Vacheron Runs Away

New York, 1895

INDICTED BY THE GRAND JURY FOR TAKING A $3,000 BRIBE.

He Skips Away from Albany to Escape Arrest and is said to Have Left the Country — There Were Others in it but he Will Not Give Them Away — Pursued to His Home by a Policeman Armed with a Warrant for his Arrest.

The town has had plenty of excitement this week. The report from Albany that Assemblyman Eugene F. Vacheron had been indicted there for accepting a $3,000 bribe, interested everybody in Queens county, and nothing else has been talked about since Tuesday. Confirmation of the Assemblyman's indictment reached Jamaica on Wednesday, when an Albany policeman arrived here bearing a Supreme Court Justice's warrant for Vacheron's arrest. Vacheron was in hiding somewhere, and the policeman had orders to stay in Woodhaven and watch Vacheron's house until called away.

Vacheron was in the Standard office in Jamaica with B. Frank Wood at 11.30 o'clock on Monday morning. Vacheron and Boss Youngs have been trying to get a position for Mr. Wood, and it is said that Vacheron brought the news that Mr. Wood had been appointed to represent the Controller's office in collateral inheritance tax matters in Queens county.

At 3.30 o'clock Monday afternoon Vacheron was in Miller's hotel at Long Island City. He left there in company with Supervisor Koehler to take the train for Albany. Supervisor Koehler was going to the capital on business for the county. He says Vacheron was in a morose mood on Monday night, and refused to talk, either to him or to the legislators whom they met on the train. Tuesday morning he sought the Assemblyman at Albany, but could not find him. He thought this peculiar, and finally gave up and started for home.

Vacheron arrived in Albany early on Monday night. Suddenly he disappeared. It is said he took the midnight train for New York, arriving early Tuesday morning. The Brooklyn Eagle says Vacheron was at his office in New York Tuesday afternoon, in the company of his brother. The Eagle says:

"When he parted from his brother, at his office, 265 Broadway, New York City, his brother asked him:

" 'Where are you going, Eugene?' The latter replied as he took a cab, 'I don't know. Don't ask me.'

"Vacheron was at that time laboring under great excitement. He had but one suit of clothes with him and no change of under clothes. His departure appeared to be entirely unpremeditated."

William J. Youngs hastened to Albany on Tuesday. He busied himself looking after several bills that Vacheron was interested in, and some of them have been passed in the Assemblyman's absence. At Albany Mr. Youngs is known as the "Boss of Queens county", and the newspaper reports refer to him as "Vacheron's Boss," and "Vacheron's Sponsor." Mr. Youngs is clerk of one of Vacheron's committees, and draws a salary of $3 a day, not $5, as heretofore stated.

The rumors in Albany yesterday were that Vacheron would return and give bail, and that Senator Childs would sign his bond. Boss Youngs left Albany for New York Wednesday afternoon to try and find Vacheron. It is not likely that he will ever be tried. The crime that he is charged with is never punished in Albany. Besides, he has the influence of the whole legislature to help him, and likely as not some pleasant understanding has been reached.

What the New York and Brooklyn newspapers have said about the disgraceful affair follows:


(New York Tribune, May 15, Albany Despatch.)

It was reported late this afternoon that Assemblyman Eugene F. Vacheron, Republican, of Queens County, had been indicted by the Grand Jury of Albany County. Upon what specific charge the alleged indictment had been found, no official information could be obtained. District-Attorney Burlingame declined to state what the Grand Jury had done or whether or not an indictment had been found against Mr. Vacheron. What was palpable and notorious, however, was that the officers of the district attorney were seeking for Mr. Vacheron for some purpose, and that Mr. Vacheron had departed from Albany late last night for some place as yet unknown.

Four Assemblyman, it is stated, all Republicans, have been indicted by the Grand Jury of Albany county on a charge of taking $3,000 to amend a bill before the Legislature in the interest of ice-dealers on the Hudson River. The bill in question was introduced on April 15 by John H. Campbell, an Assemblyman of Kings County. It reads as follows:

"It shall be unlawful for any person or persons or corporation to gather, harvest, or carry away for commercial purposes, or with intent that the same shall be so used, any ice from the Hudson River or channel thereof between the southerly boundary lines of the counties of Albany and Rensselaer and the State dam at Troy, New York. Any person violating the provisions of the foregoing section of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

The measure was opposed by George Best, who owns icehouses at Castleton-on-the-Hudson, just outside the boundaries of the city of Albany. Mr. Best is said to have entered into negotiations with members of the assembly to have an amendment to the bill by which that portion of the Hudson where his icehouses are situated should be exempted from its provisions. The amendment was made.

Some Assemblyman is reported to have received a check for $3,000 in payment for securing the adoption of this amendment, and to have cashed the check personally. Three persons, it is said, appeared before the Grand Jury and testified as to the identity of the Assemblyman who presented this check, and swore that they saw him cash it.

