The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-19
WANTED $4,000.
Informer Murphy's Propo.
osition to John Mullins
to Keep Out of Sight.
CONSPIRACY TRIAL IN TRENTON
Defence Opens Yesterday With
Expert Evidence on Furniture
Prices-A Queer Letter.
specfol to the jersey CITY Ns,gs.

opcCtOt 10 ~ UcfccJ StB 4'SWS'
TRENTON, Oct. 10, 1S95.-The defence
began its side yesterday in the trial OF
sohn Mullins, of Jersey City for con-
sDiracy to defraud the State. Mr.. Vre-
denburgh opened. He said the case was
so important to Mullins as to make 1t
necessary for the defence to present
more testimony than the evidence of the
State seemed to warrant. The State was
trying the Indictment charging a con-
spiracy from June l, 1898. There was
another conspiracy Indictment and four
others for uttering false oaths. Mullins
could charge what he pleased in his bills
for furniture without c~riminality. The
State need not pay the bills unless the
Comptroller saw fit to approve them.
Ford had no authority to buy furniture.
The State had shown him to be a servant
of the State. But the law of 1895, Great
ing the office. gave him no authority to
buy furniture. He couldn't even hire a
woman to sweep without the approval
of the Governor, and he was not author
ized to buy even a spittoon. SThere was
no evidence in the case that Ford bought
: anything, but the law he quoted showed
he had no authority to buy it.
The only evidence the State has shown
of conspiracy was the APPROVAL of the bills
of Mullins by Ford. The Comptroller
required the certification by some one
that the furniture had been received,
n that was all Ford did. He simply
put a stamp on the bills. Correct. B.. j.
Ford with the date.
The testimony of Murphy. he said,
showed no new conspiracy, but a pre-
existing one-one that was made prev
ious to August, 1893, or the original con-
spiraey of 1890.
WOODS ON THE STAND.
The first witness called by Mr.. Vred-
enburgh was Thomas E. Woods, a book
maker of Washington, who testified that
he first met Eugene Murphy at the
Alexandra race tracks. He identified
the letter which Murphy was shown the
day before. and denied having anything
to do with it. He also denied having made
some statements which Murphy had ac-
credited to him when on the witness
stand. Murphy, he said, he had met
since the trial began, and the letter was
talked of. Murphy wanted to know
why the witness came, telling him that
he needn't have come to testify if he
did not want to, Murphy said he would
admit having sent the letter.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Holt, the
witness bungled considerably and kept
one of his feet moving in a very nervous
manner. He c~ontradicted himself sew
eral times in telling how he came to
write the Letter for Murphy. in regard to
which he was being examined. Some
time was spent in testing his knowledge
of the letter and the reason for which it
was written. He signed it Chip. be-
cause that was the name by which he
was known to George Paterson. to whom
CONTENTS OF THE LETTER.
The letter when finally read to the jury
was l0u' WA g + + iSiiG March 3. 1895.
Friend George want you to go and
see job Mullins and see what he has
for you to make $500 for a couple of
minutes work, as Mullins and about four
more will go to jail as a result of the
State Investigating Committee. as Muir
ply is the chief witness against them.
and he hears that they want him to get
out of the way, and if you can have a
talk with Mullins and tell him Murphy is
anxious to get out, and if he will pay his
bond, which is $4,000, and his expenses he
win get out of sight, and then them
books and everything will be confscated
within forty-eight hours, and if they
want to do anything with Murphy you
can telegraph me at once and will tell
A postscript gives a pointer on how
to bet IN the races.
Two kilograms which Murphy had re-
ceived and which related to the matter,
but in what way was not divulged, were
inclosed with this letter to Paterson.
1t was not sent direct to Paterson. who
lives in Brooklyn, but in care of a man
named Stebbins. A telegram was then
sent him to go and get the letter. Why
this roundabout way was taken could
not be learned from Woods. The witness
denied that he was to have any part in
The person to whom the letter was
sent George Paterson, of Brooklyn, a
race track clerk, was next called, and
said that on receiving the telegram he
went for the letter, and after reading
its contents hunted up Mullins and told
him what was in it. He showed Mullins
the telegrams and Mullins kept them.
MULLINS DEFIED MURPHY.
Mullins told him he did not want to
helm Murphy. He told the witness to
tell Murphy that II want him at the trial
to show the people of New Jersey what
a scoundrel he is"
Mr.. Paterson told Mr.. Holt that he did
matchmaking scheme. He did not give
Mullins the letter, because he wanted it
to protect himself. In just what way