The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17
WARREN COUNTS BROKEN RING.


BELvIDERE, N. j., OF CONSERVING TO DE-
FRAUD-THE DEFENCE DEMoRAIIzED
| Ex-sTEwARD OF THE COUNTY PooRHoUsE IN
BAD BOX.
| The "New York conspiracy CASE as the case
| against ex-Collector Cummins and Edward Bulgn is
known. resumed here to-day and after Dean. the
!. States witness, whose cross-examnation
tinued at the opening of court. had finished his test
mony. the prosecution put the stand Mr. Adam r.
Reece, of Phillipsburg. who he took the note
for $4,000 to Cummns and returned ii and the $4,000
| to Dean.
| Next was called Mr.. Edwin d. Kurtz, the detective
whose arrest of Dr. Madison in Virginia has been
detailed in the HERALD. This witness testified to
finding a number of papers on the person of Dr.
Mattison and when these papers were offered in evil
| dence they proved the collision between Dean and
| Bulgin, of the defendants.
DIR. John " Madison, late clerk of the Board fully
! sustained the testimony of Dean.
William A. Schenck telegraph operator at Hacketts
! town. gave corroborative testimony did also Mr.
| William Z. Osman, teller of the Hackettstown Ma
| tional Bank.
BAD FOR THE Ex-CoLLEoTOR
At this stage of the proceedings the prosecution
| created sensation by calling William f. Cummins
| who announced relative of the late County
Collector Cummins testified to admissions made to
him by his relative in which the latter acknowledged
paying the first money the note. and also the $500
to get it out of the hands of Dean and Madison.
These admissions were made to the witness late
| Sunday night last.
| The counsel for the defendants Colonel Robson.
| said What was your purpose in going TO see Mr..
| The wtness-Ny purpose to get him to tell
the truth. said to him, II want you to testify to
| Robson (sharply)-well what did he say?
He said the other parties were trying to fasten the
responsibility upon him. and he would like the truth
'well." (Breathless interest in the court room)
"On sunday night he said he wanted me to come to
Bevdere rs he would go on the stand on Monday and
| tell the TRUTH
| ..why did he want you to come to Belvidere?"
| 'He said he afraid his lawyers would not let
| him go the stand. Sensation and murmurs
| through the court room) He did not like the idea
of others escaping and himself being pushed further
in. He had told Bulgin that he going to tell the
truth, and Bulgn had told him that he should do
| such thing Qaugher) He told me emphatcally
that he believed his lawyers would not let him go on
the stand"
Colonel Robeson-His lawyers will let him 20 on
| now as far as am concerned.
| UTTERLY DEMoRALIzED.
Judge shipman-Will the Conrt indulge us with
| few moments in which to speak with client?
Colonel Robeson-I don't want to touch him alone
/ would like to have two witnesses with me-
| Uaughter
The counsel and Mr.. Cummins then retired for
about ten minutes, after which they returned. and
Colonel Robson spoke as folows:--
after what has transpired it is for the cause Of
public justice that this should be made bare.
|
ness on tine stand such scene OF decentralization is
! not on the books. The poor. miserable men who
my clients have been bounded by the emissares OF
man Simon A. Cumn,ins the stand and let him
tell his story he wishes If it differs from the story
as told us cannot help it. If he convicts himself
| or acquits himself we cannot be held responsible
CUMsfISs on STAND
Simon A. Cunmins was accordingly asked II he
| wanted to go the stand. and he answered in the
affirmative. His face haggard and his eyes red
as il from weeping His counsel did not attempt to
I'm q m II q
way. Az it fell from his lips it completed the chain
OF evidence in the possession OF the prosecution
VIII he came to be cross-cxamined by the District
Attorney he unable to explain away the most
simple fact against him. He was forced to acknow-
edge his part in the transaction, and would only urge
that on his part there intent of fraud. TIE
note forged for $4,000. which Cummins paid,
prise of the prosecution great when. to ques-
ton by Prosecutor Harris TO the whereabouts of
the note, the witness said it was in his pocket.
Harris-Wbere dit you get it?
wtness--From my lawyer. Mr.. Shipman-(sensa-
Harris-when?
Witness--This morning.
The Court--when did you last see it?
Witness-In August last, when gave it to my wife;
have not seen it or heard directly or indirectly
where il was since that time.
The defendant Cummins was tho only witness
offered by the defence and no argument was made by
counsel.
DECLARED GUILTY.
Tho jury then retired and i'll about six oclock,
with verdict of guilty against both the defendants.
Simon A. Culnnins and Edwin Bulgin. who were
thereupon removed to jail
| CLEAN STEAL.
While the jury out celebrating in this
the prosecution called the OF conspiracy against
Samuel Prone. late steward of the County Poor
House and candidate at the last Democratic County
transaction, as stated by the defendants attorney
occurred IN May, 1877, when Mr.. Prone applied to
the Board Of Freeholders for balance due him of
SlG6 o. He was told to sign draft the county
treasurer. and when he did so he discovered that it
called for S466 ~, which $500 than due
him. He spoke of it at the time but Mattison said 1t
all right. At any rate he Frome) only got his
S166 49, and the collector gave the $500 to Madison.
Collector Cummins testified that he paid some of
the money to Prone and some of II to Mattison; he
did not know how much.
Director harrison. of the present board identified
vouchers produced by the prosecution and offered
FOR the defence the defendant Promo was called.
and swore positively that he had only received
siG6 % aud that he did not know what had become
of the other $500.
Mr.. Coursen Alberbsen member of the Legislature
from Warren county. testified that he heard Mr..
Fromc say at the time the draft given him that
IL was for too large an amount.
Dr. J. v. Mattson then called for the defence
and fatty contradic.cd Frome in many points. He
claimed that they arranged to charge the $500
the proper amount
morning.
ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF PHIL
LIPsBuRa, n. j., INDICTED-THEY ARE AR
RAIGNED AND PLEAD NOT GUILTY.
PnILrrsDURG, Jan. 16. 1879.
This place is very much excited over the indct-
mcnts brought by the present Grand Jury against
eleven members of the Council for approprating TO
themselves unawfuiy. il is alleged excessive pay
for services. In August 1877. they eight
! evenings in revising warrants and striking of the
names of those persons from whom nothing could
be collected. In April following they held a
session OF two days and one evening town
committee TO audit the accounts of the town OFF,
Gers. and for this service they voted themselves
] Inv n IA re-