdoors or ordered
witness TO go somewhere else he knew of John uat-
vcys visit to Albany, and Of his interview win Mt.
Tweed about the time OF the passage OF tho Tweed
charter but knew nothing Of the purpose Of his Nlsi
until ne testified on Mr. Tweeds tfa. The witness was
examined ~ great length, but TO nostot tte qu os -
answered tat ne knew nothing OF the matters involved
ABRAHAM VAN vECHTENs TESTIMONY
Abraham Van Vechtcn, a lawyer OF Albany, age 90
WAS next examined For 20 years past has been ~"
practice to aVIear before committees Of the LegsPe
and in other ways AID in the passage OF bills; IN ls'o
was retained by the Erie Railway, and took no interest
in any hill affecting New-Ynrk Ciy; knew Of no money
having been used 10 effect legislation, nut was ~ ,he
habit Of casliug checks Tor Mr. Tweed he "Oud re %
bank 1 think / must have done it that Winter. but
would not be positive whether tho money on . .n"sc
checks was used for the members o. the Legsainiei
what money did draw handed 20 iuc Directly or
handed to the party who brought tAo cncck ~ - @ tn
" and think may have sometime JIst iun9i % ~ ~
the chcci and sent him 10 the bank "ln IT, it NY i-
preston always that great deal OF hat mu"t We
used entirely ont Of the Legsl'inre NY ihprIa71. . =
that there great deal Of money u'eg ~ yho-r df'
among tlc Young Democracy TO charge their ti.HS t5
Some Of Thea checks were larse-or fo'pV HI - 80
WAS accustomed to oasn theoe checks Tor ther or i@
years, and remember nothing 1lslnetl sVu. 90s &
think never cashed cLech 80 IAI-' a5 S1oM1uV M ~ M M
retainc the Erie Railway ny The president
aud never had any cony,f5aIion |,h ] Mr' MA Ie
erence TO the road Mr Tweed AWAY "htIu h m nm r
bank bs-$lOO or laFecr-ior ms cheeksi hah 10 81, ~
ycrsatous with Nr Tweed about bills thot Tie latter de
way that ho desired the Charter nil to pass ana u-
in "rp5sItirn to il were bought mp but had no positive
Information Oh The suajcct-nothiug except gossip.
AM,st J. BtRBOUR's TESTIMONY.
Amas. j. Barbour Of Utica the next witness Was
hprJur master " NcwYOrk for eight years. ana was
deputy collector Of assessments under the Ncw-io'k
CIV Government. 10 wh ch position he was appointed
successively ly g. Cornell, Mr. Mclean and Mr. Tweed
have known Nj Twa.d for p YEAR; was Ill, ~ Ahany g E
1870 ana adN"c'trd lhr pi7a EC n' we & l' m r,r -
by Mir Tweed used argument with members III 4A'or -
lns Tweed charter ,
/ must object to answer that question, p''au7e a.,
the confession of MI Tweed puts me III, IN
whole examination is based upon reported
confession of Mr.. Tweed aud The testimony ct John
Kelly following, in which II IA said need immunity. II
do need il not being thai need an' want 70
know how much need and where should 20 to gel IT,
think IL hardly fair for you 90 ask thdt question:
Ann advised Uy ms counsel not o. answer any question ia
regard 20 the charter on anything else decline I"
O. II You do,n to answer account or eliminating
voiIrspIf why 4. No Sir. make 40 -uch answer tt
s,atrs in his confession that need immunity cn that
4hg relates 60 thc invcsition under the subpoena
,yII al 4
moi 10 answer showed him my subpoena, and he Sald
Wine continued that hc knew Of no money having
been paid any member OF the Legislature to secure
the defeat Of the Young Democracy charter remembers
mo- frt bearing on the ease money sp NJ lcre that
Winter. ana has been every winter; he might have rht
money to Of the legislature, but did not renem-
Der. but mover lent Iny to MT. Noodln - go
o. Have y0u had communication with Mr.. Tweed IN
BT iecri 4 Not by aitrr, hut throagh friends,
Through Nj Dewey and other frlclds who were comlnu
Q. Have you bad any communication with him since
his return 10 New-l0lG - N9Ncmpgi ia9Ii a; hLNe
through several plr.irs-Mr; Caromh o bhrn Hgyant;
Mr. Dewey, Judge Campbell Of Ncw-forE. thuk. ana
through several gentlemen who were IN the habit OF VS.
q Did Tweed send any mess4 -c to you or comnqlica-
non or word uf auy Iudi \. Well, no; don't know
trat could say HAT Ec did tt course Of couyersa
tiOn with MI Dewey the subject Of his gebug fctasci
DY making certain Tcpai1tou "a me ciN ard 10y making
satisfactory explanation ~ lar as he cond OF matters
relating 10 lhc city, was mentioned
q On what points were JoC coI6ulIedf \. As 10 the
letter; was shown the letter hr submitted 20 Mr..
O'COHOr; il amended letter a. TO giving ND prop
aware Of
Now-ICrk Citv departments Tor money 10 hc Used IN
Albany men We're employed ~ Aibuy whose cAbchht'
were paid and probably received other amounts he
di not that any It usod for ,he purpose Of
cOlruping mprbe Of the legislature Understood ihas
Mr. IitrIi an iir Greeley wrre opposed % tho Tweed
cuartar ana came to Albany and the latter made ar
sH against H. THt dbOy l. the Substance of the s-
uony .ven in the course of 4 long examination. Most
o the questions received direct negative answer, or
the Ply that the ness did noI know or could not re-
EX-SENATOR r,rSEK's TESTIMONY.
At the session Tins morning A. X Parker the first
witness; Senator ~ 1868, 6", TO- and ~ and
took IN uctiyc interest f. th2 various 1ls; the Ropub-
can senators voted for the Tweed Charter because II was
better than the existing laws apply to the CITY OF New
York aud OLE reason wa kept considerable number OF
Republicans u Office thrpromlEeut reason waa iiai 'hcIe
was an election passed which we de'ircd-as party
CIV OF Naw-York knew OF no money or improper
beng used to eject It's passage.
THE ATIOENEY-GENEEALs TESTIMONY
Attorney-GeLeral Fairchd the first witness
amined by the Woodm Committee this ateihoon he
said he had no confession OF VIM. M Tweed any
rapcr signed by hm H. had paper letter OF c0mmu-
ncaon from Iohn d. Townsend, in which he (Mr TowI-
seudl Informed him ,,r. Falrch OF what Tweed woud
tJsiy &, Ii CssJ hr was granite certain lHniuhttSi no
declined 10 introduce the paper tell what lis contents
were. lie testified: know nothing about the lcyisa-
ton or 1870; the only thing remember about that
is meeting r Tldcn IN front OF the state Hall the day
hc came here 10 make Ms argument fore tll: senate
Committee against trIt charter; ldOnt know anything
about the charter took no interest IA those matters at
In rra,rI 10 the paper received from Mr. Townsend.
told him that there should bo no copy or II made nor any
to their terms. ! said tnat might consult VIII whom
sUcVcr thought II proper lor iac purpose oI seeinG
whether evidence furnished was of value. think
the public interest demands thdi II should not ne ndue
UbIlc. | think 1t would DE yCTy gross thing for the
Auorney-Geneia to give testimony uuder the crcun-
O. You had consulted Mr. Kelly after receiving it from
O. But You had consulted Mr Kelly prior to this time
win regard 10 some statement which had been made Oy