New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-27

cage ON General Shslers property as an investment;
That he swore there no understanding with General
sb,ler that IL the sale of the MadsOn-aVe lois was
made he (Wils0n) would take UP inc mor's"S0 vi 'Ne
New-Jersey property.
Did you give this testimony before the Gibbs Com
Mittee Z" asked Mr.. Root
Iuresume So" said Mr. Wilson, hesitatngly.
81 want no presumption SAID Mr.. Foot, Warmly
"Did You or did you not so testify"
Unjust have done so If 1t is so reported 0ns"c'e'
the witness with a little show OF alacrty.
Mr. Purdy took hold Of the witness with view 10
extracting Information from him more favorable TO Tue
reope Did you have any conversation VITA General
smaller as to the methods taking the mortgages on
Lis New-Jersey property }"
81 think did"
Can You state the substance ofiti"
" | cannot"
lis it not that you took the mortgages on General
shaers property by assignment at General sus
yostiOnl"
'Stop," said Colonel Bliss hastily; 81 opJecI
The direction sustained
"you swore before the Gibbs Committee that you did
not hold that property for General shaer was
that true"
The witness flushed and replied with embarrassment
al don't know how to answer that"
Do you hold that property III trust Tor Heherai
shaerl" said Mr. Purdy, hotly
Il do"
lyon testified before the Gibbs Committee that you
had no with General shaier that you d"
not take up the mortgages on his property III pursuance
OF an understanding with him. Was that testimony Uuc
false"
The witness stroked his beard nervously ana
then in a scarcely audible voice replied. False.
his eyes immediately seeking the MOOR bu'
they were not allowed to rest there. WIN savage
energy the merciless question Ihen you Hed oe
fore the Gibbs Committee did you -
All heads were stretched forward to eaten the re-
sponse. Even General shalers sphihx-ke features
were lit up with uOmentary expression Of Interest
The silence was intense. but only few In the court
room could catch the feeble response; " Ida
The mans abasment seemed complete. but Mr.
Purdy had not yet done with him. "WLy did you lie E
he asked in a voice audible all over the courtroom
Colone Bliss came to his relief with emphatic OBJ
lection and the witness enjoyed temporary respite
while hot gut RACED between the opposing cOuhS' as
TO whether should or should not be allowed 10 eNpah
his reasons for lying When the lawyers had finished
Judge Barrett sustained the objection Then Mr. Purdy
WAS free TO amply the legal scape to the witness aguD
" apnears from the evidence READ that there il some
discrepancy in your testimony VIII you expan tha
Colonel Blisss vehement" Object" stopped the wit
pesss answer but this time the objection was oVerfued
and Mr. Purdy took advantage Of the opportunity 70 pax
r. sharpe: edge on his question;
"Whst explanation have you 10 give as to why you
syOre one way before the Gibbs Committee one day. ana
another day directly the contrary
General shaer and were friends ann desired to do
oil that could to shield him and did until saw the
staring 'N"''-'
against him."
Mr. Wilson not called on again 10 heap onlul ."
himself and left the courtroom
. Ex-Mayor Edison then placed on the stand lis
testimony was gwen IN the quiet business-iKe mlhHer
horact.r,.,ic of him. He said that he was chairman
oy rbe Armory Commission in lSsii General 7haer was
.acratarv and Hubert 0. Thompson the third member
cner shaer as secretary had charge OF the records
n, the Board aud correspondence addressed 10 H. lhc
minutes OF the Board produced ant extracts read
shaving that General Shaler with the other members
recommended the purchase OF certain property for
armorjes among others the plot OF ground IN Mals0n
ove between Ninety Onrth and Siuety-fh sts.; that
lette- was read from f. YOran offering 1t for sale and
giving the Board the refusal OF the offer until specified
date
Colonel Bliss Jumped to his feet with emphatic oh
lection when something read about an an app!ica-
ton for plot OF ground for the 22d Regiment Armory
whats the matter with the 22I Regiment g ASKED
his associate Mr.. Root somewhat surprised.
"I object to that regiment heing dirted by being
baued in here" replied Colonel Bliss, and then stated
his objection Ia more formal terms to TIC court Inc
objection promptly oyerruled
Odd you transact any part OF the business which
the law required OF you member OF the Armory
Board other than attend the Inee;!n&af A-les' eX
amlncd plots of ground offered Tor armOry sites - ,
The minutes OF the ArnOry Board we're put III cyl
asnse with seyeTe ,e S i i9h M xGTa" : sEe
Ing the purchase OF the Madson'hve properly 10 D"d
an aimory for his regiment ,.,,,
O-Was It your Judgment that 1t was tho best site f0r
Tie arnlory on the East side Al certainly WAS
Q.-With reference TO the price ala the commission
take any steps ascertain whether the price asked was
Mr. Sico objected to the question. Colonel Bliss
gued against the objection Maintaining thaL inc IGct
mat al pun" reasona6Ie one that experts had been en-.
gagged examine the property, ami that General sAeT
had written real estate agents to ascertain what
would be "a fair valuation had an important bearing on
the question whether General Shsier had accepted
brbe 10 secure purchase Of the MadsOnaYc, Ninety
fourth-sL and Ninety-hfth st. property A man who
was trying ne sale OF property Tor more IMAM
II was worth would be anxious to get opinions OF ex
perts TO whether the price asked Was lalr one
Judge Barrett sustained the objection. Colonel
Bliss then tried to Put IN evidence ad C sewsln
snaer as secretary the ArmOry Board by prominent
real dealers giving their estimates Of t9e value
pending before tie Armory board Mr.. Nicon objected
and the objection was sustained but colonel Bliss sue
ceeded In making them equally effective 40 Tar as the
jury concerned by presenting them to the Mayor
FOR Identification and on each occasion naming the
writer Judge Barrett said that lie wOnd not admit any
evidence concerning the value OF the property.
Odd General Shaler do anything to influence the
Anory BOardn OF the purchase Of. this property
more than any other member OF the Boardf A.IGeii-
era Smaller did any more and never seemed more
anxious purchase this property than any other ne
When The afternoon session opened Hubert o. Thomp
called TO the stand By the prosccuton ne re-
mGsrsa s SsT s az I fSc s 70 the Amo
Board for S3j0,0O0 bat did not Know WHO maze th0
o.what did you do as member of the Armory Board
10 Inspect the lands offered for armOres Al went n
company with Mayor Edison ana oebcrd oHder Ia vlSt
the various sites spoken or and one or Two occasions
maie private inquiries OF my own III regard 10 tho
pieces. - -, c-...,
Q-Csu you remember what was done by General
sbsier whieh Won AS a member of the ArmOry Board,
did not do Am tho details OF the Board were at
tended to by General shalor, noarly always by d.
rectlon OF the Board. lie was tho only mem
Der OF the Board who was member
OF the National Guard II was natural that the mayor
and should defer largely to him rs to all matters
with regard TO the militia which were not well liz
formed about
"The witness is yours" said Mr.. NicOl turning to
Colonel Bliss.
"Ihave nothing 20 AJAX HIM." replied Colonel Bliss
with satisfied air.
The uext witness was Edward w. Walton, vice presi-
dent of the Citizens Fire Insurance Company ,and
director OF the ackenssck Savings Bank, which owned
the mortgages General shalers property He testi-
fed the purchase of the mortgages by Monmouth II.
N,sg onnn Malt draw