New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-17
COMMISSIONERS INDICTED.
TIE EXCISE BOARD GETS INTO TROUBLE
TMU UMPH OF TIE CITY REFORM CLUB-MR.
KOCH MAKES AN EXHIBITION OF HIM
SELF-BAIL SECURED.


mentS Tor miSdemeanor against the Excise Com
nisSioners, Alexander Meaiim. Edward r. Titz-
patrick and Joseph KOCH charging omissions. in
several Instances, TO perform the duties OF their
ONCE lhe Charges against the Commissioners
are founded on complaints made by Il. q. w.
cling. &. ". Miller and other members of the
City Reform Club The complaints have been
reiterated at various times and before various
bodies, and the April Grand Jury after listening
to the evidence and hearing the explanation Of the
Commissioners, failed to find an Indictment
The members of the club visited various parts
Of tie city on last election day. and found many
lqnor-storcs open within quarter of a mile Of
polling places, in violation Of provisions of the
Excise Law. Tiny reported the ALLEGED viola
tons OF tie law 20 the E.cisr Commissioners and
made Complaints AGAINST the liquor-scllers. 4
few OF the lQu0r-dcalers were punished by losing
their licences, but the Commissioners did not
act on most Of tlr complaints. Mr.. Wclng and
his associates made complaint 10 the Grand Jury.
ch'rdng wiful omission To perform the duties
imposed ly law
Excise Commissioners Fitzpatrick and Koch
learned at about noon Of the indictments against
them and visited the General Sessions building
Comm ssioncr Rocks actions were peculiar, and
warranted the belief that he Is not "a practical
Trombitionist. EN-Judgc Donohuc was with Nr
Koch, as his counsel, and Edgar " Johnson was
tie legal adviser Of Mr.. Fitzpatricl Commis-
aoncr Mcaldm is out OF town and had not heard
Of the Indictment.
The two Commissioners went before Judge Fltz-
gerald. 10 whom the Grand Jury had presented
the indictments 4 crowd Of faithful a!hercnts
followed them. Several members Of the CITY Pc
form Climb We're present ard watched the proceed
ings with smiles OF triumph. Clerk HALL de-
scrihrd - the accused men the nature of the
indictments a-aust tAeii. and asked them whether
they wcrr guilty or innocent. Koch beam in Il
load. thick voice 10 cNclan: This is an out
raee That We shoull Doe BROUGHT here lie was
stopped hy Mr. johnson, vino entered plea OF
not guilty for his client. and asked leave To with
draw the plea if he desired 20 do So
want no favorS here. called ont Nr. Koch.
d" | want ~ hc tried right here and now He
hammered ne table with his fst and continued
his loud and sometimes iucohcrcut talk His
counsel md fellow Commissioner tried 20 quiet
him. and exclude Donohue entered plea Of not
guilty on his behalf
Deputy Assistant District-At'orncy Lindsay
asked that bail be- fixed and said ir was willing
10 lave tie Commits -'oucrs remain iu the custody
~ thcic counsel uut.l This morning, when bail
could be- given. Commissioner Koch became still
more excited ~ mi, new suggestion Of a favor.
want no privileges be exclaimed 81 want
g. '. tried here auI r'.n.7
J3lac Tt1.ca'i. wlo ms an c>c'''cn' temper
,oid c.imis i..t lc could not ty thc ce' "t
once. as jury WIS empancllrl in another case
lie supposed ih't ih" b'irici-A''rn'y ""N'1 see
that ire defendant lad "a speedy trnL lie h\r"
BAIL 30 slo"" OH c''h ih.''.''N'' n'"''S '''
amount Of ca'" Commissioner ''"' H"'''''
'r r. '''oi"c Ni--r''I 'i'' ''' OHM ''"'''
hc p.r''cl in BIS custody. Mr. h'ch hIo"e ON
anew hc.c: As ~ a. am concerned don
want % ie parolcd. want - stay TSht mere ana
De- tired. | want trial now
JUDGE Fl1-ciad called 'he ''ii'niN'i'N'' 10
order by icw sharp rais ~ his r'yeI on i.e "'Nf.
llc tolI Judge Douohuc That there seemed to ur
difference OF .i"n between I-' '''i'S ana
himself He wouI allow the Commissioners 10
Give bail ~ any tiric, yesterday or to-l'y Nr.
Koch was not entirely sgpprr, cd yer. lie began
., make other remarks about hls wish for trinl
t ,.., ,,,u Irdo. Fif,rcr.ld arain
.,.. -, ,t,. .l,.l ,,I s,iI. The matter
raped Sharply on te ''oh "''" y .''' '
i. decided. and there is uothin- before me 10 act
M
'" ....;....-,. aud ,,.cir cou,.cl then went
Ihe 'ouIni>'"H'I' AN" Wv" ''' -,
ont of III. court room Mr. Koch was still greatly
,.,,.J bo,c,rr Ilr slid: an not going u
49,, No., foe ,,,. oaycl hnvr he'd my sly. any
'ni' up I'' ''H ,I. ..t,... of
way. AI'ciN"I', VIM ~
Fond Clerk McCcc. he shoo, h.s finer al Mr
i" i .. H.. ,....iu., and said
Lindsay, Who h'PE'"r" 80 IVY l
This is your work ion have done 1t az 'I,'
The lsst Grand Jary threw ont thi' complaint
., ,ol 3, ..t, before another one. hope
and you had ~ ''"' "'''''
you are satisfied now. ,uo aoer.
The Commissioners obtained bail in 'he 'i'e'-
rLr ,r.Dorouol of ". 40 last Eighty |
noon. Jonh M'Do'''N'' W ,.,,.' ,f them.
-l>th ST., became h"n'S'n'h ''' '"'.' .'.,t', Ia
The indictments are ".'"" "'''' .ut.., |
of Tie Penal Cole, which provides ih"t ""'''
tII i med by l.y upon any !
' ""'I % W .,.,. ,.r.,o holding a pub
puhIf "ihc'r OF upon ""' P' ,,., ...i..o, |
d.. ,,u.t ar cu,uloymrLt, every Wllul "Hi''.""
,..,.. ..,,,I ,,t,. v,lcrc no special provision !
10 rT''I' sue" '''',s' w. ,,. n,n',hrcut of such
shall nave p''h "''"' ''' ''' ..,....,.ro~~
delinquency, Is punishable ds % H'"'ii'''''
THE three Indictment, are drawn 20 cover '.'
,.;Iaro =, d.,il. mon the complaints hy tie
-, - ,,..,. .,.,,.t Wiliam Tait. NJ. i2J !
iIlN reform 'l"' a. ''''' -, .,t Ti,irI-
last T.uti-st. John G.. Scncup.c.h, so "-l '"''''