The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-28
A SAFE FORAY,
The New Board of Finance
Takes Full Possession
of Its office.
SITTING THE FACTS.
Sworn Testimony Taken For
the Use of the Supreme
Court Judges, Monday.
Reorganization of the Street and
Water Board-President Man.
denis Speech.
FRANCHISES GIVEN AWAY

warranto proceedings brought by John
Edelstein and George w. Peterson
against Finance Commissioners John D.
Fraser and Jacob ]. Detwiller. The ses-
sion was held in the Grand Jury room,
which was crowded. The testimony will
be used on Monday by the lawyers when
the case will be argued before three
judges of the Supreme G ourt at Trenton.
This morning. John Edelstein was
early at the Court House. First of all he
had long conference with Prosecutor
Winfield. When he left that gentleman's
office it was to seek w. G. German, late
Clerk of the Board OF Finance, and OBJ
tain from him a book. This Mr.. Edel-
stein took to the Prosecutor and the con-
sultation was renewed and continued
until Mr.. Edelstein was required at the
examination.
The nature of this consultation is not
positively known, but it is believed that
IL relates I'd the present condition OF the
city's government. Mr.. Edelsteiu denied
this aud the Prosecutor would not admit
il. The book Mr.. EGelstein had appeared
TO be n minute book Of the Board of
Finance.
THE HEARING.
When the examination began, Senator
Daily was present to represent Mr.. Edel-
stein ana Charles and William III. Corbin,
of the firm of Collins & Corbin, looked
after the interests of Commissioners Fra
ser and Detwiller. Others present were:
Martin FlDck. Nicholas Furey, w. G.
German, Joseph NJ. Nooaan and Judge
Kenny.
Commissioner Edelstein testified as to
his appointment by Mayor Cleveland and
added that the Board of Finance. as con-
OF f,f HIN cnl
Alvah A. Bedell. George w. Peterson,
George r. Hitler and Charles Nv. Allen.
He said he was appointed to the Board at
the same time Mr. Peterson was; he did
not think q meeting of the Board of FL
nance was held during the present
month.
The next witness was Nicholas S.
Furey. clerk iu City Clerk Scott's Office.
He testified that he had filled his present
position for twenty-three years, and pro-
1uceti the book of oaths to show that Mr..
Edelstein was appointed to the board
April 81, 1891. On April 81 of the present
year, John d. Fraser and jacob j. Det-
willer also took the oath of office as MEM
bers of the Board of Finance.
Judge Daily at this point offered the
laws of 1889, chapter 12l. in evidence, the
oaths of office of the different commits
sioners aud their appointments.
MR.. GERMANS EVIDENCE.
William G.. German, Clerk OF the old
Board OF Finance. testified that he is
and has been since April 1889.
He had not the minutes of the Board of
Finance with him. On April 81 of this
wear Messrs. Edelstein, Bedell. Peterson,
Hitler and Allen were the membe of
the board. AS clerk, he was the custo-
dian or the papers of the board.
He received two communications
m
that Messrs. Fraser and Detwiller
had been appointed members of
the Board. Neither OF the appointees
was ever confirmed by the Board. but
they took the oath of office. Ex-Judge
DAILY wanted to put the minutes of the
board in evidence. but Mr.. German in
| formed him that they had been taken out
of his possession and were in the custody
of Commissioners Hitler, Allen ana
Bedell and Martin Ftnck. who claims to
| be their clerk.
Cross-sxamined, Mr.. German said
Finck claimed to be Clerk of a Board of
Finance, but that he was not appointed
nv a majority of the Board of Finance,
because Messrs. Fraser and Detwiller
were not members of the Board. On April
25. Mr.. German was officially notified
| Of the appointment of Fraser and Det-
willer and Finck He had not possession
af the papers of the Board because Com
missioners Allen, Bedell and Hitler yes
terday entered the Office, and E. w.
Woolley and an expert, acting under
their orders, opened the safe and seized
| the papers.
Mr. German said that he had not re-
ceiyed any salary from the city for eight
months and that the salaries of other en-
ployes for March had not been passed by
the board.
MARTIN FINcK, TOO.
~K..<sn Einck fha uayylv atQctad ftlorlr
of the Board of Finance, testified that he
was present at the meeting of the new
hoard in the Mayors Office on April "a.
the meeting was public, he did not know
whether the doors were locked. The
meeting began at half past nine, Mayor
Wanser. Spencer Werts and John Neyin,
were present, witness went there because
he expected to be made clerk,
the Mayor informed him Of the
meering. that was his first information of
the meeting. The Mayors clerk told him
where the meeting would be held: people
came in and went out during the meet
ing. The Mayor did not remain at the
meeting all the time.
witness had his minute book with him.
but could not produce the notes from
which the minutes were written. He
said he could obtain them by going to the
City Hail. Witness did not at that
meeting read the minutes OF the last
meeting.
At this point the proceedings were In
terrupted by Constable sO'Grady, who an
nounced that be had been unable to serve
a enbpoena on Mayor Wanser, who was
in New York taking part in the parade.
Mr.. Finck testified further that two
meetings of the Board OF Finance had
been held. At these meetings there
were present Commissioners Hitler,
Allen and BedeH.
The hearing then adjourned to be re-
sumed at nine o'clock at the City Hall.