New-York tribune., 1899-03-23
BROOKLYN NEWS.
J. r. CLARK ACQUITTED.
THE EX-ALDERMAN DECLARED NOT
GUILTY OF ACCEPTING BRIBE.

HOT TILT PETwEEN COUNSEL AND SHARP WORDS
FOR THE PROSECUTIONS CHIEF WITNESS.
Joseph r. Clark. who Alderman ~ the city
NJ Brooklyn from the Twenty sixth Ward FOR
1891 1895 1896 and 1881 acquitted in the Supreme
Court Yesterday afternoon. NJ the charge Of brib-
erv The trial took three days. but from the close
Of the prosecutions the verdict was fore
gone conclusion. The defendant cool and self
contained during the trial but when tho verdict
was announced. and his friends crowded around
him to shake his hand in congratulation, he broke
down and wept He evidently had been under
tremendous strain. for conviction meant possible
imprisonment OF ten years, as well as the loss OK
honor and respect in tho community
The charge against Mr.. Clark that he ac-
cepted g. so for putting resolution through the
Common Council authorizing the payment NJ
city bill 10 Harris & Ma aguire. contractors. The
bill was for water mains. and there was no ques-
tion as 10 It's fairness. II had been held up FOR
more than a year. however. and the contractors
were anxious to get their money. Isaac Harris.
the senior member OF the firm. testified that he
saw Clark about the matter. and the defendant
said he would see what he could do Harris told
him that he would pay 10 per cent Of the bill TO
any one who could secure its prompt payment.
Harris also testified that after the bin was paid
he met Clark in front Of the Arbuckle Building
and gave him $500
Clark denied absolutely receiving the money. He
said that there was no agreement between him
self and Harris or between him and any one else
10 put the resolution providing for the payment of
the bill through the Board FOR consideration. He
said the resolution was sent 10 him from the Con-
trollers Office was drawn the office Of the
Corporation Counsel. and that he offered y and
voted for # IN the usual course OF business
Assistant ct-Attorneys Van Cott and Angel
appeared for the prosecution and Henry Yonge
and ex-Justice William Watson FOR the defence
Bitter feeling was developed on both sides early
in the case. and the contest was 4 sharp one MT
Yonge frequently accused the District Attorney
OF exceeding his official duty and endeavornS by
unfair means to secure the conviction of clark.
In summing up Mr Yonge said that It was his
first appearance I'm a criminal case. but ne was so
impressed hy the injustice threatened to the de-
fendant that he could not resist the opportunity
10 defend him. He said that the prosecution had
no evidence but the unsupported and perjured
testimony OF Isaac Harris. and II y had nor peen
for the utterly unfair attitude OF the DistrictAt
torney and the attempts made by the prosecution
10 misrepresent the case he would have heen con
tent 10 let the go 70 the Jury without miro
Harris stands before you" he went on. "on his
own testimony I'm this case as criminal IN acl
purpose and disposition. with heaming face an
soliitelv calm and cool he tells you that he is a
hribe- giver. that the minutes OF the official ste
nographer Of the Grand Jury are false or esss
tnst fhe stenographer was 50 ratified that she ala
not know what she was doing In plain English.
he is a liar and periurer. There ls no otner w..
70 account for his testimony. want 10 cal your
attention also m the manner In which the District
Attorney put words into the mouth or TINS "l.urs
and endeavored to compel him 70 give the testI-
mony that he thought would help the case
Nothing can excuse the crime ~ Distrlc' ,Attot-
nsy who will so prostitute the oath when ne mas
taken" O., -. ~ "a,
III you are 70 believe Mr. Yonge SAID Mr li " an
Cott in opening his address 10 the jury ahu accrpt
his statement that Harris Is perjurer. men you you
must believe also that John Mcguire, VINO Is known
ali over the city as Honest John ss sna Lar an
Nostrand who have heen witnesses IN thIs cas-
and ! myself as well. are perIurers and Won con
snfrators against the liberty of TINS man ndt
nlotive could Harris have for such testimony II u
were NOT true? l. did not do him any good as a
con+rsr+or 10 20 before the Grand Jury ana 70
come here and give the testimony ne dld ne caniss
becatise he found a corrupt state or aNalrs anu
made m his mind that Il was time II stopped -,
A fiffia later when Mr.. Van Cott lnlima Ied ma
there had been uncaued-for delay IN the oinces oI
he Controller and the Corporation Counssl IN
offering the resolution. Mr.. Nonge Interrupted MN
by shouting 49, a. r,,,o-, Won vrould a.
tack Mr. Nudge Your old friends ana assocla,s.
You would attempt 10 backen their charactefs' ..r
Now don't get excited" said MI Van COY. !
didn't interrupt you when you were summing up
because 7 didn't anything tnat was I'M
proper" retorted Mr.. Yonge. ,,.. l. ,,,.o- .,
T,istice Keogh's charge was plainly IN laNOn y.
The defendant The was given 70 the july a.
i3.20 o'clock and ten minutes later the juryus'rt
ried back INTO their seats and announced Ntis.,' e.,
u <avO NJ the defendant II was tnen tnH' MI
~ IL hrck down and cried