The New York herald., 1877-11-23
How Six Millions Of Dollars Were
Stolen from the City.
WHAT BECAME OF THE MONEY.
The Two Sweenys and Tom Co.
mans Transactions.
Restitution Not Thought Of by the Ex-
Chairmaker
WHAT HE SAYS HE is WORTH

James H. Ingsrsol, tho chairmaker. who supplied
such high priced furniture 10 the city and county
under the patronage OF the Ring, was before the Al
dermanic Investigating Committee yesterday. Mr.
Insersoll is a fat, comfortable looking man, appar-
entity about thirtyfve years old and as he ioed IN
an armchair the begin ming ol the examination his
LEFT hand thrust the srowsers pocket OF neat blue
cloth suit, his right caressing his mustache,
and his eyes gazing placdly at the COM
mtiee through a black trimmed pince nez, his
whole manner and attitude suggestive Of
bank president who had just dined rather than OF
self-conviced about to be questioned concern
ing his guilt He testified very coolly about his share
In bg steals from the county treasury, and de-
tailed the familiar story OF the division of the
Bpols He was nomlnaly the recipient OF $6,000.0Oo
O this he said he really received about 81 O0O the
rest going 10 the fvo members OF the Ring SO well
known in that connection. When the day OF wrath
came in 1871, Ingerso transferred his property. He
was then worth about $780, 900 or 500, ,0oo This
amount has now dwinded down to 500 600, and much
pf that involved in personal ltgatons, SO that II
ne compelled sell now ne does
not know that he would be worth single
dollar Alderman Cowing asked Ingerso whether
lie had personally received much 500, 900 from
the city and county treasury over and above his Just
dues for work aud material furnished. He replied,
s'Much moro.n Mr. Cowng then put some straight
forward, sim pe questions him to whether he In
tended to any OF this to the people, The ex-
manufacturer Of chairs replied that he had no such
intention and when pressed for reason, said, "Bc-
cause don't wish to.n He manifested much sur
priso this sort OF questioning, and his manner in
dcated thlt no thought the whole thing very absurd
indeed He testified that he gave FIVE per cent COM
mission certain warrants 10 "Archie Fullerton"
with the understanding that IL was for Thomas
Conan, then Court House Commissioner, and regarded
by Ingersol as ian ugly customer y
THE TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Cole began the examination by asking the usual
preliminary questions In answer to these witness
gave his James II. lnRersoll his residence as
No q East street and his occupation
s'nothing at present. In 1867 he selling iurni-
ture and that year began TO furnish goods the
city and county. The firm Ingersoll Watson "
Co. That arm objected 10 paying the perceni iages to
officials ana witness Withdrew from It and started
business his account under the name OF Inger
SOIL 4 Co, the ''Co." being myth. Then supplied
goods the city and there objection
part OF "lngersoi Cor 10 add percentages OF any
amount 10 their bills. The divisions OF The fraudu-
lent additions 70 these bills were detailed Ny witness
substantially as was related by all who preceded MIN
upon the stand rne arrangement was frst made be-
witness and Tweed, when witness offered pay
thirty per cent on tho work givcn 70 him.
Mr. Cole-Aave you any idea now much work and
material you actually furnished the city and county
nuring those yearsy A. Well TWIN sigh), think
paid out at least 81, 600, 700 ior goods
o. Make estimate OF how mucn money you re-
rcived ior this million dollars worth OF goods One
schedule (referring ~ shows that you received
81, $40. 329 Is Are there any other amountsY A. In
The nrst schedule George ). Miller is included, and
you figure at once on sixty-nve per cent; /
ceived money on warrants under fictitious names
Boiler & Co, II. +. Miller, Gregg Co. ana Halsey &
Co; the second arrangement, by which added hity-
nve per cent to my bills, was mado with Watson,
VINO represented Connolly and himself; l also had
dealings with Mr. Woodward; after Watson's death,
IL 1871, dealt directly WIN Connolly; paid him ten
per cent; before Waison's death he received twenty
per cent upon ali ny warrants these percen tages
were divided with Tweed ana Connolly; afterward
among Tweed, Connolly and Woodward and Watson
under the Board OF SUPERVISORS then when u came
10 the Board of Audit 1870 there was an extra ten
per paid 10 Watson Tor Sweeney; 1
took package OF money into Peter b. Sweeney's
Office; ne was writing at table; said "Mr. Watson
sent this, /" ana eit u down and went out; In the
package was ton per cent on some warrants and
memorandum setting forth when warrants they
To Mr.. Cowing-Walson dd not tell me to give the
money TO Peter B. swceny; he told me to take IL into
The Cnamberain's oice the package did not bear his
name; all those packages for him were simply marked
IS" the next day Watson asked me to wnom gave
the package and said, ''iou will get all trouble
you had business TO gtvo that 10 the SQuiref-
he cailod hm-"you ought to have given that 10 jim
Sweeny;' SAID supposed II all the same and
he said had no business TO suppose anything.
