The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-25
A THRICE TOLD TALE.
How Jackson s. Schultz Loaned and
Lost the City's Money.
A CURIOUS TRANSACTION.
Witness Real Estate and How He Dis
posed Of 1t.

John H. Keyseg who monopollzed the plumbers
work OF tho city aud county in the Ring days, was
examined before the Aldermanic Committee OF Invos-
tieat,on yesterday Mr.. Keyser subpnnaed some
time sincc but failed appear, and at tho session OF
tho committee Thursday Counsellor Cole an
nounced that " no did attond yesterday writ Of
attachment would DO applied for Mr. Kcyser took the
hint and hand. He 10 nfty-scvcn years Old
win hair and beard almost snow white Ho was
piaiuly--aimost shabbiy-dressed In dark SUIT, aud
wore pair OF silver-rimmed spectacca Tho ques-
tions Of Alderman Cowing and Mr. Colo he answered
In an Indifferent tone and with an evident
determination 10 tell little AZ possible. I'm
Ike HIS former colleagues Garvcy and iugersoll, he
did not even profess willingness TO testify SO lar
Us his memory would His replies
evasve that Mr. Cole several times lost patience dis
played y little temper and threatened 10 have him
committed by the Supreme Court Woodward and
Miller seated together in remote corner OF the
Chamber and much amused AZ tho efforts of the
witness to parry questions. Sir. Tweed was present,
and duri ng the progress Of the examination had CO.
casion 10 pass Woodward, whom he took occasion 10
shake hands with him. Mr.. Keyscr's the old,
old ssory-so far anything could be cxtorted from
MIN at al-but II acquired new interest from tho
peculiar manner in which 1t told
When closely pressed by Alderman Cowing regarding
his alleged bad memory he grew stubborn
After dispa raging mis- memory witness was asked
whether he could rec0llect what he had had for
breakfast He silent Tor time, aud then said,
injured tone, ut ia In your power to insult me-
sir Upon Mr. Cowing explaining that the question
was asked Tor the purpose OF testing his memory he
stated that he sick aud had eaten NO breakfast
Several times he declined TO answer questions until
Mr. Cole threatened TO have him committed Tor con-
tempt
tho
statement that Jackson s. Schultz trustee for
city, ivaned 20 witness personally upon second mort
CAGES 500 No. collected from Tweed and Others, and
that tue properly subsequently sold under fore
closure arst mortgages leaving nothing for the
city.
KEYsER's TESTIMONY
When tho witness took tho stand he testified that he
lived " No 1873 second avenue. and ia now engaged
no business.
Q. What business you in from the years 1867
TO 1917 A. was in the foundry, stove, plumbing
and house furnishing trade.
Q. What was tho arm namei A. Keysor Co.
Q. Who was the company A. There CON-
pany the legal sense my brother had interest In
the business
Q Did he nave any OF the profits or bear any Of the
lossesr A. He did not.
Q Why did you call yourself Keyser Cot A. u
brother Of the business ne lett his capital IN
Q. You were In the habit OF furnishing articles TO
the city and county oil New York; A. was.
Q. what artiolesi A. Plumbing, &c.
q You made your bills sometimes In the name
OF John II. Kcyser aud sometimes Keyser Il Co !;
what WAS tho reason Of that discrepancy A. don't
q DID you ever make an arrangement with any
county city officials 10 raise your bills and get u
porcsutagsY A. Not thai remember.
Y. Did you ever get percentage on any billsP A.
| Not that l remember.
| O. Were your arrangements with the city strictly
| Q. Why not foncstY A. Because certain bills
| shcro was SO 1.S per cent raised.
Y DID you ever enter into any corrupt agreement
with any Guy official 10 your bills, they 10 yet
dividends on them SO ra'sedY A. There was never
any definite understanding.
q Now please answer my question catsgor,c ally
/ yes or no.
| Mr. Keyser hcsitated and said there was mover any
| definite understanding with anyDoGy. he finally
| said:--"Wcl, yes. did make an arrangement The
| SO l3 per cent"
Q That Is not an answer. A. had no definite ar
| rangement
| Woodward A. ! had no definite understanding.
Y Mr.. Kcyser. II you DO not answer tnat question |
VII have you committed Tor contempt Of Court and
tAxe you before judge In Chambers. A. Tue suo.
stance, ,nen. If you INSIST upon an answer, was that
70 lake the oils out o. tho Board VI Audit and
| ~ poS'T KNOW"
Q Why was the IS l.3 per cent addouy A. don't
q what did you suppose it was added tori A.
supposed the officers OF the city got II.
Y. Have you auy idea VINO got uY a. suppose IT
was DIVIDED among Tweed, Connolly, Sweeny aud -
Mr.. Coe-Namc them again-my patience Is ex-
haustcd.
Mr. Keyser-Tweed, Hail, Woodward, Watson.
| Sweeny.
MT. Coe-His name.
Mr.. Keyser-i CONT know; you tell me.
Mr.. Coe-rhere were Peter u. and James u.
Mr. ksy ssr-Peter b. sweeny.
q When did IL first dawn nyour m nd that this
SO l3 per gong 10 these ufciasY A. CAN'T
remember, but think It was in 1870.
Y. Did you have any idea, PRIOR 1870. that TINS
poser A. don't Know asI have any RENE m brance
about vi
Mr.. Coe-I didnt ask you that
MT. keyser-l didnr get IT myself.
Mr. Colc--Answcr yes or no.
! Mr. keyser-I nave no idea
z. For whs, purpose dio you suppose ms - ID
per cent added TO tho billsr A. Blc was Ill.
rected 10 do SO; OF course. thought II was morally
q WHAT oid you think would be done with this per.
| ccntage That you thought was morally wrongY A.
can. recoliec Du, Knew wasn't 70 get any OF H.
Mr.. Cole--l INSIST upon your recollection
Mr.. keyser-i don't know; might have thought,
| bul uont know.
| win whom you MADE ,his arrangement what would
become OF TINS porceniaseY A. idon'l remember
| Mr. Coie-You must remember; That Is too thin.
| Mr.. keyser-There was u secrecy about everything.
| anu uon't remember.
a. Dla you ever make an afoavit IN relation TO this
| matter, ana was " The truthf A. ! did.
q DO you recoIiect In that affidavit that you swore
| 10 n cJnversation you nad with KING anu Woodward
ABOUT the percentage which was addedY A. do re, OIL
icot the olndsvII vut | don't remember why put on
| the 80 is per cent.
| Mr. Cole-You must remember. Read this (handing
| witness uCcumcntl
Witness here read the affidavit
DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
q Now do you rccolicct WY you put on the - l-3
| per cent? A. 10 that light do; Il was put on that
| others might get the money.
o. Who do you mean ny others? A. City officials
Y You anew ut tbut time u WAS to be divided be-
| tween cry onicsisf A. NO. / did not
l. O. King ,oid you 80, did he nUtf A. Should say
| he dia, now that undersl and tue question
| O. Now, will you please tell me why you have made
me spend hall AN nour In endeavoring 70 get you 10
Toll the truthY A. did not understand the question
| that Is why (Lauehter.)
O. Whom did you hrst discover that these transac
t,oas were fraudulent A. 1 couldn't tell from mem.
ory
O. Was IL about the time Of tho exposuref A.
suppose So
a. Did you not At any time call at the Comptroller.
Office to examine the voucnsrs-and what did you
nnd2 A. 1 did call at the Comptroiier's onico, ano
uebs lhAxa 49, a Tho nm ara