The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-17
MORE OF THEN CONVICTED.
ANOTHER CRUSHING BLOW ron VAR
REN COUNTT'S TIMM1NY.


Guilty In the $500 Conspiracy Cnse-A
Cousln's Testinony-Nr. Frome's TRIAL
BELvIDERE Jan. lex County Treas
uror Simon Cummins. and his bosom friend.
Edwin Bulgin. were tried to-day for conspiring
with John Dean and Dr. Mattison TO obtain
So. 200 irnudulenty from the county. Tho State
used Mr.. Dean and Dr. Mattison az witnesses.
and the story OF tho conspiracy as developed in
tho trial was in brlei as follows About
year ago. Mr.. Dean. who was then
Chairman OF the Finance Committee OF
the Board OF Freeholdcrs. in some way
got hold Of note signed in blank by some OF
tho former county officials Mr.. Dean filled II
up for IS 300 and 1t made. to all appearance,
perfectly honest note. On this note Treasurer
Cummins paid at first $4,000 in cash. AMI sub
sequently 81 200. tho first payment being made
through ono Rols to Dean. and the second
through Bulgin TO Dean and Dr. Mattison.
Bulgin going to New York TO meet Dean and
Mattison. OF tho 81 200 payment. Dean and
Mattlson got 800 each. which they used in
specializing In stocks in Wall street. Bulgin
returned 900 TO Mr.. Cummins. which the State
claimed Cummins divided with Bulgin. There
was no chance for any further payments. be-
cause tho investigations OF the Ring which has
led to these prosecutions were begun soon after
| the 81 200 payment.
10 llllS hNoIN llf hull ufl'u'' ppo'A NtiN
Mr. Cumminss own testimony. lIo admitted
all the facis. but denied any wrong intention.
Hc paid the s2 500. he said. in good faith. but
then he hegnn to he very ipcohcrcnt when
| pressed for an explanation o. his payment OF
/ 81 200 nfter he suspected TINT the note was not
all right. AZ near as the State could make out
| he excused the second payment by saying that
| he made it 20 get the note back he sHid ne
| never asked the county for any credit Tor
| the money that ho paid out on the note.
| When asked why he had rceeipted up
iss onS n2e =, 500 HTaa HTd been paG on Enss " Gs sad
! that was his custom with all notes, But Judge
Bsaslcy remipdcd the jury that this was inst
| conspiracy, and that they would have to detcr-
mine whether public oillcer would for any
only a isi part payment had been made.
| VIM. \. Cummins, cousin OF the Treasurcr
| astonishcd the defence. and took away. as
| Judge Shipman privately admitted. every
chance oi acquittal. By king the stand and tell
ing oi n conversation he had with the Treas
| urer last Saturday, in which he made prac-
| tica confession " his guilt
Judges Shipman ana Roheson. seeing that
the witness was telling the truth. and that there
! was no further chance ior their clients, Thought
| they would rNpos" what thev called the Infinite
meanncs- ~ the younger Cummlns. nni So. on
| cross-cN. .minat1n they drew from h,m We NJ
| mission that his conversation with his cousin
WIS carried on. under the pledge 81 secrecy.
| Tho defendants lawyers after this did not pre-
tend 10 make any further defence. Thoy did
not even argue the case before the Jury, ana 50
the state allowed the Jury To- retire with
! only the Judges charge 10 guide thcm. Judge
| Bensicy delivered the charge with far more
| feeling than he had before shown. He WIS
| deeply affn ted SO ono uf tho states counsrllors
said 10y the appearance OF the OH man on the
| witness stand VINO. II the States evidence was
| true was tremhlingly and almost incohcroniy
| committing perjury The Jury retired. and then
| did judge kDbesOn seiZc the younger Cumming
| anG take him % an nute-roou. where he could
be- seen stcrnly denouncing him Tor volunteer
ing testimony that may senAh aged cousin e
| prison. Tho Jury returned Just As the court al
iourncd. with n verdict Of guilty against both
/ Cummins and Bulgin.
This Jury had been out only fcw minutes
before Prosecutor Harris had another in tht
box. and the case of the state against Samu"
called. He was indicted with Dr. Maitson. foi
conspiracy 10 defraud tho county. in n raised
draft. % 800. Fr1me had an honest crell
against the county for slGG ~. But II was made
siGG.92 and Treasurer Cummins paid Fromt
tho money upon H. such was the testimony o
tho state. Mr.. Frome began vigorous
defence. He sand that he took the drast from
Madison and endorsed IL without loOking al
the draft. when he did look and saw that the
draft was $500 larger than his account he pro,
tested. and said that the over payment would
be surely discovered. but on Dr Mattison'-
promise tu make the matter correct by sep
aratr voucher he drew the money ana turned
th" $500 OVER 90 Or. Mnttison This testimony
was somewhat corroh, rated ty Mr. {. h. Alhrr
sru of ~" New Jersey Assembly who s!tl ht
got his money. and heard frome say that tht
! amount ut the tlrHit wa- moro than IL ought {,
| be. l.r case WAS 800 when tnc court adjourned
Al tie oIeuiuc - court this morning th" tom
! mon Council % PulliI~hurg H't live oA-luem
| hers appeared in goutt with hunt-mcn They
! have benu indicted for taking illegal teos. Rnt
one. James MH H'ormick. has besides, lndict
mcniS 10 answer Tor moro serious offences
forgery being one. He has been cou~plcuoui
llfial and politician ol ihiilipsburg. Ihel
gave bonds Tor 5000 to appear.