New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
THE OFFICIALS ARRAIGNED.
CHARGES AGAINST THE JERSEY CITY
STREET AND WATER BOARD.
THEY PLEAD NOT GUILTY AND ARE AD-
MITTED TO BAH. IN $500 EACH-wHAT
THE COMPLAINT SAYS.

j. Somers William r. Cook and Edward A. Dugan.
Additional interest was given TO the case by the
fact that JuGgc Lippincott had decided TO keep
these cases under his individual control. from the
presentation Of the indictments by the Grand Jury
until the recording Of the verdict of the trial jury
and perhaps longer. The indicted commissioners
appeared at the Court House before Judge Lppin-
colt arrived. They appeared haSgard and anxious.
They seemed TO be that they had un-
pleasant half hour before them and were In haste
TO have 1t When Judge Lippincott ascended
the bench the Commissioners were ranged along
the east side Of the courtroom. Judge Lpplncott
knew them all and what they were there for bat
he coolly announced that he would hear common
motions in the Supreme Court. An unmportant
case consumed twenty minutes. and then Judge
Lppincott leaned and asked Prosecutor Win
field If he was ready to make those arraignmenis
This was the only sign that the Court had passed
from the Supreme TO the oyer and Terminer stage
The prosecutor replied in the affirmative and then
called each defendant by name TO the bar. When
all had advanced to the clerks desk Prosecutor
Winfield addressed them collectively.
THE Grand jury" he said presents an indict-
ment against you for conspiracy to cheat and de-
fraud the Mayor and Aldermen of Jersey City. Do
you plead guilty not guilty."
THE MEN REMAIN SILENT.
None of them answered. but Mr.. Thompson of
the firm of Dickinson. Thompson McMaster, who
have been retained for the defence. stepped for
guilty reserving the right TO demur to ask to have
the indictments quashcd, to apply for certi-
orarl soon as a copy of the indictment conid DC
secured and read. Judge Lippncott accepted the
plea and fixed the bail at $500 each Boncsmen
were then offered and accepted as follows: County
Collector Hugh DugGn for Cook and Somers; Henry
Lembeck for Madden: James Coyle for Dugan. ana
Matthew Farrell for Yoe No questions were asked
the financial standing Of the bondsmen beng known
in each case. The brief ceremony being over the
Commissioners filed slowly out Of the courtroom
followed by their friends. The date for the trial
Will be set next week. AS the men are indicted
Jointly they will be tried together.
WHAT THE COMPLAINT SAYS
The following is a copy in part Of the indct-
ment:
The Grand Inquest Of the cqrniy Of p HqdsGn 1,aoE
Present iat 56 J9hn r. MAIDEN" 'i and stephen
80, being ~ Sri and Water Commissioners OF
Jetsey City, and constituting and acting as the the
Boari Of Street and Water Commissioners or Jer-
M ~ Sod a Idcrmen q Of Jrsy D' city by virtue Of
the -ws Of this state 10 wit, SAID once OF o'icr,
sworn being persons OF evil minds and dispositions
together with divers other eIt.-dispos d persons;
unknown wlckedy devsing and intending know &
ingly corruptiy and unlawiully 10 cheat anu T o.
fraud the Mayor and Aldermen or jersey Cly
a their moneys. did consi.re and bind tnemse.ves
hy agreement 70 cheat and deir@ud tne MA{ nv n,T %.
Aldermen Of jersey Clty o. t3eil novSo ~ IN
CHASING ana laying for large 9eanties s greaty
plies for the SAID Mayor ana h.teIHlcH @t
for and on behalf Of the Mayor ana A-deTne & 1o1
to the Mayor and Aldermen; by ordering pala iarge
sums OF money OF the moneys of the Mayor anu anu
rendered any services therefor 10 the Mayor and
Aldermen. and by corrupt and e1tIayAgSns! raa, Sa
minis StrLtion of the affairs of the BOdri OF street
and Water Commissioners. ... .,u.
