New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-29
YOUNG ABBETT'S "EXTRAS."
NOEE TESTIMONY AFTERNOON
r1-RTHER DISCLOSURES OF THE STATE
HOUSE VILLANY.
THE BUILDING STRIPPED, THE FURNITURE SOLD
.>.r THE MONEY KEpT-PROFITs IN PAINT
ING CoNTRACT-A PRIVATE sECRETARfS
BIG BILLS FOR "rNCIpENTALs'
AND POSTAGE.
INV TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE T2TBuNEJ
ro,.or March 9S-The Senate Chamber was
well filed with politicians OF all degrees IeP'e
son;ing all parties. long before the me'lotio
the Voorhees, Investigating COMMITTEES anu W. -
Corblr counsel arrived this morning. and many
NJ tho old Democratic rngsters who stood a'ou"u
~ corridors or lurked in the Hobbies wore anxious
corrtenances Mr. Corbin had not even ln'lma'en
into wha. department he would drise MS sharp
ened probe hence the anxiety. To-Day '"e co"i-
col for the committee showed clearly 'hd' rol''
no, content with stripping the courtrooms OF the
state House Of valuable furnishings ana se4"hg
,ha came to the Democratic heelers for song.
did not even turn over the proceeds received rom
such sales 1t also shown that Leon -Appe.''
tr received thousands of dollars from the STATE
fox extras" postage travelling expenses
etc without the usual Formally of itemi2inS MS
bills. During the whole time he was drawing
salary Of 5000 annually from the State as his
fathers private secretary. Although young Aoo't'
has enjoyed for years the privilege OF Tree IAN
road passes on all lines in New-JerSey' MS 'a'e''
Governor Leon Albeit. promptly approved MS
enormous bills for travelling expenses. Aholhe'
mariner CT the firm OF KiInInard * Co. OF
Newark turned up missing" today ana. as Is 'He
case with other firms that have been called pe'oIe
the Voorhees, Committee 10 tell or their trans
actions with the State. except those whose BOOKS
have been eaten by the mice, the one BOOK
which would show just what the committee
wante! was missing"
uOUNDING THE COMMITTEES WITNESS.
.Eugene Murphy. the young expert accountant
who exposed the inner workings OF John Mulhhs
q Co. came here early TO consult Mr.. Coroh ana
the committee about a personal matter lie ue-
clares that because he appeared IN answer 10 'he
committees subpoena and told truthtuiy JUST
what he knew he is now being prosecuted They
are irving TO put up a job me because l be-
came a witness" said Mr. Murphy. i needh
mention names. bat the game is to connect me win
a certain crook. and in this way make II appear
that am on the same Level as the crook but
propose to give them some Of their own medicine.
NV Intention Is to Begin action, both civil and
criminal against the men who are bounding me.
and then We will how they will come out
before the courts. have something up my sleeve
for the whole gang
When Chairman VOORHEES, called the committee 10
order today Mr. Corbin said that by newspaper
advertisement he had learned OF sale OF state
House furnishings on December 2S, 1898 There was
no record of the sale anywhere in the State Capol
nor of the moneys received. He then called Johh
Riker an employee OF the Treasurer's office, and
Fords confidential clerk. to prove that no record
existed Of any sale on tina, date. Mr.. Riker said
there was none. nor had any money been turned
in on account of the sale.
John Correll. an employee OF the state. was called
and his examination proceeded as follows:
O-Do YOU know of sale Of State House furni-
ture in December, 1893? Al 40 49,. .,o
/ kept a record Of goods sold A.,
QIWhere is that record? Al gave 1t to Mr.
Q-whan? A-IAst January.
Q-snce this committee was appointed? A. 20 90
list list. ana gave j; 10 him
Q-What was the amount. Al oeheVe u was
Q~was tina, money paid to the state? Al
don't know. personally
ONLY THREE RETURNS OF SALES MADE
Mr. Corbin tod the committee that in searching
the records he found that sales OF State property
bo5 Ma Anil
Is 1892 and on several dates in 1893. But tlree re-
turns had apparently been made for property soii.
No details of these sales could be found anywhere
1t was shown b. the testimony Of Riker that three
checks were deposited in the Second National Bank
by Superintendent Ford one deposit was made
October e. 1891 the check was for scot q The
second deposit on October q. 1892 for N'ool :"
the third under date OF october . 1893. and the
emount named on the check was SOS s.. The memo
randa in the daily blott,r IN the Treasurer's Office
indicated that the checks represented the proceeds
Of the sale of state House goods.
81 desire to state" said Mr.. Corbin. that every
thing indicates that articles OF furniture. carpets
and even safes Were sold here. Sales took place
from every ROOM all the way from the cellar % the
roof. In some cases the contents Of a room were
sold twice and as often replaced by new ami in
ferior goods. /; is both startling and amazing -
contemplate the order Of things that prevailed here
Ford disposed OF state property just as one might
his own private possessions. The proceeds Of the
safes were never inquired III 'iiii III N'"i q
simply took the money. and at the end OF each fsca
year he would turn check that was supposed
10 represent all the money received during the year
from the sale of furniture etc Such condition
needs no comment my part now.
YOUNG ABBETT's REMARKABLE BILLS
After a discussion OF the COS: OF telephone eX-
penses during Governor Abhe;ts term. with Ex-
ecutive Clerk Edward Fox. Mr.. Corbin submitted
a schedule showing the amount expended during the
last three administrations In Governor Green
term the items follows: For postage in lsS"
sos in lsss S4Oj; in 1889 ssh There were no charg
for incidentals. In Governor Abbetts term the Bill
for postage in 1890 1892; in 1881. $500 in 1892
s9so and for the same term there Were incidental
bills for Sl5 in 1892 Soc9 in 1891. and $751; in lS2
Leon Albeit jr. the Governors private secretary,
was paid during the same term. IN 1880 for salary
incidenta,s and extra services. &7Z9 81; in 1881,
AGl5 A. and in 1882 Sc l5j Ss Secretary ALBEIT,
when not engaged in looking after the affairs of the
Governors Office Il seems, cOunseled anu ADVISED
the Dairy Commissioners. likewise performed legal
service FOR the Sinking Fund Commissioner ana
when any work OF legal nature in connecuo&
with the rebuilding Of the Assembly Chamber was
required. he hand to look after 1t. tnder
Governor Wcr;ss term the postage bill dropped IN
1895 $3.50. and in 1894 to siU lncdenais in 1893
sl35. and in 1894 only so.
To those items and others like them-such as
1885 expended for grass seeds and flowers in 1893.
and 81 $50 expended for the same purpose in 1884
MIR. Corbin said he called attention simply because
the bills indicative OK apparent eXtravagance.
The committees counsel then submitted a sched-
ule of bills showing that Democratic Fire Com
missioner Hugh Knnard. OF Newark. and his part
ner. Merrck Martin, trading as ii. kinnard Co..
had through the kindness Of Barney" Ford and
Governor Albeit. received Sl37A % for painting In
and about the STATE House. The Senate Chamber
alone cost S29lG, according TO the bills. kinnard
was placed on the stand and he frankly acknowl-
edged the correctness OF the vouchers placed before
Mr. d
MIR Kinnard kept his books but the witness stated
that mos; Of the business had been transacted by
his partner, Mr.. Martin. Mr.. Kinnard explained
that Martin had capital invested in his bust
ness and had been partner during the time he
was doing the State House work. When asked