The New York herald., 1879-07-10
ALTERED RECORDS.

<AL4 LA\-O
AN ALDERMANIc COMMITTEE TRYING TO FIND
OUT WHO CHANGED THE REPORT OF THE
copITIERs OF THE CITY ORDINANCES.
Mr.. Elliott f. Shepard and Mr.. Frank L. Stetson
We're few years since appointed by the Mayor as
commissioners to codify the ordinances of the city
and county of New York. Mr.. Stetson resigned soon
after his appointment alleging that it i'm
possible for him to agree with his colleague Mr.
Shepard. who, he said. wanted to have everything
his own way. The Mayor appointed Mr.
Ebenezer B. shafer. ex-superintendent OF In
cumbrances, in place Of Mr.. Stetson. but
no progress whatever made in the work of pre-
pairing proper report on tho laws The Aldermen
from time to time named conference committees
who did all in their power TO reconcile the differ
of the two codfers. In the early part OF the
present year Mr. Shafer submitted his report on the
ordinances and later Mr.. Shepard sent in his. The
matter referred to the Committee on Law.
which consists Of Messrs. Hyatt. Stewart and
keenan,. This committee took entire charge Of the
matter, and cited both the commissioners before
them to compare the two reports, with a view OF
obtaining joint document. Mr. Shepard refused
to 90 before the committee. but his clerk Mr. Ed
ward F. Van Auken apparently took his place.
report agreed upon and submitted to the Alder
were ordered to be printed f
RUMoRs FRAUD.
Since that time the air has been thick with rumors
to the effect that the manuscript had been tampered
with. and that this had been done by interpretations
and by the insertion Of important ordinances which
were never adopted by the Aldermen, but which
would have become laws If they had been passed az
part Of the joint report The rumors freely con.
nected the names of Alderman j. Graham Hyatt and
Mr. Edward f. Van Auken. Mr.. shepard's clerk.
with the attempted fraud. Mr.. Elliott F. Shepard
himself was alleged to have made the correc-
tions and alterations in the manuscript. and 40
the doing of such thing would consttute very
grave offence under the laws of the City
Fathers determined to investigate the charges To
this end: about two weeks ago. Alderman Morris in
troduced resolution rociting the many current
mors and providing for the appointment Of . COM
mittee of fvo to investigate the matter. This was
adopted, and the chairman named as the committee
Messrs Roberts, Morris Robert Hail. Jacobus and
Kenney. The members were authorized to send for
books and papers and TO engage ths services of .
THE INVESTIGATION.
The first session was held yesterday in the Alder.
manic Chamber. There were present Alderman Hy.
att Mr. Martin u. Brown. the public printer; Code
Commissioner Ebenezer b. shafer; Jacob NJ. Pstter-
Francis j. Twomey, the Deputy Clerk: Mr.. Edward
+. Van Auken. Mr. Snepard's clerk and compiler OF
latter 8 name; Mr.. Alfred foreman in Mr.. Browns
employ and Mr.. Hansen, printer in the office. Mr..
Shafer was the first witness, and after being sworn
he said inanswer to questions of Alderman Roberts
After joint reports had been sent to the prin-
ter one day went down to Mr.. Browns and asked
to copy OF the manuscript This was refused me-
Then asked for proof, and the foreman in the Office
showed me one. found that 1t had been changed
and altered. Directions given the margin
said that the manuscript had been set up in type
and slips had been made of it. One Of these slips was
sent to Mr.. Shepards Office. asked the foreman how
the slips came to be sent to Mr. Shepards Office and
he said by tho direction Of the parties having
u1osvv
that had been given to Mr. Shepard, but could get
no satisfaction. He let the proof slips, how-
ever and found that the man uscrpt had been tam.
pered with. / demanded that the publication ol
the document be stopped until complete examinae
ton OF the whole matter could be made. was una
able to the supervisor of the City Record
but when I did SO he gave me every opportu.
nifty necessary. except that could not see thA
manuscript. because It was IN possession OF the
Common Council. In the meantime saw Alderman
Hyatt and asked him to stop the publication. but he
said he could not DO He also said he power
loss in the matter. At last saw Martin B. Brown.
and he said he had distinct orders to print the docu.
ment. and until these ord, orders were countsrmanded
when related all the facts to him he promptly
sat down and wrote an order to the printer to stop
the publication. which was accordingly DONE.
ALTERATIONS.
At this point Alderman Robert Hall said:-'T
would like Mr.. Shater to answer me this. In the
preliminary examination that he made Of the matter
has he discovered any alterations In tho proof slips
in the manuscrpts?'
Mr. Shater (after taking proof from his pocket
Ycs sir. have right here. l can point out the
alterations that have been made right here and
Alderman Hall-Do you know positively of your
own knowledge that the manuscript has been ale
tered or tampered with?
Mr.. Shafer-I do and can proveit.
Mr. Brown would also Like to ask question Of
he has in his is not copy Of the original
manuscript that was sent to the printer?
Mr.. sbafer-I know that the proof slip contains
matter that not in the original manuscript that
/ sent In to the Board.
The witness then went on to say that he saw Mr..
Van Auken a few days after the discovery Of tho
changes and alterations in the report. and charged
him with having made them. Van Auken said that
Shepard had taken entire charge of the subject He
Mr. Shsfer) called Van Aukens attention certain
ordinances that had been placed in the manuscript,
surrcpitiously, as he believed and Van Auken said
that it must have remained in the box. He admitted
that 1t had right to be there because it had
been agreed upon by the two commissioners. It
was not, so far he knew. in either Van Auken's.
Shepards or his (Shafer's) handwriting.
Mr. Aired Mr Browns foreman swore that he
submit the manuscript and proofs of the report ON
the ordinances to Mr. Van Auken; the latter told him
left the witness the number of the rooms occupied
by Mr.. Shepard on piece OF paper: the documents
were sent to Mr.. Shepard as directed; number Of
changes were made In the manuscript by Mr..
Shcpards direction or by himself.
Mr. Hansen testified in corroboration OF tho fore-
going Witness He acknowledged that Mr.. Shnfer
not given an opportunity to examine the report.
FOUR PAGES MISSING.
Mr. Brown, who next examined, said he did
not know that Mr.. Shepard had received permission
to examine the manuscript until day or two sftor
consent given. Alderman Hyatt had told him
that Mr. Van Aukcn had been appointed expert
TO the committee, and that he acting for tho
committee in all that he did Hyatt said that
Van Auken was empowered to make any changes or
alterations. Mr.. Brown then made this statement
in answer to Alderman Morris:-"when the manu-
script left my Office IL complete in every respect.
After 1t back Mr.. Shepard four pages Of
missing"
Alderman Morris-Do you know what has become
Of them?
Mr. Brown-I do not; have not been able to fnd
out
Mr. Van Auken then took the stand. He said that
he never represented Mr. Shepard. but was acting
the expert of the committee. The witness was
shown the proof slip and recognized some of tho
changes made thereon being Ill the handwriting Of
Mr.. Shepard
Alderman Hyatt here made an explanation. He
said he did not know that any changes were to oe
made or had been made, and that when tho changes
were brought to his notice he took prompt mess-
ures to right whatever wrong had been done.