New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-07

about the time called upon to act the first
formation of that ring.
Q-Who composed 1t as first formed A-Allthe Demo
cratic members, and this gentleman from The Republican
side
Q-what were the names Of al Of them7 AT depends
upon what year it was in, latter pauscl have got
data now and tell. I that NO0rhos was mem
Der in 1889, and not in 1s6O, and rcco!ec the CIR
cumsance that Voorhes was had been or was about
he defeated for denomination II SUPERVISOR which
made him willing 10 act IN this combination 70
think it must have been in 1859.
PIONEERS OF THE RING FRAUDS
Q.-well, who composed that ringl A.-Accordns to
the record here Elijah T. Purdy John r. Briggs William
c. Conner Isaac Bell jc., and myself That is the first
combination for any purpose
Q-Were YOU present at any meeting OF these persons,
who were in these combinations when the matters TO
which You have referred were discussedl Al was
present, and think everybody present, except MI
Bell ana Mr. VOORHEES,. never met with Mr.. VOORHEES,
in connection with this All know about him is what
Mr.. Briggs told me- but all the subsequent action was
the same Briggs told would be, and presume,
therefore it was all right as he told me-
Q-Wbat the substance OF what said in any OF
these meengsl A.-Thcre was only meeting held,
and that at Brggs's house, in East seveneenths
Q.-what transpred theni A.-They very anX-
iou about the appointment OF inspectors Of election ana
Mr. Briggs stated that for certain amount he could Sc
the absence Of Of the Republican supervisors
He authorized to 20 and do it, and the money
would be forthcoming While were in session. Mr.
Isaac v Fowler up-he was then Postmaster
and stated that whatever arrangement was to be made
he would see il carried
Q.-What done in pursuance of thatf Arr
Briggs authorized TO have Mr.. voorhees, stay away
from that meeting; it held on a certain day accord
ing to the satute-I forget what dayand Vorhees did
stay away
Q.-Now, in regard TO the money being raisedf Al
know no more about that than what Briggs stated TO me
and what MI Fowler stated that night that he would do
that he would raise the money.
Q-Now. passing that and referring TO any combina-
ton or any acts of this ring whereby the County Treas
ury- A.-That the end Of that ring if that was
ring That was the end OF that combination
THE THREE ARCH CONsPIRAToRS
Q-Was there any other combination Of members OF
the Board of Supervisors while you member Of
it9 A.-There was. John Il. Briggs, Walter Roche and
myself always went together for everything.
Odd yOu three agree do any acts whereby money
improperly diverted from the County Treasury
Ave did.
Q-And received by you or any Of them 7 Ave did.
Own you please state how that agreement or com
bnation formed how it originated Ar Briggs.
Roche and myself used meet together nearly every
day at my Office. No % Duanc-st. We AL members
of The various committees before which bills were
brought and we all knew what bills were before the
different committees. We agreed together whai bills We
would go for There hardly a time wnen our three
votes would not carry most any hing.
Odd you agree to pass bills which at the time were
known by You three to he Improper bisl Ave pass
ed bills excessive in amount; yes, sill. We did
Odd you have any understauding-rou three or
any OF you-to share with the claimants against The
County Treasury Am some instances some of them
did were presumed to have done, and in some
instances others did. Some I did myself
GLOW were these agreements with the claimants
madel A-Gcncraly Tor percentage Of TIE bills.
Q-Persons who had claims against the county would
present them TO Of you three and You would agree
for certain amouutl A-For certain percentage, 60
pass them.
Odd any other members Of the Board beside you
three know of the existence Of the combination A.
This moi during One year $780, During that year we
three the only ones that knew Of Ny counsel
suggests you connne yourself to The different years so
that may know what you are spending Of
Q.-The next ycar-1s61-was there a similar combi-
nation among any of Che OF the Board Of super
vsorsl A.-The same con bUaton was in 1901 CON-
posed of the sumo three persons.
On 1852 did this combination stin exist AIN
1850 10 was the same, composed as before.
Q And Of no elscf A.-No one else, think, in
1862.
o-Pease satisfy yourself with regard to that A-As
far as my memory goes. ! have. sir.
Q-m 1853 did the combination still exist A.-rhe
same IN Sos think composed of the parties and
none others, so lar as r'collect
HENRY SMITH, JAMES HAYES AND JOHN FOX JOIN
THE RING.
OH the year 1864 did the combination still exist
A.-Yes, sir; with The addition OF Henry smith.
O-As 10 1863, the questions A.-The same.
with the addition Of John Fox.
Q-You three with the addition Of Smith and Fox,
making five (! Ayes sir
Q.-Now as TO 1896 Am 1866 James Hayes was
added to it,
OFT was, then, composed Of the five already mon
toned, and James Hayesl A.-Yes sir
In totr Of ftuL hot 1 all fIar4
was in sG7 the same.
Q.-As TO 1857 A.-The same parties, think Idon',
think there was any chanecm 1865.
ON 1860 Am 1869 Andrew J. Blabely and
Isaac j. Oliver added although they did not know
all that Was going on they get percentages out Of
the money. although they didn't know all was
going
Q.-What do you mean when you say they did not
know al that was going ont A.-They did not know
what bills passed and Ahat not; they only knew
they got their percentages Once in while
ODD they know Of any that were not bona ide A.
i don't think they could identify the bills.
Q.-Tcl us how much they knew, 80 far You know
A-TLey they voted with the rest Of US and got
paid for 1t.
Q-Fron whom did they get their payl A.-Some-
times from myself and sometimes from the others
Henry Smith generally handedit them; Ihaye done
il at times.
Q-t understood by those two men that they re-
ceyed this money for voting for bills which would not
pass scrutiny properly scrutinzed Ayes, sir with
out knowing which bills they
Q.-That brings it to 1870 A.-The Board was |
abolished in 1870. as then constituted.
Q.-Now, Nj Tweed. you, at this time, state any
Of bills claims against the County Treasury which
were fraudulenny passed. At is about years
since have had my attention called that matter and
cannot recall them.
O-Do you think you could now, by having your mind
called 70 The and refreshing memory, state
10 the committee any of those claims-What they