New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
THE BURDEN JEWELS BILL.
WHAT DIsTRICT-ATTORNEY OLCoii
THINKS ABOUT 1T.

HE SAYS MR. BURDEN SHOULD PAY THE cHAH"S
urMsrr.P-coNrRoLrER FITCH DECLARES
HE WILL NOT PAY THE MONEY UNLESS
THE COURTS COMPEL HIM TO DO so.
District Attorney OIcott yesterday gave forcip'e
expression to his belief that the bill OF s'"i 20 .or
bringing the stolen Burden diamonds back 10 '"'
city from London ought to have been pal" w :.
Townsend Burden and ought not to nave pee"
made charge against the city At the same time
he declared that it would be folly for the city 10
refuse to pay the bill now. because the iate DE
trct-Attorney Fellows incurred the debt III sue"
way that 1t was binding on the city. Last SUN
mer he said. Colonel Fellows MADE VerphI Gun.
tract with Morton, Bliss Co. to bring the )e"e''
N New-York and have them insured In transit
After the service was rendered by Morton. bliss &
Co and the firm presented bill to the Distric'-
Attorney there was delay, and then' on Sep-
TENDER 90 Colonel Fellows wrote a letter TO the
firm His letter contained the following STATE
ments In relation to the bill OF 1851 70:
In the regular course Of official business the Dis
trict Attorney has submitted to the Board OF EST.
mate and Advertisement his department estimate
for 1881 and FOR
appropriation, II allowed will cover your p,. rec
aSsmt Of number Of Years past fiscal authori
will make this approximation; S,ch he aypa,I
able until after January I. 1897 .,., s.r,sr nav.
There is other means by wnicn eatn 'herrso
men can ., csrtacaton Of your bill by the Dis
trict-Attorney 10 the Controller VINO WI" hr,ns suit
which would be OF friendly nature, ana IN wn,ch
feel quite confident the law authorizes VIZ oiair,
and - the Judgment is thus obtained 1t Is mama
tory upon the city authorities 70 pro"'''''
same.
.wher nv attention was called to this BILL SAID
Mr. Olcott. II said the bill was prepostcrous. anu %
II is: but It will have 20 be PAID because Co'o'
Ee,lows had the right to make such con,'ao'
binding on the city. At the same time '''iN
Mr. Burden ought to have paid the Dill. Inc Sun
IL small for a Of his means, anu no.
oplnon of the meanness OF man VINO WI" '.'''o
TO nav for bringing his diamonds back ai'ei al" ~"
EXPENSE which the city was put to In send'ns WI.
Lindsay and detectives to Europe 10 get the '"7
and send them TO prison. particularly as the jewels
were stolen by Mr.. Burdens own servants
| Bills amounting to a large sum o. none! nav
| submitted TO the city on account OF tne D"'ue' 81"
nord robbery and the capture OF the tne'es III o"
an Assistant DistrictA Attorney Lindsay. one OF the
highly paid prosecuting officers OF the county, was
ent - London to aid in securing the extradition OF
rho nrisoners The county lost his services whle ne
was travelling In expensive style across Tic oee.-'
and staying ut hrst-class hotel IN LONDON ana inc
city was asked to pay ali his expenses TWO Cen''a'
Once detectives were sent TO London TO Drins oach
Tho nr;soners and all their expenses were charged
to the city, In view OF all this expense 10 the cry
| the action OF Controller Fitch in objecting 10 the
pavmsn; OF the bill for bringing the stolen diamonds
back TO NJ. Burden is expected by him to meet the
| approval OF the taxpayers The robbery was NOT
| committed through any lack OF police efficiency IN
| guarding Mr.. Burdens house and the diamohcs
| were stolen by employees wnom he trusted. III
| burglars had broken into Mr.. Burdens house ana
taken the jewels. possibly he Police Department
might have been accused Of negligence IN not prop
| ery watching Mr. Burdens house and protecting II
| from burglars But Mr. Burden himself had EN-
ployed the who stole the jewels ana neither
the Police Department, the District Attorneys OIL
flee nor any department OF the city Government was
| I'm any way In fault for the stealing OF the Jewels
| Pubic, officials and well-known NEWCOMERS who
discussed subject yesterday expressed the opin-
ion that the action Mr. Burden In asking the city
| 10 pay for the bringing back OF the gems from Lon
| don was unprecedented and extraordinary, as the
| Jewels were stolen by Mr. Burdens servants while
| thew were In Mr.. Burdens house and In his employ
! .nent. -
Controller Fitch expressed his determination yes
| ,erday not to pay the bill. This Is bill which In
INV view OF the case Mr. Burden ought to settle HIM
| self" said the Controllec. II am very sure that
shall not pay the OF restoring the gems unless
he gets Judgment against the city for the money
and order OF court requires me TO pay 1t or go to
Jail Even should the latter alternative be presented
| 20 me- think should still refuse 10 pay There Is
no justice whatever in Mr.. Burdens demand that the
| city should pay for bringing back his own jewels,
| stolen by his own servants.