Year: 1862

Stops had found indictment against Mr.. James Il.
Taylor for attempting 20 brbe Alderman Dayton vote
FOR the purchase of the Fort Gansevoort property was
stated in yesterdays HERALD On application the Dis
trict Attorney has kindly furnished with copy of
the indictment and certain other facts in connection with
the matter which will enable readers understand
this far the partial evidence viii enable them
to do until the trial Of the cause when tho allegation will
be thoroughly investigated before the proper tribunal
II IS understood that Alderman Dsyton's testimony
before the Grand Jury was quite full but Of il
would bo improper, even were it in possession to
make il public at this stage Of the affair.


Mr.. Dayton before the Grand Jury "hat he had
been approached by James Taylor Aho alleged owner
of the property known the Fort Gansevoort properly
with an offer OF money reward compensation for
his vote and influence in promoting in his ocisl cspa
city the purchase by the city Of Now York from the said
James Taylor Of tho said Fort Gansevoort property"
] The following is copy of tho Indictment


INDICTMENT AGAINST JAS. B. TAYLOR.
CITY and County Of New Yor1-Ths jurors of tho people
of the State Of New York. in and for the body Of city
at the city and county New York aforesaid on the 10th
day OF November in the of Lord one thousand
eight hundred sixty one one Isaac Day ton daily
elected and duly qualified member OF the Comm Coun.
Gil Of the city Of New York. that is to say he the said
Isaac Dayton, was then ana there duly elected and
qualified and acting Alderman OF the Ninth Adcrnanc
district OF said city, and as such member and Alderman
was hon and there duly qualified to take and had then





city, aud was then and there fulfilling his duties; and
the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do further
present that the said Board of Aldermen together with
Board OF Counelmen then and there formed the Common
Council Of the city of New York which Common Council


then ana 1 there her had vested in it by law the legislative
known by the name Of the Mayor, Aldermen and Com.
monay OF the city of New York. and which Corporation
then and there had authority By law to purchase,
under ordinance duly passed by the said Common
Council and duly signed oy the Mayor Of the said city
real estate Cor the proper ds< ana benefit Of tho
Corporation.
every member Of the Common Council had affirmative
or negative vote and the right and authority by law
when duly present at any session OF either o. the boards
aforesaid, to exercise said vote. And the said jurors
aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do further present
county aforesaid one James B. Taylor late of the said
city and county, with force and arms (well knowing the
premises before recited as matter Of inducement here
unto) intended and determined then and there bring
before and present 70 the said Common Council and
member thereof aforesaid and accordingly did thereafter
bring before and present to the said Common Council
certain matter and proceeding which might by law be
and was brought before said Common Council aud before
him the said Isaac Dayton, in his official capacity
ber aforesaid And tho jurors aforesaid upon their oath
aforesaid do further present that the said matter and
proceeding which the said James b. Taylor had then and
horc so as aforesaid intended and determined bring
before and present TO the said Common Council
in manner and form aforesaid, the purchase
by tho said Corporation from him, the said
ia D. sna Cr .ns uses ana purposes Of pub
said city, bounded northsy by Twelfth street eastery
by West street and Tenth avenue, southery by anse





North river and in which plot OF land he the said james
B. Taylor, then and there had interest grantee
B. Taylor then and there intended should be made by an
ordinance Of the Common Council Of the city of New York
duly passed by said Common Council and duly signed by


