The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-21
MULLINS DEFENCE.
The Newark Avenue Furnl-
tuIe Man Denies
All Guilt.
G U THE ISSUES
Chauncey Beasley's Scathing De-
nunciation of Murphy
The Spy.
specio1 to the Jerseu Cftu Meas.

Special to the JeYSep CITY Ne1cS-
TRENTON, Oct. 81. 1S95.@The trlal OIL
Jofn Mullins. indicted for conspiracy
to defraud the State in the matter OF
furniture sales. was resumed before
Judge Woodruff in the Mercer County
Court this morning. The defendant was
put on the stand at ten O'Clock.
He said that he had a wife and four
children. He owns stores in Brooklyn,
Jersey City. Paterson and Newark. he
said. and does a business -aggregaiting
between 100000 and $500. 900 a year.
About thirty years ago he came from
Ireland and worked on the railroad as
a laborer. After that he carried a hod
and then peddled pictures. Twentyseven
years ago., he said. he opened a little
furniture store in Jersey City. and from
that beginning his business grew to ITS
present size. Mullins testified that ne
knew Bernard ]. Ford. the fugitive state
House superintendent. only in a business
way. and Eugene Murphy. the book
keeper. to his sorrow. Mr.. Mullins de-
MED that he had ever told Murphy thai
.eBarney-is getting impatient. and wants
his divyy."
He enied also. that he directed Muir
ply to figure up the amount due 10
Ford, and added that he had never told
Murphy that Ford's share was III per
cent.
EMPHATIC DENIALS.
Mr.. Mullins was examined by former
Judge Hoffman, who asked him categor-
ically concerning all the transactions
charged as Illegal, and he denied n
wrongdoing in emphatic language. He
never had any understanding with Ford
at all about percentage, and never paid
him a penny as. a part of his profits de-
rived from the sale of furniture 10 the
State.
Prosecutor Stockton -cross-examined Mr..
Mullins briefly.
you had a partner, Mr.. Mullins. didn't
your he inquired.
Eyes," said the witness. Il
"Who was he?"
s.Daniel Moriarty."
s.Where is he now?" 6
sT don't Know"
.sWhen did you see him last"
ABOUT the time the Senate Investl-
eating Committee adjourned"
Mr.. Mullins said he saw him in New
York, but since then he had heard that
Morlarty was in Ireland. Morlarty mas
communicated with him in no way; mas
never written for money or made in
quiry concerning any of their business
matters. The defendant said he never
submitted bills against the State to
Ford. and did not know hat Ford mark
ed them Correct" All his bills went
to the State Comptroller, and all his
checks came from the State cashier
CoURT CLERK NORTON TESTIFIES.
James F. Norton. reporter for a New
York newspaper, testified that Murphy
-. L. ,,+o,riaur in h1o11Gt 1894.
in which Murphy) said, that Mullins told
him that Barney Ford was getting
impatient and wanted his "divvy." The
phrase was made use of in the printed
interview. Murphy wanted the story to
get into print. James F. Coogan, the
New York furniture dealer, and Edward
F. C. Young, President of the First Ma
tional Bank of Jersey City testiled 10
Mr.. Mullins good character.
Mr.. Coogan said that Mullins was a
man Of unimpeachable integrity, and MI.
Young said his reputation was as good
as that Of any other man in Jersey
City. E~x-Speaker John D.. Carscallen
and ex-State Treasurer Toffey were also
summoned to testify to Mullins good
character, but they failed to put in an
appearance and the defense rested.
The summing up then began.
Captain ". D. Holt first addressed the
iury. Speaking of Barney" Ford, who
was Jointly indicted with Mullins he
said:-"Ford. who alone could tell every
particular of this scheme to rob the
State. is a wanderer on the face of the
earth with the brand of Cain upon his
brow" Captain Holt then analysed the
evidence given by Bookkeeper Murphy,
and said it was So strong and reliable as
-.-~ ~, III a r ENnrd
would tell the truth if he were present.
1t was as convincing of guilt, too. The
force of Murphy's Testimony had not
been l<oken by the defence. There was
nothing in the case to show that Muir
rhy's statements are untrue. Captain
Holt made a strong point of the defend
ants refusal to produce his books, which
would show whether Murphy was a per-
jurer or not.
The bills produced by the State con-
firm The evidence concealed in the alb
sent books. Reliable New Jersey wit
nesses swore that Mullins prices were
grossly exorbitant. They prove the fraud
charged.
Judge C1auncey Beasley made the
opening argument for the defense. 1t
consisted principally of an attack upon
the bookkeeper Murphy. whom he char
acterized as a liar. periurer. blacoma1ler
and miserable scamp. Murphy. he de-
clared,, was discharged from Mullins en-
pgoy for stealing money from him. His
: object is to snake money. He was paid
over $500 for testifying before the Sen
ate investigating Committee. He has
tried to get money out of Mullins SINGS
and is undoubtedly getting well paid for
his evidence in this court. "He is a
thorough blackleg." said Judge Beasley,
s.and his evidence is not deserving the
consfd~e ratlon of anybody"