Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-30

The committee to investigate the charges
made against Mr.. John II. Crane met last even
ing in the Aldermsn's chamher- present Aifer-
men Stewart and Slater, OF the committee,
Henry Hlmber, clerk, Mr.. Crane, and a num-
Der Of witnesses.
Mr., @. n BLISS,
late Surveyor and Superintendent of Sewers,
testified for defence that about the middle of
July he was appointed Superintendent Of Sew
ers. Mr.. Donegan had charge of the work pre-
had been informed that the sewer had not been
properly made, and having refused to sign the
assessment, Mayor Bowen set three men to
work to dig down and found that there was
ders to Mr.. Crane to uncover the whole sewer,
and found, between r street and Massachusetts,
avenue, that IL was but one brick in thickness
exc except about every ten feet in length Afte. 1t
that he must comply with the contract before
be would sign the assessment, and he did so, and
.itness, on its completion, accepted it. Mr..
fraud was perpetrated. Donegan had &C.
cepted the work and signed two assess
ments. 1t was false that he lwitness) had
1t WAS the duty OF both the Superintendent and
Commissioner to see that 100 feet of the sewer
was left open for inspection. Witness had not
traps which he condemned, and thought Mr.
Crane also condemned them. Mr.. Costello said
Donegan told him to put in the unsuitable
traps. The contract prescribed that such traps
should not be used. Witness recollects that
Crane said to him that the contractors said that
fhey expected 81 200, and would divide be-
tween the Superintendent and Commissioner.
witness, but, as he was a drinking man, he did
not put any confidence In him. Witness did not
think Donohue could speak the truth, and
could not put much reliance in Costello. Recol-
lecte that Crane complained to him If the man
ner in which the work was done. Recollects
that Mayor Bowen said he held Crane RESPONSE
Bile. On cross examination by Mr.. Stewart, wit
ness stated that he did not believe Crane was
responsible for the use of the traps. The con-
tractors were very shrewd, and kept a man on
the bank TO give the alarm, when they would
throw down some earth and cover it; but if the
commissioners had attended properly to the
work the fraud could not have been perpe-
tTated.
MR.. FORSYTH
testified that he had been Surveyor for two
years, and drew up part of the bill establishing
the office of Superintendent of Streets and
Sewers. Understood by the bill that the Super
but the commissioners should also supervise the
work. There was a difference of about $40 or
$50 in the traps. If he allowed q man to put In
On REORGANIZATION witness said that the fraud
might have been perpetrated under him, for he
could not be there 70 see every brick put in. IT
the sewer was filled in without being inspected
II was the duty Of the Superintendent to rider
it opened.
DAVID sTuMMKTs
testified that Mr.. Crane was frequently on the
line OF the sewer, and seemed ANXIOUS about il
being done properly; heard that the contractors
were enemies, and Donohue, on one occasion
said: Oh Crane; if he comes along here we
lests that Crane had brother on the work, as
also cart, and they were engaged as others.
AFFIDAvIrs.
The following affidavi:s were read:
stated that the contract was awarded to Cos
tello, Crane demonstrated with the Mayor on
the ground Tat the corporation had had trou-
%crS hut denies mt %as BIDDER Tor the
procure the contract; states that the trans re-
qnired by the contract at that time cost about
500, when the traps the contractors attempted
TO nse could be bought for abOut $50.
George w. Hatton IT Ates that he heard Crane
demonstrate with the contractors against the
use OF soft or salmon brick, and also against
covering up the lever as fast as laid, instead c.
leaving ore hundred feet open tor the inspec-
ton OF the Superintendent and Inspector of
sewers, as the contract required That he went
with him to the Mayors Office, and heard him
complain to the Mayor that the contractors were
violating their contract, and stated to Bowen
that he was not sustained in his efforts by Mr..
DoneSan, the inspector, and that he would not
be held responsible for the work. Bowen took
a sheet OF paper and wrote letter to the CON
tractors, at the same time remarking it was
strange that Crane and Donegan should Iii ffer
80 widely, az Donegan had remarked to him
that The ith street sewer was the best piece OF
work ever done in Washington. Deponent he ard
Crane complain that he was not sustained bv
the Mayor In his efforts to have the work we'll
done, and that Crane said repeatedly that he
feared he would he removed from Office because
be would not allow the contra tors to slight
their work.
Benjamin Severson states that when the work
on the th street sewer had been carried as far as
u street, Crane called on deponent and re1ues-
ted him 10 examine said sewer, which he did
anu found That the contractors were attempting
to violate the contract by the use of salmon or
soft brick, and were filling up as last as con-
stTucting without leaving reasonable space I'M
covered Tor inspection. Crane requested de
poneDt to report the facts to s. j. Bowen. Mayor
which he did. The Mayor Informed him most
emphatically that he had been assured by Mr.
Donegan that the work was the best OF the kind
ever done in Washington. He then reminded
him (Bowen) of the evidence Of Donegan's in
competence and violation OF truth, but as the
Mayor manifested an unwilngness to hear more
on the subject, deponent left, convinced that he
LBowen) ought to be held responsible for the
frauds perpetrated in the 4th street sewer. and
not crane, who always manifested desire to
have the work done properly.
Thomas T.. Smithson states that he heard
Eowen cay to Bliss that he held Donegan, under
whose superintendence the work was done, en-
tirely responsible aor the fraud, that the name
OF John A Crane, Commissioner Of the Fourth
Ward, was not mentioned, but Bowen positively
asserted that he held DonegAn entirely respon-
sble. DepODent heard Crane complain th AT he
could not make the contractors on said sewer
DO Their work properly, and that he was not
sustained in his efforts by Bowen or Donegan.
MIR. Crane also read his aft Gavit. giving a full
history OF his adm nistration.
WITNESSES FOR THE PROSECUTION.
MIR. Joseph Williams was sworn for the BROS
ecutIOn, and testified that he was president of
the Board OF Common Council at the time por-
ton OF the sewer was constructed, and at and
Massachusetts avenue gave il some attention
when he discovered fraud in il and told the Con
tractors that he would stop it, They were put
ting the bricks in dry. Witness offered resolu-
ton In relation TO the work in the Councils. On
cross examination witness stated that il was DOS
sible for the men TO cover up the defective work
when they saw an officer coming.
Andrew Gleason testified that be bid for
grading and graveling street in July or August
1eGs-l37. for grading, Ga for crawling. Mr.
Bowen was absent at the time, and Mr. Richards
was acting as Mayor. The contract was
awarded to Mr.. Tally at II for grading and %
for graveling. Mr.. Crane was Commissioner at
the time.
FOR DEFENSE.
Mr.. Crane claimed that as this was new testi-
mony, he should be permitted to call MIR. T.
Tally, and that gentleman being called testified
that be obtained the contract for I street
through the influence OF some OF his friends in
the Second Ward. Before the bids were opened
Gleason said he wanted street, and witness
agreed not to be in his way. Witness had known
Gleason to use only L to inches Of gravel.
and on one street the gravel was eight feet too
narrow.
CLOSING TESTIMONY.
John HollOran testified that Crane had paid
him for lis time mipus dnllars Iama.