New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-03
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
CHARGES AGAINST COL TQBRIDGE.
HE &c ARRESTED AS AZ ALLEGED ACcoMPMCE
OF JOHN CUTS IN THE Tux EEBATE
FRAups-sURPRsE n MILL
TARY CIRCLES.

TARY CIRCLES
seIden C. Clobridge Northumberland OF the
18th Regiment. was arrested YESTERDAY vi charge
OF grand larceny in connection with the tax-rebate
frauds for which John Cuts was arrested on
Tuesday Cults alleges that Clobrdge. who has
been an assistant bookkeeper in the lax department
for fifteen years Is the principal III tne iauus and
that he simply acted his agent ABOUT Ten days
ago Tax Collector Swan learned through MS chief
clerk that Cults had collected rebates Of taxes
for local improvements upon property ne uid not
own and was not agent for. In order TO secure
the Information upon which to put III the claims
IL was necessary for Cults to learn 'he names or
persons to whom money was que as 'ecorued IN
the Tax Office An investigation was peguh TO
find his accomplice but Leutenant-Colonel Clo-
bridges reputation was such That ne was not sus-
nected until after QUITS had been arrested The
latter made the following statement to Detective
Sergeant Shaughnessey:
Colonel Clobrdge is TO blame LOT al ''iS l uld
not know there was anything crookeh III IT, lie
and are old Grand Army and regmentai cnums.
| was not doing anything about two years ago. and
no came TO me and said that he would give me a
cbarco 70 make some money He said he had been
anno,nted agent for large amount or real estate.
and it was his duty to collect certain amounts that
had been overpad by the owners Tor specaI assess
ments His official position prevented MN from
acting openly in the matter ana ne wanted me
to act as his agent and draw mp the necessary
. narcentaee Colonel Clobridge furnished all the
information and / presented the claims ana drew
the money which I paid back 10 hifn' ge'uhg
percentage OF the amounts. did not uhlhK that
there was anything that smacked in the slightest
degree of dishonesty in the transactions II was
not a matter to be talked about, but supposed
Colonel Clobridge acting with proper author
ty."
Acting on this information, warrant was Is
sued for the arrest Of Colonel CoDrldge Yesterday
morning lie was found at his desk ana was asked
TO step into the collectors Office. Detective Sag
narello of the District-Atorneys Office. tod him
CUTS had given the matter away and Colonel
Clobridge admitted that the statements OF Cults
were more than half true and that he got part OF
the money He told Tax Collector Swan that he
thought the amount secured by the payments TO
Cults would not reach 5000 Clobridge al
lowed to return to his desk, but policeman Kept
an eye on HIM Bagnarello went to Police Justice
Walsh and swore to an affidavit giving in detail
the facts mentioned.
The a1idavits OF Mr. Rorke and Deputy Controller
Smith were sworn to in the case OF Cults. Colonel
Clobridge then taken into custody on war
rant and arraigned in the Adams Street Police Court
He waived examination and was held to await the
action Of the Grand Jury. His bail was lett with
the District Attorney.
Lieutenant Colonel Clobridge has been one Of the
best known Of the GrandArmy veterans and National
Guardsmen in the city. He is about fifty years old
and served In the in the 18TH Regiment He
was twice wounded, losing his right arm. He joined
the National Guard after the and served in the
lith Regiment for several years as major.
In 1856 Major Clobridge elected leu
tenant-cOlonel. When Corporal Tanner was
made Tax Collector under Mayor Howell he
placed many Of his old soldier friends in the office.
Colonel Michel and Major Clobridge were among
them and they remained there after Tax Collector
Tanner went ont Of office Lieutenant olonel Clo
bridge had a salary of sic0 as assistant book
keeper.
CUTS. who Is In Jail awaiting bail. was until
recently captain Of Company II. 18th Regiment.
He has recently been assistant janitor in the
employ OF the Board Of Elections. The affidavit
on which he secured the money in the case in which
he was arrested was sworn t. before Colonel 60
bridge. Commissioner Of Deeds. February II.
| 1891. in which he made oatf that gent TO-
the Nassau Land and Improvement company. and
made oath that the bill 81 Assessment had been
| lost or mislad. James Rorkc f. treasurer 81 the
company and asked 10y ncighbor II the re
| bate had been paid 10 him. He I'D not know until
then that there was any rebate. and investigation
| showed that cults got the money.
In the matter of rofunding excess Of taxes paid
| for local improvements. the usual method l. to
| inform the owners in person, and " they cannot
be found the money IL kept for them. Controller
CorWin said Yesterday that ia" payments to CUTS
made in 1880. 1891 and $50! amounted 10 about
! $50" There had been none this year. The losses
Will fall upon the city.
There much surprise In military and social
circles over the arrest Of Lieutenant Colonel 60
bridge, who has been highly esteemed by all who
his income and ovcrrun with duns for Dor
rowod money. General McIccr said that he h.
known Lieutenant Colonel Colbridge for many
years. and highly respected him.