New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-12
ROODY STANDS BY HIS MEN
THE MAYOR OF BROOKLYN TESTIFlES
CALLED BY THE DEFENCE IN TIE fl"oii

CALLED BY THE DEFENCE IN HE ri"'A
TRIAIs-sOME THINGS HE DOES NOT KNOW
Mayor Body was the first witness called b. the
dfrco I'm the fri Il Of James II. PgDt, plan clerk
Of the Building Department, for felony In present
ing a false ana fraudulent bill to the city Tor Inc
Colnmhn, parade reviewing stands, when re had u"
light TO do work for the city ontsde OF his oihoia
arues The prosecution was continued yesterday
hofor. Judge Moore IN the Court OF Sessions. as II
va. decided to put In further evidence a'thon2A OH
Wednesday the District Attorney was ready 10 rest
after evidence had been given In regard 10 tHc eA
ccs>vc price paid for the stan's.
tn, first evidence taken yesterday rclltei 10 u"
length of the stands erected by the city, ana II was
shown that the total length was l,2oo iee'' anu
,hon Nvron Rush WAS called to ow what wohin d.
n fair price for the stands. He said 'h'' - ~
foot or go for 200 feet for a stan" '"'''' wv
high in the rear; II ii were sixteen Feet 1t "o"'" "
wort Fl mere. Although the testimony was d o'
prise TO the prosecution Assistant District i''"'"
Clark contcntcd himself with asking tn" "l'n's' u
ne hal talked with tie prosecution before 'e'"''"-
and after his denial rested his case do
mo,ion was made By the counsel Tor tne NC
fence for the acquta Of the defendant OH NV ',,
that no fraud had been proved ana no '''', ,a,
shown to have been presented. JuuSe "o''' >,
.hc motion and said the case would nave 10 - "
the jury. :,
Edward F. O'Dwycr opened tho case Tor t' ~" ~.
fence. reviewing the Official action leading up w Wv
celebration by the city Of th" ''lui"o"' .ah
centennial and the dedication OF the 'i'" ,c
The stands nearly l,Jco iee' 'o"- ~
feet high and according 10 the expert witness VI
the prosecution only fair price was paul - Wv
Nancy was unlawfuly expended 1t was an h"'''.
mistake on thu part Of the Mayor -N"''"
Corporation Counsel and the Legislature ia" ~
caliZcd the expenditures. -
Thcrc wa, much interest in the crowded. court
room when Mayor Body called to testify hc
In he
by the city. The celebration Of the toHlhh''h "''"
vcr,ry by tho city wa, first talked Of in March D"t
no action WAS taken until SEPTEMBER Nv '
desired to have the citizens share in I'll" "Npc"'c Wv
no action wa, taken. II" sent I"r "'' '
| of Aldermen appointed when the h'f''c' "'' ~
n,ol IN :, ptcmbcr and called attention 10 tI' mar
complton Of the solder, and sailor, Arch ana '"'
wisdom ~ uniting If, Dedication with III" Columbian
clchutIon The question was whether money con"
IL. locally appropriated for W." pirp0se, am Inv WI
por,rion Counsel advised that III" money 'ouii ~
transferred from uncNp"ndcd bailn'cN' ~ III" W."
previously done. ana the Controller stated u''' WV
balancc, which could bc taIi'icIici. il'' "'l-'""
appropratlon Of 10000 was increased 10 9'oo''' oo
cause 80 many school children were to PARTICIPATE AM
mu.ir ~, wanted. He had suce tied tha' ID" 'e""
lrotou lee made at ~ small pubic cost Is F'>'l''
The Mayor said he acted I'm pcicc' gp"n ia.n ~
the matter, ana tn" celebration WIS "''c''uo" -
thronss of people.
IN. ouc,ion was raised In March whether the Guy
woud have a celebration without legislative acton
and it wa, decided that 1t could j." doh". \ plil '""
been prepared, but the matter was dropP'"' VIZ"
RIA, limo cam.. 10 dedicate the arch and 1t was pro
posed 10 unite the ceremonies Win the 'oiu''p"'
celebration the Legislature WAS not III 'e''loh' an"
,ouu..l advised that the money could r legally ta"'H
,rr, tb.. un.Npendcd balances and expended 10y the
ronuon Couucn The original .stimat" OF 5000
WA, made In a general way after TIE cost h'u p'i'
talked over. and $4,000 was added to give music
far fin. schools and to make the parade more III
pres,Nc. ,,...... IT,. -,
"Wly didn't you go Ia the Legislature LOT a."
,,orty p" asked District Attorney WdgWal'
..rn,. idea wa, suggested. but dropped.' replied
the Mayor "Whcn 1t taken up again the L'ElH'
hiur. wa, not In session. The bill was p''P"i'n ""'
not presented. ~ | discouraged COLUMBUS ''i'''"
lion hy the city. II 1t had not been Tor Inc ART"
Their. would have been celebrations Il was 'n'
pressure Of the soldiers ana S"i'oiS "'' -" u" ~
u up again ,,,,
II was fixed by the committee The subject was
talked over in general way. but We didn't have any
definite idea
vel. II you didn't lave any definite idea how
did yo increase II from s-ovoO 10 e'ooVo'
ri,.n We had facts
/ ii YOU then nave estimates - $780,,
~1miy in a general way. 1 didn't 90 into detail.
~" .it Jim't require 10000 worth Of music -
DON'T think that much was used Tor hu'l-.
What else Il used for y
There W"r" visiting organizations.
Well they Lad band,
d%n,t Know can't give details. II is not
IN, bu,inr,, tn look after those details
In regard To the reviewing stands ne MAYOR >lin h
mad not consulted with any one. Dd You not py
oui ~ 100 for stands without hndlnG ont wA'thy
Inc m ,,.y Wa really dI" or not ~ WAS asked D> DW
tnct Attorney Rdgvay. ,
did not consider that II i IN" aug ol 'n'
Mayor 10 look mp the detail, of bills. was me r'pH
Of tho witness. lie said hc had never seen llgp or
uo., or me plans 81 the stands. To IL" question
whether h" knew that under IN" city char.er no 'rk
coud be- done AT IA cost OF NOR" than 500 without
n,lllc mddins and contracts, the Mayor said there
were exceptions. 20 far aS H. knew thcI" was no
laddng FOR The stands. ,.. T.,
Alderman William Mckee. che Of the commit "e H.
cnnrge Of the celebration, VINO i Jolntk III ii,i''
with pgott and Ross. was IN" n"At witness. Prom
nj. personal observation ~ N" work, AMI previous
Lnow l,dg. ~ stands. he thought that The sum paid
FOR the work fair similar evidence WIS gL IN
iy Aldermen IIcancy. Pickering. Thoma, aud Wafer.
tho Other members of the Mtrrnanc Committee.
From M, figures furnished by ross. the c1mnitc"
,h,rrlf sll 100 "A fair amount Ia pay Tor the work.
Wcnry l. >pccr. n builder. ~ Third ave, ard
rIfy third II, testified that he woull hav" built the
stand, tor S1lti.