The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
JERSEYS LITTLE RING
The Exciting Trials Of Warren
County Officials.
AN INQUEST FOR TAXPAYERS
Dr.. Mattisons Escape From Jail and
Subsequent Capture.

Monday has not alayed the intense excitement pre-
vaiing throughout Warren county over the trial of
the members of tho Ring which has been unearthed
here. The town is crowded with visitors; the
hotels overlooking and private families
called upon to find quarters for the
people who wish to be present at tine trials
Never before in the history of Warren county
has term of court excited such great and general
interest. The indicted men, many Of whom have
held positions OF trust in the county and have
oyed the best social standing. scattered through
the several townships. The trials noted, ALSO
for array legal talent that is mustered for the
prosecution and the defence. The prosecution SO
Tar has brought out fact after fact against
the prisoners, without previous warning,
and the impression is general that the
list of indictments, large it is. is not completed
by any means. New surprises looked for, and at
Monday session of the Court it is not improbable
that the curiosity seekers will be gratifed.
INDICTED
The following is complete list Of the men who
have been indicted up to date:--
Dr. John V. Mattson ex-Clerk of the Board of Free
holders, thirteen indictments, comprising forgery
conspiracy to defraud and unlawful receiving. Now
confined in Belvidere Jail.
Simon A. Cummins. ex-County Collector three in
dictments for conspiracy to defraud the county
of $4,000. $4,000 and s32 On bail.
Edwin Z. Bulgin, three indictments for conspiracy
to defraud. On bail.
Jacob j. Stone. ex-Freeholder of Greenwich town
ship ship one Indictment conspiracy to defraud On
Jesse T. Carhart, exFreeholder of phillipsburg and
ex-Director of the Board of Freeholders one in
dictment for forgery and one for conspiracy to de-
fraud. On BAIL
Edmund Teel. ex-County Collector one Indictment
for forgery and one for conspiracy. On bail.
Jesse King, Freebooter OF Belvidere. Indictment
for conspiracy to defraud. On bail.
DR.. Henry M. Cox, OF Mansfield township, eleven
indictments FOR fraud and forgery. On bail.
Charles S. Strader, ex-Freeholder of Washington
township, and late director OF the Board OF Free
holders. fifteen indictments, comprising conspiracy
to dcfraud. larceny forgery and obtaining money by
false pretences Now in jail ut this place.
John c. Danley exFreeholder, of Mansfield town
ship two indictments for conspiracy to defraud On
bail.
to the Board of Frceholders, two indictments for
conspiracy to defraud. On bail.
Samuel Frome. late steward of the Poorhouse,
two indictments for conspiracy. On bail.
William Osborn. Freebooter from Phillirsburg one
indictment for conspiracy to defraud On bail
and late chairman of the County Finance Committee
seven indictments for conspiracy to defraud On
bail.
J. Hudson Sweeney. ex-Freeholder from Phillips
burg one indictment for forgery and one for conspir
acy. On bail.
Joseph b. Cornish cx- State Senator one Indictment
for conspiracy to defraud. On bail.
Gershom IL. Trimmer ex-Freeholder, of Oxford
township, indictments for conspiracy. On bail.
John Is. Snker, two indictments for conspiracy.
Now in Belvidere Jail.
PROGRESS TRIALS.
There have been tried up to this time, cases.
and the eighth will be continued tomorrow DR..
John " Madison has been convicted on count
OF forgery. and pleaded guilty to three others
Charles Strader director of the Board last year.
OF conspiracy. DR.. Henry NJ Cox and John b. Sliker
have both been convicted on one count each of
| spiracy.
The defence so far has been conducted by Mr.. Will
| lam II. Morrow. of Newark Mr.. J. q. Shpman of
Bclvidere, and Colonel J. NJ Robson. The prosecu-
| ton is conducted by Mr. Henry s. Harris. Prosecut
ing Attorney of Warren county, assisted by Mr. Rod
erick Byngton. of Newark. and ex-senator John p.
