The New York herald., 1879-09-04
President Weuman's Charges Against
Park Commissioner Lane.
THAT FIVE hundred DOLLAR CHECK
Mr.. Lanes Honesty Seriously
Impugned.
Seriously
THE MAYOR APPEALED TO.

giadatoral contest at the meeting the Park Board
yesterday. This TO be expected from the stormy
nature OF the proceedings two weeks ago. when
Mr.. Wenman accused Mr.. Lane of certain oih-
cial Irregularities and threatened to produce
the proofs of his allegations. Mr Wen
man redeemed his promise yesterday by
the reading or number of letters and other docu-
nents OF personal and spicy nature AS II an
ticpating startling revelations. the four Commis-
sioners were punctuany on hand while the corri-
doris and Offices OF tho department were crowded
with anxious politicians and office seekers. who held
improinptu debating societ:' to determine IN
advance where the official thunderDoit "ouiu
strike. Mr.. Lane entered the Board room
with an elastic tread and smiling face. He carried
with him formidable bundle of docuin ents, which
he encircled aflectionately with his right arm Mr.
wcnman. looking bright and contented. followed III
tho wake Of Mr.. Wetmorc and Mr.. Conover joined
his colleagues with rapid stride, as if he shifted
the battle from afar and was eager for the fray.
lns HosrILITIEs BEGUN.
Mr. Wenran lost no time in bringing the contest
to an issue. AS soon tho routine business of the
Board was disposed of Mr.. Wenman took tho in
itatve and opened an aggressive attack on Mr.
Lane which the latter not slow to reciprocate.
mr. Wennlan produced a budget of letters. and
said he was then and there prepared to
demonstrate the satisfaction Of Messrs. Conover
and Getmore that hc had used no idle threats when
he promised to bring tho proof home that Mr. Lane
not the irreproachable official which he would
have the public believe. Mr.. Lane interrupted
MIR. wenman to say that any assaults made
upon his character would not injure him. as the
public would only laugh at Mr.. Wenman for at
tempting to rehabilitate old exploded charges. and
that his boasted documentary evidence simply
The gar5led ex parte statements OF irresponsible
persons To this Mr.. Wenman replied substantially
That perhaps it would be well for Mr.. Lane pos
his soul in patience until the documents were
read and submitted the Board. and then his vim
dication explanation. If he mad either to make.
would be in order At this stage of the proceedings
the wordy war interrupted by Mr.. wetmore
demanding the proofs of the charges against Mr.,
Lane, and Mr.. Wenman answered by saying that he
was prepared to produce them. 'In this relation"
MIR. Wenman said 81 think it will be pertinent and
in accordance with a promise made two weeks ago.
that should produce another instalment OF docu-
menary proofs the result of my investigations. to
satisfy my colleagues OF this Board that have not
wantonly without assaiIed Mr.. Lanes
official character. have taken this decided course
because l consider that l would be derelict i'll
my duty if failed in exposing certain actions which
deem to be injurious to the department and the
dignity of this Board. will go a step turther
md am determined to stop all further newspaper
scandal and bring the questions at issue between
aud Mr.. Lane before the Mayor investigation.
These grave Irregularities must be stopped, and
the tine propose TO show the public the Of
u relormer Nh. Lane really is, he has frequently
boasted that he was the only honest Official and
. moral i'll the Board. The time has
to settle this trouble definitely 6nd 10 show how
thoroughly l have pursued my investigations |
propose reading the Board " rev documents that
have in my possession. and also propose to trace
the history OF the mysterious $500 check. of which
30 much has been heard
"A MUTcAL FRIEND"
Mr.. Wenman therenpon submitted the following
letters, which were read TO the Board by Secretary
Barker. The first in the list. purported have
been written BY Mr.. Lane to "a mutual friend. be-
tween himself and other attaches OF the department,
but whose name is suppressed:-
DEARZ-I carried the programme to-day. Resou-
non was passed as you saw y .aSi n'g NY Letter sent
satisfied The warrant delivered this afternoon.
undoubtedly will be Please If possible insert
sostai il should NOT appear thai have in any way
i@ed IN the matter must SEQ You tomorrow 1t poss-
Mr.. wenman maintained that the above letter had
reference to the signing OF the warrant of the
tractors. which. lie alleged, was not done until the
''my sterious' $500 check forthcoming on tho
part of the contractors.
rhe following is alleged to be the programme
referred To in the above note. The schedule, Mr..
WcnInan averrcd, placed in the hands of .'the
mutual friend" who was to lay it before Commits.
sJulcr Conover. in hopes that the latter might be
induced thereby to become an ally OF Mr.. Lane i'll
the joard:-
rcagnnton Mem.--Iay II on the liable
2 ecmovai of Superintendent Dawson.
j. Resolution restoring to treasurer the purchasing
4 Re~end the resolution placing
= RESOLUTION resembling Wcnmans osaeS of OCTOBER >,
q. Removal of Franklin.
:. Restore Or Barber as surgeon.
:. lemoyv karthof skilled latorer;
Restore Waldr9n Yonng, skilled laPorcr No'o-Thc
IT, Remove IT, eean Il. m G"orsesner q" Arsenal
70 have Lame indicted ana has
The following letter to the mutual friend" was
next put ia eviaence:-
DEAR IL have called three times today VIA call
nsain o-nght Must SEQ you fon must assist me in tho
5. Z. LANE
NOVEMBER 23, 1878
DEAR zThc effort of McEncroc and Quintard-the CON
tractors OF tho Riverside prevent the
sinesr on the Commission viii result in breaking up The
mt2'e matter TIE Mayor viii make his eppeiatnsis
sacd o SOC you. 80 80 : '"' '''''' : L. Lane
O;'ioN cLun FiFrH AvksuE AND lwEsri-tIsr srsfkr,
DEAR Z-you absent from the oince when called
this eiiernoen Wenman and Conoyer have made all they
They wall Franklin and reject preamble
@orSt situation Tor MeEneroe wcnmaa and coaoser viii
eIam that Franklin statement yindieases Am en-
he depended james o'Bricn said to friend Of nino
patronage. he would have him impeaehed and removed
from once All this is against McEneroe. because Kelly
possibly before may. write this eonddentiaily.
'z's" CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
The following note was written BY tho mutual
hicnd:"-
NOVEMBER. 1879.
My DEAR Mn. McENcRogLano insists TO DO paid by the
salary OF $500 year. monthly. which no
wants the Park Board pay him as trensuer. least
until he receives salary from department This OF
IL Ia addition what what requires Board
g. do ABOUT the trcasurcrshp and itH powers.
No what you promise him to make h IN act
squArciy must not under circumstances him
nuney hecnngo would njure YOU II should got
= against the law. You know that you acting
honorably with The city, no canuot possiOy njuro
la the An, would him damned before |
would let him blscEma II the Board chooses do
ho demands their business will send you
whcn | hear from him
When tho above document was read aloud Mr..
Lane said excitedly. "it is lol II IS false! Will
hayc ttis (meaning the mutual frlcIdD in
dlctcd before grand Jury Tor bribing pub
lsc ofical. Mes rs. Nctmorc and Conovcr there
upon exclaimed, "rheu you DO admit that you have
beeh br.Dcdr MI. Lanes olly reply was, ~ Will
hAse tAe MLLler thar nLter inalctoM Tor briblng