And the Grand Inques, 90 further present that
Dugan, Charles j. somers and Stephen +. f9e 50
being Street and Water Commissioners OF Jefasy
City, and 50 constituting and composing ana aCuHs
as the Board OF Street and Water Comm~sloners OF
Jersey City. together with other persons, whOse
names are to the Grand Inquest aforesaid unknown
IN pursuance Of the conspiracy, comDnaton' % IN -
effect the object therof the lSth day Of Augusi
received proposals from bidders FOR paving certain
streets OF Jersey Ciiy with asphalt, Gii will; ;
for doing said work between the Trinidad Asphalt
Paving Company and the BarDF ASp""t f1F"s
Company two OF said BIDDERS.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
And the Grand Inquest DO further present that the
said John T. Madden. William X. cook, Elwasi
A. Dugan. Charles J. Somers and Stephen T. foe'
Street and Water Commissioners, together with
other persons whose are TO the Grand Inquest
unknown in execution Of the conspiracy coinblna'
ton. confederation and agreement between "Ad
among them, and to effect the object thereof
on the 9th of August IsJ-. having adopted specin-
cations for the doing Of certain plumbing ana steam
heating work and repairs in and upon cerIa,n @ IL,
public schools OF said city Of Jersey Ciiy known as
public schools Nos. !. ? g. T. g. lO II, T. ~ ana
90 and having advertised Tor proposMs ior ,r, w.
doing OF said work ana or sdll repairs III ir,,i ,',
with said speclicatlons ana hatlhS iectlttl @
certain proposals, eacn OF which was Tor thc CONG
OF said work and Of sid repairs IN accoTddhcc W',a
said specifications, ana haNI6, ~ Il me 'lhS o.. od
said board voted to award ana havlnS awaI led tnc
contract for he doing OF sad work and Of SAID repairs
according 10 said specifications 10 one ramp T. Mdi
and cans@ TO be- executed for and on behalf and In
the name Of the Mayor and Aldermen Of Jersey
repairs which said contract at the time Of us
execution had attached to II and made rart part or OF II
,F Ica ifne
as those adopted by the street and Water Com
Street and water Commissioners had advertised for
and received proposals for doing said Work ana
repairs and in accordance with which all proposals
but ere wholly different thereirom ana hltcsethrr
omitted all mention or or reference TO. any work
and repairs in and upon The public schools known
and designated es public schools NOS ~ II ana 10
OTHER CHARGES MADE
"Thc next count in the Indictment charges that
the said Madden Cook. Dugan, Somers and Voc.
with others whose names are unknown to the Grand
Jury in pursuance OF the conspiracy. on April q.
1892 'wifuly. unlawfuy and corruptly audited or
dercd paid and caused to be paid by the city Of
Jersey city certain cla Inns Of one Patrick j. Con
school site No 2j 200 yards of earth more than
the said Condor had actually eSeavated and re-
"The next charges the Commssioners with
tSnsGnS con 10 ,Sy Unknown on March s In that
they did corrIpty auqt amn C,y c IN p@ pr
scn;ed by Philip L. Martin. for twenty-five brass
spIds at the rate OF 81 each
"The next count charges the Commissioners of
CONSUMING combining and cOnfcderatng with other
persons on April H. 1899 to unlawfully aud cor
rrlrtly audit and that they did order and cause
.. no. nsd bv Jersey city to Anthony l.. Smith the
sum OF sire for water gates. and the sum Of
$3.50 for hydrants.' - z,,- ,.,
THE next count charges the Commissioners. with
other pergons to the Grand Jury unknown. IN
DursIance OF a conspiracy January %, 1893, with
mi wf,!ly and corrptly auditing and ordering and
causing 10 be paid by Jersey CITY to Mark Curley,
Pohcrt Davis and Michael LaYorty. trading under
me name OF the Jersey City supply Company, for
zoo gallons Of cylinder oil at the rate OF 20 cents
per gallon. - -. ,,..,., l.,
overn;Ion OF the conspiracy with combining and
confedora;IDe and agreeing with other parties 10
,he Grand Jury unknown and in execution OF the
Ia cnnsniracy with unlawfuy AID corruptly or
Gerre, 10 be paid and causing 10 be paid bv Jersey
civ 10 Patrick O'Connor the sum or S.'o2 % for
IrrTdlne, q sever for Public School No a. on Vir
gnia-avc.