New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
THEY WILL NOT BE DROPPET
INDICTMENTS AGAINST FORMER CITY
OFFICIALS TO BE TRIED.

THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE REACHED BEFORE
ocToBER-wINANT AND HEPBURN WILL
HAVE UNTIL AFTER ELECTION.
Some question has been made as to whether
the indictments against public offcials In con-
nection with the City Works scandal might not
fall to the ground. 1t was even suggested the
other day that pressure had been brought 10
bear on District Attorney Josiah T. Marean
with intent to cause him to deal as easily as
possible with the prominent Republicans who
are under Indictment. 1t was said that this
pressure came from Tammany and was ground
ed In the fear that Republican Legislature
might retaliate IL prosecutions were pressed
too vigorously Mr.. Marean was seen by
Tribune representative. and denied positively
that the slightest suggestion had been made TO
him from any source regarding his prosecution
Of the City Works cases. None OF them vii!
be tried until October. but 1t is probable that
NEST Of the cases. II not all OF them will be
tried in that month or In the month following.
All the cases have been transferred TO the
Supreme Court from the County Court except
the EASEMENT case. and that VIII be trans
ferred in the early fall
There Will be jury trials In the County Court
in the middle of September. but no juries will
until the first Monday in October District
Attorney Marean intends to move the indic;-
ment against eX-Water Purveyor Knapp for
that date, and to have a special part OF the
Supreme Court assigned for the trial OF Grim
inal cases during October. The case against
Knapp is practically the same as that against
ex- Assistant City Works Commissioner Robert
w Fielding who was convicted last spring and
whose case is now pending on appeal The In
dictment charges Mr. Knapp. as Fielding was
charged. with conniving at the audit OF
false and fraudulent bill against the city for
covering the water main in Neptune-a ave. when
the Fielding case is ended, and II Will take
about week. Dstrict-Attorney Marean en-
poets to move the trial of the indictments
against Edward Eastment the eX-clerk IN the
City Works Department. who Is charged with
collecting fraudulent tax bills and converting
the money TO his own
Following the Eastment will come the
trials Of ex-City Works Commissioner Theodore
b. Wills. ex-Police Commissioner William h.
Philips, Charles NJ Winant and Colonel Will
lam Hepburn. 1t Is improbable. however, that
any OF these men will be placed on tr1al until
after election day. Al present the cases or
Willis and Philips cannot be tried on account
of proceedings still awaiting decision to get ria
Of the indictments without trial. AS FOR the
Nlndnt ana Hepburn case, the DiStIlCt-httoi-
ney does not desire TO try 1t until he has frst
disposed Of the charges against Wills ana
Philips. Justice Hirschberg has pending before
him demurreTs to the indictments against wills
and Philips charging them with conspirac! ana
the Indictment against Willis for bribery. These
demurrers were pressed 10 argument in June,
Just before the close Of the trial terms OF the
Supreme Court for the summer vacation and
were the means Of throwing the trials Of the
defendants over until fall 1t was strongly in
timated at the time the demurrers were hled
that they were for the purpose of delaying the
trials In the Willis and Philips cases as long
as possible OF course If Justice Hrschberg
sustains the demurrers. which is not impossible.
that will end the cases altogether, and the men
will never be tried.
Charles NJ. Winant and Colonel William
Grand Juror. 1t is alleged by the prosecution
that they attempted to induce Grand Juror
Frederick G. Isles to get a sufficient number OF
the Grand Jury to vote with him to prevent
the Indictment OF Willie and Philips. They
moved 10 dismiss the Indictment and the mo-
ton was argued before Justice Dickey. on
Wednesday last he gave his decision. denying
the motion and deciding tndt the defendants
must stand trial.
After election, when things have settled down
and every one knows Just what TO expect these
indictments will be pressed TO trial. District
Attorney Marean is strong candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Justice OF the Su-
preme Court this fall. and when the Wills and
Philips cases and the Winant and Hepburn
cases come to trial. he may be a justice elect.
II the indictments against the former public
officials In connection with the scandal in the
City Works Department are not dismissed pre-
viously through some proceeding taken by the
defendants. they will undoubtedly be brought
to trial.