It was reported to-night that Assemblyman Vacheron cashed Best's check at the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank in this city, and that Best accompanied him and identified him. It is said that Mr. Davidson, the cashier of the bank, went before the Grand Jury and made this statement, and this led to Vacheron's indictment.


(New York Sun, Albany Despatch, May 15.)

Assistant District Attorney Cook called at Police Headquarters to-night and interested Chief of Police Willard in the bribery case. Chief Willard to-night telegraphed to the Brooklyn and New York police to arrest Assemblyman Vacheron.

Vacheron came to Albany at the usual time yesterday, and seemed to be filled with his customary interest in Legislative matters, intensified somewhat by the fact that this is the last week of the session. He had several bills to pass, and his absence to-day without any excuse or explanation, taken in connection with Mr. Burlingame's inquiries after him, were regarded as suspicious. The rumor that he has fled to Canada was the outcome of these suspicions.

The actual bribing is said to have taken place in Albany, in the street outside the doors of a bank where the cash was obtained by an officer of a Castleton bank. The bill prohibited the cutting of ice near a town. It would have stopped all the ice cutting between Albany and Troy and at other places along the Hudson.

The Ice Dealers' association conferred with the friends of the introducer of the bill, with the result that it was agreed to kill the bill for $3,000. A leading member of the Ice Dealers' association called at the bank with one of the Republican Assemblymen said to be indicted, and asked the bank to cash his check. He told the cashier what the money was for.

The cashier would not cash his check and the officer of the Castleton bank was sent for. The money was then obtained and paid to the Assemblyman on the street outside the bank. The bill was then abandoned.

The news of this reached several well-known citizens, and by them it was placed before a high state official, who laid the matter and evidence before the officers of the law.

JAMAICA, May 14 — Eugene F. Vacheron, Assemblyman from the Third district of Queens county, who is said to have been indicted and to have fled from Albany in consequence of a charge of accepting a $3,000 bribe, is the man who assaulted John C. Kennahan, editor of the LONG ISLAND FARMER, several weeks ago, because the paper contained editorial criticisms of his course at Albany. THE FARMER repeated charges of irregularities, and Vacheron introduced and had carried a resolution that Editor Kennahan be brought before the bar of the Assembly for contempt. Again THE FARMER reiterated its charges and the editor declared that he was ready to go to Albany at any time and prove them.

The resolution was not heard of again, which fact seemed to substantiate the FARMER'S assertions. Vacheron made himself unpopular in Queens county recently by introducing a bill to create a Commissioner of Jurors, an unnecessary and expensive office. It is said that Vacheron himself expected to fill the office established by his own bill.


(New York Times, Albany Despatch, May 15.)

The Assemblyman against whom the indictment was found is Eugene F. Vacheron of Queens county. The alleged corrupt use of money was in connection with the bill introduced by Assemblyman John H. Campbell of the Twelfth Kings County District, which was designed to prohibit the cutting of ice on the Hudson River between the State Dam and the Albany and Rensselaer county line. Had it become a law, it would have interfered with the business of several well-established ice companies.

The developments of to-day have thrown the leaders of the Republican party into a condition bordering on panic. Mr. Vacheron was in this city up to 2 o'clock this morning.

A great effort has been made to conceal the nature of the findings of the Grand Jury until after the Legislature adjourned.

The evidence which the Grand Jury had, or at any rate, a portion of it, which is regarded as the strongest, was laid before Gov. Morton yesterday, and Lieut. Gov. Saxton, Speaker Fish, and other leaders knew that something was in the wind. Mr. Vacheron came up from New York Monday night and was in this city during the evening. At 2 o'clock this morning he was in a popular resort of the politicians, in company with a public official.

Vacheron is the man who assaulted John C. Kennahan, editor of the LONG ISLAND FARMER, about a month ago, because THE FARMER made charges of irregularities against him. After the assault THE FARMER repeated its charges. Then Vacheron introduced a resolution in the Assembly to have the editor brought before the bar of that house, and punished for contempt. The resolution was carried, whereupon THE FARMER again persisted in its charges, and declared the intention of the editor to go to Albany to prove them. After that nothing was heard of the resolution.

Vacheron incurred the displeasure of his constituents recently by introducing a bill to create a Commissioner of Jurors for Queens county, a needless and expensive office. It was declared that Vacheron's intention was to fill the office himself.


(Brooklyn Times, Albany Despatch, May 14.)

The grand jury of Albany county has found an indictment against Assemblyman Eugene F. Vacheron, of Queens county, on a charge of accepting a bribe of $3,000. The fact that the indictment had been found was not made known until District Attorney Burlingame, of Albany county, began looking for Mr. Vacheron this morning and failed to find him.

The charge against the assemblyman is that he accepted $3,000 from Iceman Betts, of Catskill, N. Y., for his services in introducing an amendment to the bill introduced by Assemblyman Campbell, of Greenpoint, which prohibited the cutting of ice from the Hudson river within the boundaries of Rensselaer and Albany counties. It is charged that Betts paid Assemblyman Vacheron to introduce an amendment so that the Hudson river below certain boundaries would not be included.

