New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-25
THE MONEY GO?

~
BERNARD J. FORD.
(From a photograph taken several years ago)
contemplated surrender a number OF polltlcians
were on hand to see the former ruler OF the
State House. Ford left New-York where ne mao
! been for the last weeks. en- the lo:io traih'
| As he entered the courtroom the States counsel
making earnest fight to convict gang OF
| sneak thieves and two women VINO are accused
| OF running a "fence." Senator Barrett led the
! procession up the centre aisle Of the old Court
House, with the disgraced official close behind him,
silk hat In hand, pale and haggard looking Joseph
Colt came next and then Ford's bondsman. Prose
| cutor Stockton continued the case he was en-
gagged in for few minutes and by leave OF Court
interrupted It and called Ford to the bar Of justice
to plead. Ford with start when the
court clerk called his name. BY agreement Of
Ford's counsel the prosecution only read the in
dictments by title.
| Bernard j. Ford. you charged with false
pretences against the State in four different in
dictments? How do you pead?" asked Mr..
| Stockton
| "Not guilty" replied Senator Barrett. answer
ing for Ford
There are two indictments against you for
spiracy to defraud the State How do you plead?'
you are charged with two indictments of mis-
conduct in Office
Not guilty"
The Court then fixed the day for the trial and
accepted the ex-Counciman bondsman. and
Ford and his counsel left the court. after the ex
! Superintendent, had shaken hands with several
friends who present. On the sidewalk Ford
was met by his old friend Major Hurley. whose
| former good considerably smirched by
| testimony OF his dealings with Ford and State
| House contracts. The two shook hands In silence
and Ford entered a cab with his counsel. refusing
to talk to reporters the subject of the indict-
| ments the investigation Ford said however,
| that he glad to get back to New-Jersey and
intended going straight to his family in NewYork.
He declined TO discuss his Whereabouts since the
finding of the indictments TO say whether or
not he had had several interviews with the SeEate
Committee during the investigation, nor would he
| tell where ne has been since the appoin tment OF
the State Investigating Committee
| CLIMAX OF THE YEARS SENSATIONS.
| Barney" Fords surrender to Jersey justice
caps the climax Of the years sensations in State
| politics. Ford is sixty years DID, but he
his age we'll. and until his hegira last summer he
| used to be noted Of the nattiest and best
groomed men to be met in the haunts of politicians.
No man In all New-Jersey was better known per-
sonay. AS lobbyist quarter Of a century ago, he
had the reputation Of being one Of the shrewdest
men in q colony where all keen-witted. He
for years the legislative agent Of the Mutual
Benefit Life Insurance Company, and 1t was while
looking after the interests of that corporation in
New-York State that he became acquainted with
Buffalo Their acquaintance ripened. and when Mr..
Cleveland elected President IL Ford who
ploted and introduced a delegation of prominent
Jerseymen that called at the Executive Mansion in
Albany.
Along in 1889 Ford had a bill passed in Trenton
ating the Office Of State House Superintendent. and
Governor Green gave him the appointment AS
the designation implied. he had general supervision
OF the Capitol. Under the regime Of Governor Abb
bett whose second term began in 1890 Fords powers
!, bod t;nol ,,,lv taA
power to order anything that he wanted in tho
way OF furniture and supplies 1t during this
period that the new Assembly Chamber built
! and furnished.
The whole Capitol was Quilted from cellar TO garrett
Rich and expensive carpets torn ornate and
massive furniture rooted out. and new and
cheaper goods took their place. For the disused
material the State received very little, but $4,000
was paid out for the "refurnshing" done In three
four years.
! The bills of John Mullins & Co. for furniture and
carpets amounted to $4S,5l7 The State was charged
all the way from 50 to per cent above the usual
| rates Desks chairs and carpets were sent to prom
nent politicians in Jersey City and elsewhere. and
the State paid the bills on Fords 90 k
| WHAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED
| An Investigatpg Committee Of the Senate, headed
! by Foster NJ Voorhees, and with William H. Cor
bin for counsel began last February an inquiry into
the rumors OF "croo&edness' When Mullins pro-
duced his books they were found TO be in multi
ated condition. The accounts with the state had
been cut out OF the ledgers. The pages In the day
| books containing charges to the State were also
cut out as wei, as pages in the cash books. So ex
tensve were his dealings with the State that 1000
pages had been cut out Of books in the effort to
! conceal the account What remained showed nu-
merous blots and mut!lations OF obviously
recent date. This was particularly true OF the cheek
of the election in November 1893. That is within a
| few hours after 1t was known That the hepnoicans
| had carried both Houses Of the Legislature The
rest cut long after.
BOOKS MUTILATED-COMM1ssIO PAID.
| Notwithstanding their mutilations it practi-
caly demonstrated from the books that Mullins &
! Co. paid to come one a commission OF 20 per cent
! all tho furniture placed in the part of the
Capitol. and 10 per cent on all In the
Old part The money paid by checks
drawn TO cash or to Mullnss own order. the funds
being allowed to disappear from the cash without
being charged up to any account whatsoever In
the stubs Of Of these checks appeared Ford
| 70" IF" ETC. On the stubs OF many Of them were
erasures and mutilat!ons
Mullins Il Co.'S account against the State contained
many Items OF nterest-sSCo for desk for President
to Tson ALBEIT n hD'1 no 70 Broaa@ay NeWYosE
one chair SIS. desk $780, Leon Albeit jr. Jer
sey-ave. and Mercer-s. Jersey City; Vienna chairs
to Leon Albeit. jr.. Second National Bank. Hobo
KEN several items OF carpets. desks and chairs for
Leon Albeit. jr private secretary OF the Governor,
49, January Ii: another lounge TO Colonel Hep
penheimer, January g. $50; two desks $40. marked
In book mot delivered paid for by the State. never
In March, $780, the State paid Mullins a bill Of
@ d9 for 1 10 july padng Mns drew h
stub of the check book The check was cashed
The amour, disappeared out of Mulnss cash. not
go ScssS win ri il he ssns. ai.spSssssa IN
check for S16S with '.Er" was drawn. and the money