the Mayor Of said city, in the name and in tho half OF
tho Mayor, Aldermen and COmmonalty Of the city OF
Now York. and upon which ordinance any member of the
Common Council and he the said Isaac Dayton, such
member aforesaid, might and could lawfully vote And
the jurors aforesaid. upon their oath aforesaid do fur
ther present that he, the said James B. Taylor well
knowing all theI premises aforesaid and with intent to
influence tho vote, opinion, judgment and action Of
him. the said Isaac Dayton member OF the Common
Council aforesaid upon the and proceeding before
set forth and which might by law be properly brought
before him. the said Isaac Dayton, such member did
at the city and county aforesaid. and the day
and in the year aforesaid unawfuly wckedy and
ruptly offer to him, the said Isaac Dayton member
the sum OF five thousand dollars. And soathe jurors
aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do say that
in the manner and form aforesaid, gu the day aud
in the year aforesaid, at the city and county aforc-
said wlfully and corrapty di offer TO him, the said
Isaac Dayton, who then and there member of the
Common Council OF the city OF New York, bribe-to
Wit the sum OF fve thousand dollarswith intent
nuenee thereby the vote opinion Judgment and action Of
him, the said Isaac Dayton. member Of the Common
Council Aforesaid upon the matter and proceeding of the
purchase aforesaid which and proceeding il was
lawful, aforesaid, TO bring and which he, the said
James Taylor, as aforesaid intended to bring, and
thereafter as aforesaid did bring before him the said
all which was against the form Of the statute in such


made and provided and against the peaco Of the people Of





SECOND COUNT.
And the jurors Aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do
further present TINT afterwards to wit the day and
in the year aforesaid at the city aud county aforesaid
the said James Taylor, with force and arms wliuly
unawiuy and corrupty did oer to one Isaac Dayton,
who then and there duly elected duly qualified ana
duly sitting member OF the Common Council OF the city OF
New York sum OF money, to wit, the sun Of Eve thou.
sand dollars with intent then and there tho part
him. the said James b. Taylor 70 thereby then and there
influence the action of him the said Isaac Dayton
such member Of the Common Council aforesaid upon
bcfo
him. the said Isaac Dayton, in his Official capacity afore
said and which matter was proposed and Contemplated
sale by him, the said James B. Taylor TO tho Mayor AL
dermen and Commoraty OF the city Of New York of
certain plot Of ground for market purposes situate with
in said city and against the form Of tho statute such
case made and provided, and against the peace uf the
people Of the state of New York and their dignity


A. OAKEY HALL, District Attorney.
When an Indictment is found against party he has
the right demand examination before magistrate
to give explanation OF the charge preferred
AGAINST him. Mr. Taylor did have such invcsti.
gaion but he avacd himself of the privilege allowed by
statute TO make written explanation. Subjonod il
copy Of his aiiavt, together with AFFIDAVIT G. y.
Thomson from which it will be tha, they EN-.
phatcaly deny the allegation OF the Alderman


AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES y. TAYLOR.
James b Taylor, of the city of New York, being duly
sworn, says, in answer TO statement made by Alder
Dayton the evening of the Goth instant in his
place in the Board OF Aldermen that that very day
attempt made 10 bribe him, aud that James B Tay.
or the Of the Fort Garsevoor property had alp
preached him for the purpose Of influencing his vote he
has not spoken ~ said Alderman Dayton during
the past twelve or fifteen days; that he has ncvor
promised, offered agreed 20 give said Dayton any
money other consideration with intent TO influence bis
vote opinion Judgment, ehor In the sale OF the Fort
Gansevoor property orany other matter pending before
no Common Council Deponent further saith thS. tho
said Alderman Dayton called upon this deponent about
the time the special committee was appointed on tho
subject Of tho purchase Of the Ganseyoort property and
assured deponcnt he favor Of the purchase said
property and stated many reasons why the city should
establish ma sed line, and said tina, the passage Of the
depended much on the manner of drawing the
report and he then said he could draw the report better
than any other person. That afterwards the said |
Day ton called on deponent again, and then talked |
tho matter in reference 20 the purchase Of said
property, and then said sinco no had been elected
Alderman ne had been compelled to neglect his \
law business, and that his business was at loose |
ends in consequence Of such neglect he had been
pellsd trust funds and that he wanted 10
make loan 70 meet his necessities Deponsnt then
marked that he had no money hand Dayton then said
hc would be compelled TO into Wall street and raise IT,
That after walking the room few minutes in much agi
ton he left and since then dcponent TO the best OF
li- cctu inn Iacn tha navta