New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-09
THE V4RREN COUNTY FRICDS,
THREE MORE CONVICTIONS.


II. NJ. cox, CHARLES slBADER AND j. NJ. sIIhE;
FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY TO DEfEAUD--
FOUR OTHER EX-OFFICIALs TO BIZ TRIED TO-DAY.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSEI
BELVIpERE, n j., Jan. S.-TheTe was an end
to-day OF the spiracy against Dr. H. NJ Cox and
Charles sradcr, the former eehOlders and Contractor
j. NJ. sEer. All these prisoners were found guilty by
the jury entire day had been spent by the counsel
and by Judge Beasley in summing up the testimony
gwen on previous days The charges against the accused
men, briefly stated that they conspred to cheat
Warren County ont OF S349 In the building OF bridge
Contractor Skcr had engaged TO build the bridge IN
consideration of S742, half of which was to be paid by
Morris County. Before the bridge completed Slkcr
got $3.50 time order signed Cox
& strader and $l99 on another occasion on an
order signed by Cox When the bridge was completed
Slkcr put demand for the entire cost OF the bridge
and Cox & Strader signed warrants by which lie re-
ceived 1871 from Warren County. In the dis
coyery which was made last Fall, OF the frauds prac
tised by the former Boards Of Freehoders in Warren
County this transaction came to hight The counsel for
the accused men put ingenious plea by which they
hoped defeat the action for conspiracy In the case
of Cox they claimed that lie had forgotten all about the
two former orders when he signed the final order for
S37l similar forge!iu attributed to Strader
slker they admitted, had been dishonest III taking
money that did not belong to him; but, II the charges
Of conspiracy were not proven against the other two
men 1t would be absurd TO claim that SlkeT
was a consprator They argued also that there was no
proof conspiracy because neither Cox nor strader
had prohtcd by Shhei's dishonesty
In summing up the case for the State, Attorney
General Stockton swept away these arguments in
noble speech He showed that 1t not necessary for
the prosecution prove division the spoils in order
to establish the charge Of conspiracy; was enough
that the three men acted III concert with the intention
Of cheating the county Such consprator he said, did
not have to TALL tapering hats with pumes at the
a. a f.t.lp. than al noaA
to meet IN secret ana say C0hc let us cohspiIe To-
gethtr to rob the County OF warren IL was falr 10
what they did do The plea OF forgetfulness the
part OF Cox and Strader he held up TO rldcue, and
he drew the character Slker in words That made that
individual vince perceptiby. Judge Beasley sustained
the Attorney Generals position, and shot keen arrows
OF sarcasm AT Sker whO be said had virtually admit
ted his guilt When the jury left the room Dr. Cox
90 he III high sprits and 1t was believed by many
persons who had watched the trial that he had won over
of the jurymen whom he had entertained lib
orally at the hotel After delay OF nearly two hours
the jury returned verdict Of guilty Tor each or
In the meantime District-AttOrney Harris had moved
for tTia in conspiracy In tins case there
indictments against SIX persons Dr: D. v MAUI
SON. exDrectOr Of the Board OF FrcehOlders and now
confined In Jail on conviction OF forgery John Dean.
formerly chairman OF the Finance Committee simon
Cummings eX-COunty Collector; Charles Srader, con
victcd yesteday joan Gibbons. who was attorney for
the old Board of Chosen FreehOders and Edward Bull
GIN a friend of Cummings. Mr. Harris moved for
trial only against four OF these persons leaving out
Madison and Dean, who 1t Is understood are 10 TURN
states evidence The conspiracy is said to have
taking an equal of the money with the others The
note which naG given first To a man named Mitch
ell was chan Ced some particulars and then marked
a paid by Cummings. The secret agreement between
the cusiratOrs and their division of tue s0s are sdd
10 have been made IN private room IN tue warren
House ,..
The interest in these ana other similar cases which,
to tred very marked among the citizens OF War
ren County The Town OF BelWdefe Is hIled WIN
House unable TO accommodate with standins-rooin
many who were eager to become listeners 10 the tfal
yesterday. The new conspiracy case, 1t Is expected,
will draw still greater number OF spectators