Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-19
The franc Donoho Lible Case.

''THE COUHTRY's sAFE."
This case was resumed in the Police Court,
MIR. Cahill offered in evidence the assessment
OF the expense of the 4th street sewer for 1869,
which was admitted.
Henry Himb>r was sworn, and testified, for
defence, that his attention was called to the con-
ditiOn of this sewer by MIR. e. III. Bliss; examined
II and found only a four-inch wall in place of a
nihe-inch wall, as called for by the contract;
witness had been commissioner under Mr..
Bowen, and had never passed on such work as
THEIRS the examination was unofficial and
therefore not critical; in some places witness
found two courses OF brick.
Gross examiped:-It was the duty of the
commissioner to examine every hundred feet;
MI Crane had not told witness OF the existence of
the defect in their sewer before the investiga-
ton had been made; witness and MIR. Bliss
went together to examine the sewer, and went
at the instance of Mr.. Bliss, under authority OF
the mayor.
JONES CcmJJsH, an assistant commissioner
under Mayor Bowen, testified that he refused
TO sign the assessment on account of the bad
manner IN which the work had been executed;
1t, and Mr.. Crane told him that he, Crane as
CON missioner, would never sign it; salmon
Dicks were put in with little or no cement;
crane afterwards signed the asse ssment, and on
witness questioning him in reference to it, Crane
said he was forced to sign il or lose his Off CO.
Ex-Mayor Wallach had spoken to witness, and
asked him to write a letter to Bowen complain
ing OF the manner in which the work had been
done, which he would not do, as Mr.. Crane had
succeeded him in office.
Jeremidh Costello testified that he was one of
the contractors; the work had been badly done;
Mr.. Crane had written him letter to come 10
see him, when he told witness that he had paid
him no money: that his (witnessO partner had
offered him $500. which he had not paid him
and Crane asked witness to testify on the alder
mems Investigation in his behalf; witness asked
Donoho If he had ever offered Crane any money,
end he denied having done so, but said he had
Crane all right; lately DOnOho had told him
twltness) that be paid Crane 5000 for passing on
that sewer; Crane had tried to get the work
away from him by representations to the
mayOr.
Mr.. Gallon testified that the work on the first
square was done pretty well, and afterwards it
was sighted; every ten feet then was a length
OF single thickness of brick; Mr.. Crane used to
visit the work once or twice a day, and the
word OF alarm when any one was seen approach
ing the work was, 1.-THE country isn't safe;"
then they would all pitch in and cover ND the
work with dirt; Costello's sign to Crane was to
scratch his head and raise his hat when
this, and he saw it was SO afterw ards, whenever
Costello didn't want Crane to come toe near
Charles Smih testified that he worked on this
sewer, and that the bricks were often laid dry;
considerable portion of the work was laid with
a fOur-inch wall; had assisted often to hurriedly
cover up the work when they saw Crane or any
OF the 0verseers coming; heard Donoho say on
one or Two occasions when Crane was approach.
ing, that it was all right; and again had seen
Crane turn away when Costello would raise his
NAT 10 scratch his head; when any of the prop
erty holders would come to look at the work, the
word would be given ''the country's not SAFE
and all hands would throw dirt over the work to
hide il.
Cross examined:-Had talked with Mr.. Callan
In reference to this sign, and with others at that
time and since.
The case was still in progress when our report
closed.