The New York herald., 1878-11-30
WHO GOT TT?
A Pertinent Question for
the Taxpayers.
ROGERS & JONES' SETTLEMENT"
Thirty Thousand Dollars OF the Cltys
Money Unaccounted For

true inwardness OF the settlement made between Cor
poration Counsel whitney. ON behalf of the city, and
Messrs. Rogers Il Jones, the Ring statoners. IL VIII
be remembered that of the s50.000 paid by the city
Messrs Rogers 4 Jones. according TO the published
statements. received only $1,000 Mr.. West their at
torney $4,000 and DIR Henry d. Felter. the agent OF
Messrs Rogers 4 Jones. 1000. The query remained
'what became of the remaining s30,0o0?' and popu-
lar gossip answered it in various fashions. There
were those said that somebody i'll the Corporation
counsels Office got fat slice of the money for his
supposed influence in settling the affair; but will be
seen further below Mr. Whitney denies that any of his
assistants knew of the settlement until it had
been made. The general opinion was that there was
something decidedly crooked" about the entire
transaction. and that Mr.. Henry d. Feter, who re-
ceived the $4,000 and divided it, should give the
the taxpayers of this city. $4,000 of whose
money apparently taken out of the city treasury
without anybody knowing what was done with it, 1t
will be from the interview published with Mr.
Feer that that gentleman still refuses to shed
light the division Of the money. Hithero this
refusal had been based upon the allegation that ''all
the parties satisfied" but the following letter.
received yesterday from Mr.. Jones. renders this ex
cuse no longer possible. The letter shows that Mr.
Jones did not know the city willing to pay
$50 600 and that he wishes investigation The
following is the letter rerbatim:-
LETTER FROM u. JARVIS JONES.
FAIRFIELD, Conn.,. Nov. d. 1875.
To THE EDITOR OF rHE HERALD
Being one OF the parties who might be supposed to
have some direct interest in the Jones and Rogers
case and being at present in much doubt to who
divided the money paid to Mr.. Henry ID. Felter. and
also being unaware that the city intended to pay
$4,000. trust that the whole matter may be inyesti-
gated by the proper authorities and this settlement
Of claims having an honest basis made clear to the
public and to J. JARVIS JONES
of the firms of L. Jones X Co.
and W. G. Rogers \ Co.
1t rumored yesterday that Mr.. Jones would
rue Mr. Felter in order to obtain accounting
OF the missing s3oo9o and also that steps being
contemplated by the Bar Association to set official
investigation of the matter foot. A prominent
member of the association however, who ques-
toned to the truth of this report, denied that
such the case, and said that any five taxpayers
could under the laws of 1873. obtain order from
The Supreme Court under which every official of the
Corporation Counsels office Mr. Felter and all the
other parties interested in the case, would be
PEELED to testify. He said the statute compre-
hensive. and that upon the showing made in this
there would be difficulty whatever in obtain
ing such An order from any Judge of the Supreme
Court.
THE CORPORATION COUNSEL SPEAKS.
Corporation Counsel Whitney again visited yes
terday and informed by the reporter that Mr. Jones'
in a communication to the HERALD. had receded
from the position preyiously taken by him-that he
satisfied with the settement-and desired to have
the division OF the $4,000 investigated.
Mr. whitnsy said:-"I should gladly tell you how
the money was divided but / am entirely unable to
do IL was none OF my business 10 find out what
done with 1T after the city paid it, Some of the
newspapers may have been under the misapprchcn-
sion that desired to keep it secret. On the
trary, 1 should have no objection to telling you
everything know, and you may state that nobody is
under any obligation of secrecy to me. The fact is
that / know nothing about H. Mr.. Jones cannot
place upon any responsibility for what has been
done with the money to which he may consider him.
SELF entitled"
DELICATE POINT
while nobody doubts yonr perfect honor and
integrity in the matter. Mr.. Whitney" the reporter
continued yet it has been hintcd that somebody in
the Corporation Counsels Office, without your knowl-
edge, may have got some OF the money for his sup
posed influence in bringing about this settlement?
The Corporation Counscls reply was clear and TO
the point. You may say. he replied. that
Of my assistants. and no person connected in
any way with the Corporation Counscls Office.
had the slightest concern ia the matter, or
knew Of the settlement until ii COM
pleted. The settlement made solely and
personally with me-ot course, L mean with
me- and the COMPTROLLER whom / consulted very
fully upon the subject. We both delighted to
make the settlement at s50.0J0. and thought IL
the best that could be done for the city, 1t
appears from a statement made by Mr. Jones in the
HERALD that he was willing 10 compromise the
for $4,000, and the haaty inference might he drawn
ngure. I have seen evidence however, that Mr..
Rogers would have been satisfied with that. ON the
contrary. and the Comptroller knew that our offer
TO compromise at $4,000 had been standing for
sure. week before Il was accepted, and that only
short time before offer to compromise at even
larger figure had been rejected by their attorney Mr.
Oliver ". West"
''You had direct dealings with Rogers or Jones'
Mr.. whitney,
'No, never even saw them through the entire
1T has been suggested that you might have sent
them word at the jail to find out at what figure they
This would have been an unusual course to
adopt
'.iou can suggest no way by which the disposition
Of this money could be ascertained. Mr. Whitney r
"As far | concerned | have satisfied my
:lients aud II the other side not satisfied surely
nYs Ha H.lI Ia E'N4rN NlInHt hn EflNr
.bout the claims would concede that 1t IL the best
compromise tha. the Comptroller aud have had the
Was not Mr. Vests fee Of $1,000 pretty large,
Mr. Whitney r
II think not in view Of the magnitude Of the litiga-
on which he had carried for ve or six years but
whether large small il had be satisfactory TO
him in order to the dscontinuapee Of the
actions and IA 1t to be paid by the other side
my only concern was 10 have him satisfied, As to
get discontnuance"
COMPTROLLER KELLY APPROVES.
Comptroller Kelly too busy to see the reporter
yesterday, but i understood at the Comptrollers
Office that the Comptroller still stands firmly by the
Corporation Counsel who he thinks. has made
ceent settlement in behalf OF the city and that he
perfectly Justified in settling with Mr.. Feter az
DE legally authorized agent Of Iogers Jones. Those
sho had conversed with the Comptroller confirmed
nas been already published coming directly from
MR. rELrsa's nKr1cExcE
Mr.. Henry ID. fclter found at his liquor store
on broadway. As soon AZ the reporter announced his
mission, which he endcavored to do with the utmost
pOntness, IL manifest that Mr.. Feltcr deter
mined 10 rcpcl even tho fricndest advances and to
remain as dumb oyster.
Mr.. Fclter, said the reporter, after introducing
himself Ia lo form, II have come in reference to the
IsogcrJOncs affair
Al this announcement Mr. Felter's brow became
visibly ciouded II am sick and tired of IT,, said he
abruptly: II have heard enough of it," And with
this he gave the reporter u magnificent Wow Of the
imposing outlines Of his ponderous back.
But the HERALD and the public arc determined to
get at the truth. Mr. Fclter the reporter gently
postulatod, and sorry say. therefore, that
you will have to hear more about It,"
We'll. they'll have 10 get their information some
where else. the resolutc swer; i've got
nothing to say"
lin ali Kindness Mr.. Feltcr, arc you aware that
your silence lays your conduct open prescn
iati0n in reference to your disposition Vt these miss
ing ts0,O0oy