New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-03
SEEKING TO PUNISH EDISON.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE JUDGE FREEDMAN.
,.wyrrs HEARD IN THE CONTEMPT CASE AGAINST
TIE EX-MAYoR.

LAWYERS HEARD IN THE CONTEMPT CASE Against
TIE Ex-MAYoR
FvNoyor Edison sat before Judge Freedman
yesterday In the Superior Court, Special Term to listen
10 the reasons advanced by Charles p Miller why Mayor
oooos Predecessor should be punished for contempt
AZ Court in appoipting ROllin NJ Squire COMMISSIONS "
Public Works in the face oil Judge be"oh -
restraining him from appointing any ono as Linn,
sioner or as Counsel to the Corporation Near MI
son were his counsel, Robert Sewell and p''u D''e'
Field Francis NJ. Scott formed part OF the n1
rou,,,,eov contingent senatOr-elect William VI.
rvar,s was n listener as we're Frederic h CouucF' "n
many other LAWYERS intcrlarded with poucdns' ~,
Tho oe;davit Of the ex-MayOr was prcschVcu ny
sewc reciting the circumstances VI '"u ~, orler
NJ Mr. saure The summons, III Juuso " 49,.
~, - ssor,ed was accompanied ny no Complaint
.,d rone had been fled so that ne was ishor"'iV " -
anu io Nv Edison had been advised by his at
mat the order was Illegal; his duty had demahue"
that ne should appoint officers to AL the vacancies III '
DEPARTMENT of Public Works and the COrpora'on ''" "
Counsel and So believing that Judge Beaeh hau noJ
dior and that his order void Mr. Edison had maze
the appojntments of Mr.. Squire and OF MI Dorshoi
Judge Trax had vacated the orderand the ac'oi
Nj Fdson had been malicious and for annoyance, uau"o
ing his character and holding him up TO scoh anu Vo
tempt" The affidavts charging Rim WIN lra"''' -,
intent or corrupt practices were iaise' MI iu'o
,orod while Mr. Roosevelts bill to deprive him OF inc
riQ Of
nor Cleveland Having been thus foiied, Mr. kooso'ei.
I'D his associates had brought the action knowing wen
,ht the order could not stand and not expectngH 10
stand but only hoping and believing that tne Nay" d
would be imposed upon by the oro oi ,er1 wouid be
wasted before 1t could he vacated IN tae "ftor
The affidavit continues The pishI,SS o ors Of the
ney deliberately made use OF the SsaS,iDc The
law for the Ubiquitous purpose Oh uei rnEant
deponepts official ana pI'SSiis s oicai duties The
sts,en,ens contained in John OBrens aidavIi, ar
and msciousy false, and his making dn,op5e nnr
afdavit was part OF an organized anu Certain of
pose to prevent the Mayor from peii'''
Mr. Edison made another affidavit denHdns i9oyIt and
STATING that in his interview with oBren on
they haa "a The work Of constructing the new AGue
duet and when Mr. Edison replied that ne fricn
s SGaa " want the whole contract Mr. Mayer ana
think depends you whether we get or 1e Mayor
Teped II shall hope have your friendship IN any ny
event Mr.. OBren but have espresso Srsned in the
mater The next day Mr.. Edison says ne voae 1 on
the proposal in the Agpednc F John for
ter that he had decided nominate him until &c m tS
l5 the same day on which he sent MS name Al " 'A
Mr. Miller, in taking up the cudgels in favor Of his d ca,
;nurcon and insisted that Mr. Edsons only prop was
the charge that the court had no Jurisdcuon az
had Jurisdiction Mr. Miller said and had rEat TO sSa as
the IL Without ana s SOPn be punished
f1nEf
MI sewei with much emphasis called o MT maze
ease bald and said that he Mr. seweD, MouIu a.,
.balder before he got through with IT, he ereu te
LAWYER in this case the principal while the pa i' Ne
were iugged in as side issue at the last moment
bond had been filed. - tond eled IN
Mr. Miller warmly i say there was oohu hieu' !"
the Comfy Clerks Office, under the proper ACT
Mr. sewel-It should have been filed In TINS court ooo
Mr. seweI then shook Judge Beachs order 10 pieces,
denied his authority, declared that he haa no rsht W
NEEDLE with the Superior Court aud Knocked ou eeIs
excuse for the order In fact Mr. Sewe declared lhee
was no order and hence ii could not be violated Juug
Beach's injunction amounted 10 only banE piece Oh
paper Mr. sewel drew a vivid picture OF MI Miller on
ihe fly" for Judge to sign ms oru nH,
whose disiointed members, once inferred anu
petriied with age had now been dlsihterfreuu
In the hope inject life enough into them 20 Iu d
Mayor Edison for doing his duty. In concluson Juusc
Beach was given hint to keep quaslponuea' oroe'
from interfering with the Judge of another court
David Dudley Field urged that with snch preccuchI
as tnat sought by Mr. Miller, George washington II %
Mavor could have appointed one TO NIL vacancy; II
MAYOR Edison had received bank notes as DIlOe, lne
remedy Law in criminal proceedings and with me sONe
egD people Injunctve proceedings ana an lhunctHe
order were I" bold usurpaton Mr. MIer I ne n us
cIared himself "happy and proud" over what ne hau
done and Judge Freedman reserved his decision