BROTHER.
handed money 10 0Jimn sweeny, and gave him
money myseli; 4 think am entirely familiar with
what l heard from the members OF the Ring at the
time my impression Is that Peter d. swceny got the
money paid to James NJ. Watson never mentioned
lan,s office"
Q. Dd you understand that tho cbamberain's
office meant Peter Is. Sweenyf A. vi course.
q. State again. II you please, how the commissions
were divdedY A. twenty live per cent to Tweed,
thirty nve per cent to Watson aud interest and Ave
per cent TO Woodward; thirty i've per cent was paid
10 the claimant.
his thirty1ve per cent? A. Twenty per cent tor
Connolly, ten per cent was tor Sweeny and I'VE per
cent ior himself
Q. Do you know anything abou, the house Garvey
built Tor ConnoilyY II so, tell US what you know.
A. Yes. In my biis that put In the Board o Audi.
paid Garvey for Connolly 100000 TO build that
house
y So tha, Connoly's house was no. only built BY
ahe CITY, but Connolly was PAID and also the other
members OF the Ring received their dividends
lug u builtY Yes. anu he got twenty per cent Tor
allowing the city to build il tor him Q.aughterJ
Witness tncn detailed the IN which the war;
rnnts we're cashed ana the money divided among the
ShIevca
q With regard 10 the Court House JOB tho CON-
missoners were appointed IN December Of 1S10-Co-
man. Walsh Moron and yourse-now tell the CON-
nittee OF tho Inception Of any corrupt agreement be-
tween you tour, and how IL carried outf A. 1
met the commissioners right after the appointment,
aud there good many back bills which
wanted paid. and intmated that might we'll
mako little out OF the JoU; they wanted the money
BpenJ Tor new work bnally converscd with Watson
ABOUT the case aud be said, II will certify the
bills and they will be paid without the commission
ers;" ] paid over money TO Walsh and Norton, the
Z Did these Court House matters anerward noat
IN the same routineY A. fesi Connolly gotta per-
did not pay Conan anything; Watson got seventeen
and q hall per cent
q Do you know whether Conan ever got any per-
centageY A. Not OF my own knowledge
What do you know OF Conan's getting OF these
dvidendsf A. All know - Watson said TO inc, "You
pay me the ave per cent"
BY Alderman CownQ-Were these percentages
taken OF OF legitimate bills were the per cenages
Edaedf A. some OF the bills had been there Tor Two
or three years, but when they made out u was
known there would DO about thrty-1ve per cent Tor
distribution.
q We're they fair blsf A. About half fair, guess
The perccntage was taken of of all the bills, both
fair and unIarf A. Oh, yes
q Do you remember The names OF any parties who
had these bllsg A. Garvey. keyser Milier, Walsh,
kAstcLester quarry COMPANY ana others had bills
COURT
q. Did you ever pay man named Fullerton any
money 10 be given to Conan OF the steal from
ebe Court House A. Yes, gave him money once.
O Now. wnen you gave Fullerton the money, what
did you give 10 him forf A. Mr.. Watson told mo
40 .sgive the money TO Archie Fullerton ~
q What did you give II 70 him iory A. Because
WATSON told me to.