It is said that one witness testified before the grand jury that he saw Betts draw the money from the Catskill bank and that another witness testified that he saw Betts give the money to Assemblyman Vacheron.

Assemblyman Vacheron was in Albany last evening but when an officer looked for him this morning he could not be found.


Evening World's Albany Despatch, Wednesday, May 15).

Speaker Fish is particularly chagrined at the Vacheron scandal, and has given orders that a number of suspicious bills be suppressed.

William J. Youngs, the Republican boss of Queens county, and Vacheron's political boss, was at the Capitol to-day. He disclaimed any knowledge of the ice bribery case.

Vacheron, it is believed, made Ice Dealer Best think that he had killed the bill and in that way accepted the $3,000, which, it is alleged, was paid him for preventing the favorable consideration of the bill by the committee and its passage in the Legislature.


(New York World, May 15.)

The incidents attending this uncomfortable exposure, while they are not complete, are ample enough to prove that Mr. Vacheron's chief mistake was in having to do with checks.

Mr. Burlingame and Sheriff Thayer called at the Assembly chamber this morning and had a private talk with Speaker Fish. They demanded from the Speaker his assistance in securing the person of Mr. Vacheron. An officer of the Assembly was summoned and directed by the Speaker to find Vacheron and surrender him to the authorities.


(New York Sun, Thursday, May 16, Albany Despatch.)

There were no arrests to-day in the Assembly bribery matter. Three indictments are still believed to be the limit of the action of the Albany County Grand Jury on the cool legislative trick played in the name of the Republican majority on the Hudson River icemen. Mr. Vacheron was absent in the body but present in the spirit, and the majority was so tender on the subject that a bill of his on the calendar was allowed to slide along unchallenged and unchecked. No one dared to ask to lay it aside or refer to it in any way.

The bill was one which might seem peculiar when viewed in the light of the revelations concerning the missing Vacheron. It forbids excise commissioners from being engaged in the sale of liquors, beer, or cigars to saloon keepers.

Any other Vacheron bills that may come up will probably be taken care of all right. Republican State Committeeman Billy Youngs, his sponsor, has arrived on the ground and will look out for them. This does not involve any sacrifice to the wealthy Long Islander. He can draw $3 a day as messenger to the special road committee.


(Editorial in Wednesday's Brooklyn Eagle.)

The indictment at Albany of Assemblyman Vacheron for bribery is a fitting climax to the many stories of corruption which have marked the existence of this notorious legislature. Vacheron may be innocent. The fact that he has disappeared and that at this writing nothing is known of his movements does not point, however, to that conclusion. Moreover, the reputation which the man has earned for himself since he has been in public life is not such as to provoke amazement or surprise at the allegation now made against him. The politics of Queens county is flagrantly corrupt and Vacheron may be said to be about as choice a product of its iniquitous political system as has yet been sent to the legislature.

We are not sorry that Vacheron has been indicted. He has been accused before to-day of gross irregularities. The editor of one of the newspapers in his district has openly charged him with fraudulent practices, and has offered to substantiate his allegations before any legislative committee that may be designated to hear the evidence. This offer has not been accepted, which would seem to indicate that the assemblyman was afraid to face the music. If, in face of his indictment, it should turn out that he has joined the American colony in Canada, it cannot be said that Queens county will have anything to regret. It will have got rid of an extremely undesirable quantity in its political affairs.


(Thursday's New York News, Albany Despatch.)

One of the humorous incidents of the session is the fact that Assemblyman Vacheron has kept beneath his desk a large horse shoe. Mr. Vacheron is superstitious and has been joked about the horse shoe, but he has clung to it, evidently believing in its mystic power.

Mr. Vacheron is somewhat of a joker, and likes to send up an occasional resolution to make the members laugh. The following is a sample of Mr. Vacheron's wit: It was a resolution introduced while the House was amending the Game laws in relation to hunting deer:

"Proposed amendment: Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any member, during the term of this Legislature, to hunt or look for 'dough' (doe)."


(New York Herald, Thursday, May 16, Albany Dispatch,)

The charges of bribery against Assemblyman Vacheron have been thoroughly discussed on both sides of the Legislature to-day. In the house to-night Assemblyman John H. Campbell, of Kings, who introduced the ice bill, made a statement in which he rather exonerated himself in the matter.

William J. Youngs, who is Mr. Vacheron's boss, is greatly distressed over the affair. He hastened down to New York tonight to consult with friends about the matter.



(Special to the Farmer.)

ALBANY, May 16.

Assemblyman Vacheron got back here to-day. He says he was sick in New York. He will go before Judge Landon, and Senator Childs will go his bail. It was arranged not to arrest him and lock him up.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, May 17, 1895, p. 1.

Note: The first paragraph had the word "Woodavon" but I'm pretty sure it should be Woodhaven, changed it. Also the ice dealer is called Best and Betts. There's at least a couple references online to "George Best" as an ice dealer, including this very good one. I left the references to him as "Betts" as they were, for no good reason, I guess, but just because. But it looks like he was definitely "Best."