Stockton. Attorney General of New Jersey. There
are on trial now Simon A. Cummins Charles S. Stra-
der, John M. Sirens and Edwin Bule,in--the latter
being known as the go-between of the ring-on in
dictments charging them with stealing $52ls of the
countys money. The stealing of the ring has been
going Tor three or four years. but is believed to
have been heaviest during 1877. The total amount
stolen it is said aggregates fully 100000.
THE BRAINS OF THE RING.
DR.. John V. Mattison, who is conceded to have
been the ''brains' the ring is ply scian but has
not practised in some years. During the he
amassed considerable fortune some say half mill
ion of dollars, and commenced series of specula-
tons i'll land here and in stocks i'll New York The lat
ter ultimately brought him to grief and he Obliged
to settle down to some legitimate business He pur
chased a handsome drug store ut Washington this
county, and did good business. In the meantime
married and his wife and two children now reside
at Washington. He had always had a taste for poll
tics, and was after time made clerk to the Board of
Freehoiders At was while holding this position that
he became involved IN the frauds
ESCAPE FROM
DIR. Madison surrendered by his bondsmen
~ stay there. he constantly planned escapes and
finally, with the aid of accompce, a woman,
cocdod i'll breaking jail. Ho wrote letters TO her
from the jail here fixing the date of his
escape and appointing a rendezvous. but for some
reason changed them "a half dozen times. Finally
he procured the necessary TOOLS and one Sunday
night perfected his arrangements for escape. The
cells OF the jail open in the usual way corridors
and the corridors barred and grated quite Sc
curely. When the hour for closing the cells
the sheriff made his usual round and noticed as he
cell
1t was not he, however, but dummy made up To
represent him. The Doctor in the Ineantilue was,
hiding in remote corner of the corridor and all
observed remained there until everything quiet
when the last bolts had been shot, the lights turned
down and Good nights said. the prisoner quietly
turned his attention to the bars OF OF the win
dows of the corridor. With a fine and "a bottle
OF oil he worked away until almost morning before
the iron yielded to his push. Climbing through the
aperture nc escaped to the deserted streets and started
at once for his home Going in he secured what pa
pcrs and clothes he wanted, and, without waking
his sleeping wife and children, went to the barn,
harnesscd his horse TO buggy and started
at terrific speed for Trenton, sixty miles away.
Hardly onc-half of tine distance had been accom-
plished when the horse fell exhausted. The Doctor.
however, walked to the nearest farmhouse. and, wax
ing the farmer up, insisted upon being driven to
Trenton. The farmer dcmurred at such unusual
request and offered Madison bed for the night
Finally a bargain made and the fugitive
more on the road The dawn was just breaking
as tho Doctor entered the Pennsylvania Railroad
depot at Trenton and in few minutes he was speed
ing away toward baltimore.
PURSUED.
About the time the Doctor took the Baltimore train
his escape discovered at the Jail. The alarm
given and the pursuit began. Prosecutor Harris,
who knew of the former connection of Madison with
the woman in New York. engaged Pmkeron's Agency
to- follow him up. Detective Il. D. Kurt. OF Phila-
dclphia at Harrisburg. Pa. and was autographed
to 90 look out tor the woman, who IL believed
there. After long search he found that she had
lett for Baltimore, and. believing that Madison would
certainly Join her, lac followed her to that city.
There he found her and the next day
followed her train just abont starting
for Alexandria Va. For that place she had purchaser
Alb. tltp. lnfas ialt Mat
son was the train lie could lind no one there,
however answering the description given OF him.
Finally in the smoking he noticed elderly APP
pcaring man. well mufed up, wearing blue glasses
and having u smooth face. Mattison long
whskcrs and beard at the time OF his escape II did
no. look much like him. Yet he was
acting in suspicious manner and upon
his marks of hasty shaving. Taking
a seat behind the elderly clcrica looking gentleman
the detective waited for about an hour before any