New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-13
T. F. SHEPARD IN COURT.
HE answers A CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
,r,v,xG STATEMENTS MADE BY F. 5. GRAY
THAT HE TRIED TO CORRUPT POLICE
OFFICIALS.

THAT HE TRIED TO CORRUPT POLlCE
OFFICIALS.
The trial of the suit brought by Frank ;. o,a.
ains. Colonel Elliott +. Shepard. to recover
cor alleged breach OF contract was Deoun !" .
eunrcre Court Yesterday before Judge Parker anu
- GRAY WAS represented by Colonel kOoe't w.
,,ncorsou. cx-Judge Dntcnhoeier and DiVld "erDer'
20 coIorel Slepard was defended by cN-Judse MAN
- md John f. Parsons. In the course OF t"e uidi
ser,ous charge was brought against Colonei "'P
1 GRAY Gray explaining his discharge IRON ''e "'i-
.te q, .The Mail and Express" as the result Vi Ills
Ie1 ed refusal TO aid Colonel shepard III "!"S u
80. ice Commissioners 10 give election advertising
RI. Mail and ExprcSs." Colonel Shepard when
LIED TO the stand Indignantly denied the "ccnsauon.
,usv was formerly business manager OF Inc -""h
and Exprcss," under fve-years contract hc was
"a receive 5000 year and So'oVo year
oad,tional OF mail and Express stock during inc
,st three years On January a, $780, TWO years
-. the contract expired. Gray discharged BY
,,,o,. shcpard Cilay was the only witness IOr the
acu,ioa He said that Colonel shepard had dis
.b.eed him on the ground that thcy were h'om
no,ible TO each iother, provision covering u'is
,osshility being in the contract lie SAID lhat Tue III
mnaubllity arose from the fact that he refused TO
'.a., out u plan of Colonel Shepards TO secure al
rs,nx for The Mail and Express by bribery The
.n. was contained III letter written by Colonel
.nenard from Bar Harbor Ne, TO Gray, ana received
hr him on July 2S 1855. 1t vas submitted In evil
acnce and read rs follows
Commissions pre not generally paid until the bin
T., collected Fifteen per cent is the usual advertising
commission In some cases higher rates may
no maid Undoubtedly % per cent commission would
be very satisfactory. Do not have any trp-up. Do
no, use the check until necessary. You may have
sao 900 added to the bill. Try them! They are
weak and yield easily"
The check referred TO was for 5000, ana Gray
said that II was sent him TO try to bride Police
and nhpuR
advertising TO The Mail aid Express" Gray said
that he refused point blank to be party TO such
n transaction, that colonel shepard cherished IL
crudge against him it, and that 1t was tbs which
led 10 his discharge.
Ex.Judce Dav.., in opening for the Defence denied
that tic u 600 10 be used ms brl0e. lie sad
That 1t was TO be used to pay legitimate commissions
such as are charged by all newspaper agents The
Idea 10 secure the public printing. he said, was one
Of Gray's and Colonel shepard had nothing to DO
with the details of 1t. lie said II had nothing TO do
with Gray's discharge, Which occurred year and
half sfterwari The real reason for Grays dis
chung. was that he had proved himself incompetent
10 fill lis place, that paper had lost much money
through him, that free advertisements were Inserted
On which the employees OF the paper secured clothing
ETC and that Gray too much addicted 10 pro
family drink lie further alleged that the letter
was held and introduced by Gray simply as Il means
OF backmail that he had sought by 1t to retain Ills
place TIE paper and now was seeking to use IL 10
force money out OF Colonel shepard.
Gilbert X Harroun the first witness called for
the defence He testified tina; he had been engaged
by Colonel Shepard TO investigate and take general
charge Of the affairs Of the paper, and that Gray
had made threats against him snd used proflne hh-
guage when be went 10 the Office to enter upon iI4i
duties In consequence Of tlls Gray was discharged
Colonel shepard was the next witness loi tue ue
fence and hsd closed his testimony WltH the
court adjourned. He sud that the general cause Oh
(irpys discharge incOmpatitinty" between "i'y
and aAnself and the direct cause was laS treatment
Of Mr.. Hsrroun. lie declared that Gray was incom
petent and that he In the habit OF swearing anu
drinking both OF which habits lie had promised 10
stOp Wien asked II the ZOO were intended 10
bride ANY one replied :" No, sir TIE statement that
IL was Is q positive ialsehOod."
lie said that Gray informed him that certain nrm
of solicitors controlled tle police advertising ana mat
lcr D., he could Tie contract oon9 Tine AFTER
ward lie declared. when .e had occasion 10 reprJNe
Cray Gray said: I've got letter OF yours that VIII
lake care OF me- and told him about the letter AMI
t.e construction he could put upon IL. After Gray
was discharged, lie said, hS counsel, exJudge Dten-
hoefer threatened to publish 1t, and offered give
IL UP II Colonel Shepard would settle the suit.
Colonel Shepard also told Of alleged attempt by
GRAY 10 foist upon The Ms and Express" lot OF
Gel very wagons and horses and OF an advertising sup
PIGMENT which Gray had Printed for distribution lh
the south which did not concern the name of The
Mall ana Express and save other instances OF alleged
incapadty.
IRE trial will be resumed this morning.