New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-06
JUDGE AND ATTORNET-GENERAL.
THE MANHATTAN RECElvERSHIP INQUIRY.
6 II. KNFrLAND AND BURTON n. HARRISON TX
.,,,>-rn nv TuF JIrDICIARY COMMITTEE.

The Italian organ grinder yesterday again
planted himself the windows OF the reading room OF
the St. James Hotel, in which the Assembly Judiciary
Committee resumed the investigation OF the Manhattan
Railway receivership The committeeman yawned moro
anguidly than usual in their chairs aud looked drcary
and drowsy I'm sympathy with the character OF the
weather outside until vociferous crossexamnation OF
witness dispeed part of their apathy The witnesses
who testified were sylvester ii. Kneeland. large
holder OF Metropolitan Elevated Railway stock and
bitter opponent OF the union Of the elevated roads and
Burton n. Harrison. the lawyer who assisted in the
preparation Of the Attorney su against the
Manhattan.
Ex-Judgo Perry opened the examination OF MI
Kneeland in behalf OF the committee The witness testi
fed that the effect OF the suit Of the Attorney
and Of that Of the NcwYork Elevated Railroad Company
to recover posses OF ts road 10 depress Man
haitian stock from 4Gla on February ii to l54 on
August o. 1881. He was elected director
OF the Metropolitan Company on July g. lss1.
Relating the OF the negotiations for the harmon
izng the conflicting interests Of the three elevated
railway companies after the appointment of the Man
haitian receiver, Mr.. Knecand said ." / can scarcely
say that had knowledge OF the negotiations that led to
the compromise of October %, although was on the
not given notice TO appear before 1t
nor consulted with about that No agreement, however
had been proposed talked before that that was
not to he submitted to the ratification OF the stock
holders OF the three companies" The witness said that
q,
1000 shares Of Manhattan in September tho stock was
then selling at about g. Later the witness said that
his brother in the stock Exchange had traced"
3d. 900 shares OF the stock TO Jay GOuld's Office
even before this advice had been given. Mr. Kneeland
said that ne suggested the meeting OF the default on
Manhat,ans rental on July i, 1851 by the Issue OF re-
ceiyers certificates; reilly only $323OOO was required
TO prevent default The certificates could have been
offered for subscription TO the Manhattan stockholders
at less than par without detrment to any interests con
Wesibrook not available, and the witness said lie
thought the proposition to raise money on them was
too absurd 10 entertain Mr hneeanu Chained I'D
have controlled the stock of the Metropolitan Company
on July last and TO control it still. No consent had
been given by himself or bis associates 10
the mod icatiOn OF the original trpariite agree,
he thought the efforts depress Manhattan stock
last spring and summer came from tly l rontlcans'
Kneeland testified further that he ana W IL raIIl-On
had arranged to raise he money for the Jnly Isl,
The Weller Injunction To ex-senator Harris. counsel for
Judge WcstbrOok the witness repeatedly said that the
company was not nsOlycnt; all that was necessary to
preserve to cancel the forfeiture cialsc III The trl
parie lease and provide for any deficiency IN me rental
to the landlord companies by the Issue OF Manhattan
MI Kneeland testified in detail to the
last july. He allowed Russell Sage to
ncrsuade him 70 give Mr. Gould and his friends major
nv ." The directory lie Ghe witncssl qualified Sidney
Dillon General Dodge and Samnel Sloan for their posi-
shares of stock Mr. Sage qualified SIR Could The wit
ness had opposed the selection Of A. H. Hopkins, vice.
president OF The Wabash, ST. Louis and Pacific Company
"a one OF the Manhattan receivers because ne was 700
much occupied in his railroad company property To at
tend To the duties as receiver ne had favored he scc
lion o. ex-udge j. f. Dillon rs receiver however Tho
witness Thought ne saw evidences OF co,Slon IN me at
Tempt OF O. d. Ashley transieI agent Oh t"9 Map7h 10
induce Manhattan sockho .ers TO Jon 100 IN lne
Watson suit To recover the Sl3'Op,oO0 STOCK
issI..d 10 the two original elevated roads. Mr.
Knceiand denied however, that the metropolitan
share was issued TO the Newiork Loan and Improve
ment Company A., ..o., g.. ,,oor - rr1,o v-ost.
br"oks decision against restoring NewYork road
lie stockholders, delivered on October y, 1851.
tons OF what it wouldbe week before that ". L.
Common, Mr.. Godld's broker, told me ihat need noI
worry about MAMMA tan as regarded that suit 1
attached no Importance to his remark however AT inc
the committees counsel failed to bring out the fact.
but il understood that MI krecland got MS positive
information regarding The Juge decision from one oi
N" mo Sou" act Of the Metropolitan board said
Mr.. Knecland earnestly, since last july tended
TO build up tue property everything has been done to
ema.culate and destroy 1t. IN the interest OF this
Tue witness denounced the employment Of Lawrence
g. Waohner rs attorney ny MI Mard because MI. Law
renee was the counsel OF W T. Conner 10 several
before the Weller injunction was obtained
TO DEATH Mr.. Harris to his feet and thrustng his
hands deep into his pockets proceeded To
often teTTlfy aud confuse witnesses Mr. kneeland.
however, preserved his eomposure and genrlaiy an
swered the lawyers questions IN BIS own way.
Mr.. Harris brought out the TACT mat the
%neS' s,ocE after the agreement OF October % at
profit of about 10 per cent MI kneeland, after re-
Iessrs Gould and ~ age Metropolitan Board. but
insisted that had been deceived 10 their intentions
toward the management OI me company ne also was
compelled to directly that Judge WesibrOok had
de ed the application for leave 10 ISSUE receivers
certlcat and against the suit OF the Nc"-l ork Com
pany as he the witness wished But the loudcst
tones and the most vigorous gestures OF the cross
examiner could suppress the declaration by the wit
ness that from The connecting ccunS anees the Judges
decisions were open To complaint. lie also stated
that had been refused access TO the books and
papers Of The Metropolitan Company OF which hc was
SPECIFY all Of your complaints against Judge West,
brook :" exclaimed sir. Harris.
- fha win he Ia York
and while the ordinary court-rooms were vacant, held
court III Jay GOuld's Oilcc- 49,
How do YOU know IL was Jay GOuld's office :"
was Informed The room IN which the hearings
were could not be entered directly from The hall
way: YOU couldn't get into the room without passing
through room on the uOOI OF "Hlch was jay "Ouu
Mr. Kneeland testified that on June IA. 1881. he and
fore the Attorney General, VINO refused their apphca
tou for dscontnuance OF his suit although they had
offered 10 make The company solvent on crosse hal
the fact this offer had not been made To him III any
authoritative manner. To Mr. Harris the witness said
that he had received ntlmaOn from lleber r. Bishop
and CYRUS ". Field, OF the New York Company, that
that company would consent to annulng the forfeiture
clause In the Manhattan lease The witness used the
expression underlying companies" III referring to
the NewYOrk and the Metropolitan.
Did the Manhattan lay over themf" cried Mr..
Yes sir. most emphatically). Q4aughter)
MI Harrison related AT great length the organization
OF the Manhat an Company ana the early steps Ia the
proceedings by the Attorney General against the Man
haitian From 1873 to May, 1879, he knew OF no acts
which indicated the existence OF the company The
pcation for receiver was intended to be only nciden.
al the important action to dissolve The cOrpO.
ration The second suit against the Manhattan was be.
Gun IN Albany Mr. ward disgustcd with the
legal tricks practlsed upon him III New York by the
defendants counsel
The committee Will resume its sessions this morning
--------
TIE FUNERAL or HORACE MAYNARD