New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-19
E1IzABETHS INDICTED OFFICIALS.

TESTIMONY OF CONTROLLER LEGGETT
4E EXPLAINS HIS RELATIONS WITH MR.. LEEDS AND
THE TRANSACTIONS THAT AROUSED CRITICISM
OTHER TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE
In Judce Van Syckel's Court at Elizabeth,
Y 7 Yesterday. the trial Of Controller Thomas b. Leg
eett and Daniel W Leeds charge OF detraudhg Tue
CITY of Elizabeth in the manipulation OF It's bohos was
continued before a large crown VI sPoo'"'
Tho accused officers with their counsel OK
Judge Robert S. Green and ROBERT Linuapui b
we're presept. and Prosecutor Fay was assisted on
behalf of the state by Attorney STOCKTON on
a few witnesses were examined, but when Controher
Ieqcctt WAS called to the stand the excitement was III
tense HIS examination by the counsel TOT the ueiece
wos brief but the crossexamnation was very search
ing and occupied several hours Mr. Leeds ns'eneu 10
the proceedings throughout with apparent Interest," u
seldom spoke. even 10 his counsel
Ex.Mayor James s. Green, who had previously Deen
examined by the State. called as witness LOT lhc
defence He testified that by virtue Of his position as
Mavor ne was in 1878 member OF the Board OF SnKnH
Fund Commissioners. He remembered that the price Vi
funded assessment bonds tax arrearage oohuS' anu ~
Improvement bonds OF the City OF Elizabeth WAS nAe
nv the Commissioners in 1878 at par ana interest "c
also remembered the price had steadily adV"nceu
from 81 in 1875 John Marvel clerk TO the Controller
VOC recalled and crossexamincd by the Prosecutor In
regard TO the sales OF bonds at par and interest," WIN
view to proving that the persons who took bonds al a'
pric. were nearly all creditors Of the city, ana VINO
might therefore he reasonably supposed 10 nave hau
persona intercst keeping the price OF the bonus
The books of the Controller produced in Court II was
claimed furnished SuCn proof.
Tne next witness was Controller Legget. and his ap
mo-, Tho stand crcaf, "A stir among the spec
tators He was first questioned as 20 his CONNECTION
with the Board of SINKING Fund Com. loneTH' u ~
,o,i"nV crs very similar 10 that Of cXMayor Green
He stated that the bonds which were issued 10 thc
city's creditors not forced unon hrn az lc c
able 10 qay cash aug WOMB naVo "Inr :" nn hc
slro f.-tf
said where The BUYERS took the bonds - business IN
v"stioenf wishing to make profit on thcm tHcy were
LII ' az n,d iutcI,st lie tien went through the list
OF sale and testified IN each instance In3l Hl Ntic
fr ,1 without 10 alton 10 any debts o. III city 10 me
Lnv.r III, added also. that all Ties" sales be lad
saved the comm s>ai the city by making direct os'
GOA Tunc 90 ISIS" he SAID, - went To New york.
,aRr, Mr. Leeds rs 10 was my habit never 10 20 alone
After fuisrIug my nfcI business visited Ncful>r h"
a. ,rcnrdiur 10 mr. usual custom. to talk over cit
asked me 10 lend HIM - 100 STATING thal ne had ,
security III Elizabeth ald would repay the loan tne
,nnu,snt W. returned. without questioning mn as to
Inc nae ne Intended making Oi thc money gave MN IVY
ci.c, IN V'rnIye 4 CO. Whcn returned To ms office
Tnnd Mr. Ids IT his desk. lie asked me y would
buy any bonds Tor he cif. Upon inquiry io'o 'l.l
tbrea bonds and tod hun 10 buy FOR me that nuinh
o bonds I'D nOi instruct hun ~ 10 the pil'c l." -"
mid Understanding that he would pay par and interest
"'uai never naid less tlan that sum. raid h N
for The bonds IN checks Of the sinking Fund C1nns -
sioncr- That same day hal deposit Of 1893 81 TO
cnpacltv rs clerk IN the Ctv Treasures Office had ."
,l,t tn b,ng rrourni!v aud ne often to Ohiicc nc,
rse Jepo.its for me- In tins ease laid the 1888 30 on
Mr. iccdss desk. Later IN the day lie told nc a. ne
Ind Gero.fed to my credit besides the s333 ~ me
- 100 had loaned him. and also me sn 81 S3lS "
IN uart pavment - previous debt oi some ~ 600 rd
Icpn saw mat never received, directly or indirectly,
from Mr. Leeds any consideration whatever Tor lehuhS
him the money - $500,
The qneston Of the private account Of MI Leeds ana
Mr. Ieggett having been thus brought up me HlHir pro
duced a number OF checks on the NatlOna StIc biuh,
stoned bv Mr. Iggct and drawn TO the order of various
persons from whom bonds had been purchased The
amount OF each Of these che cs II was claimed was the
profit upon some transaction IN Elizabeth cry bonds b
daniel w. Leeds. IL also shown that tue Mcchanc
Savings Bank had loaned 10 Mr.. Leeds OH july ., 1873
me sum OF - 900 for eleven - 200 bonds.
How do YOU account" asked the lrosecuior "ior
the fact that the payments made by Nj Leeds To You
were IN each instance exactly half The profits on the sale
Of bonds T. 49,, -,
wa. paving me money on my loans 10 MIN. ! hnd 20
kno,yledge now tie money was obtained bY Mr. Leeds
Friend the only notiv" that prompted ne Ia
lend him money al any time All the security Ead was
his check upon the back which noted the various
payments when the debt fully paid gave hin
back the check -, -
After an hour or two spent in examining the books IN
dctaii the Court adjourned ull to-day