Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-02


Samuel Strong recalled:-Wituess submit ed
his check book and stubs of the checks given
by him. He submitted stubs showing pay
ments to VIM. A. Cook.
Q. Here Is one dated April 80. 1873, for $50.
payable TO VIM. A. Cook for $50 for special ser
vices, and one in June for $50; are these all the
sums of money you paid, Mr.. Cook? A. No; 1
paid him $50 TO pay TOR a brief; don't know no "
much have paid; don't recollect.
q. DO you say you did not pay him any other
Sums! DID you ever give him a check oth .r
than those you have named? A. Have nc re-
collection that did; am willing TO swear to the
beet OF my recollection that L never gave him
any other check.
q. How many cases has Cook tried for vou
within three years? a. He tried one against
Capt. Grant for 81 $50; don't know how many
Others he tried; can't rCcoliect. All 1 can find
in my check book that paid Cook amounts .
$40; never paid him Snything in connection
with y. h. Browne; tue books | submit are all
the checks given by me on the First National
Bank; have kept my money there for the past
three years.
q. What amount of work have you done for
tue Board of Public Works? What does il
amount to in the aggregate? A. Somewhere ia
the neishborhOod of S266 GOO; have not received
all my pay from the board; can't tell how
much they owe me; have not looked over my
accounts against the board with a view OF de-
teImining our financial relations since ent sred
SUIT against the board, some six weeks or n
month ago.
MR. STRONG AS A MEMoRIALIsr.
Mr.. Wilson then read a memorial signed by
SIcng to Congress, complaining that he hal
done work amounting to $50 900 for the Board
of Public Works, and had not received any
thing but certificates, and asking for an Inves
ugatioD.
Q. who drew that up? A. A man named
RbinehaTt; thinks it was drawn up about t@O
weeks ago. III that memorial is to be taken u q
must have my attorney here; the memorial
was drawn up hastily; its contents are true; /
should not be surprised If the memorial is AT
right; since put the memorial before Cong seSs
have bad no settlement with the Board OF Pub
lie works; have had no adjustment with them;
have had no negotiations whatever with toe
Board Of Public Works since have been sub
lGaned as a witness before the committee.
O. Have you had any negotiations within a
week? A. No, sir.
A. Cook a check that has not been presented ~
bank? A. l don't remember; don't rememb sr
that gave him a check in connection vita A.
X. Browne; did give A. h. Browne a check
law and a member OF the Council; / loaned u
TO him and took his note; it is now in the han Il
of Mr.. Cahill for collection.
''THE SAME OLD GANG"
q. Did you not tell Columbus Alexander, a.
his house, since this investigation began, that
you gave Cock and Browne a check for Sd, 900!
a. may have told him so, don't remem,,-i
went there TO see how the investigation was
coming Oh; found out he had the same old gan :
with him; was only gassIng when was there.
=. Are you casing now? \. No, sir; L am
Q. Did you have a conversation with Mr..
Msgruder in front Of the National Hotel? A.
walked with him tquare; did not have a
conversation with him.
Witness was shown stub of check paid A.
X. Browne, on which was endorsed the word
'note." lie was asked IL il was written at the
time the note was made. He said he thought not.
=. Was it written since you were asked to
bring these stubs before the committee? A.
No, sir.
Q. Are you decided about thst? A. Yes, sir.
q. Who sent you to Columbus Alexander?
A. Went by my own volitioD; nobody suggested
that should go; don't remember that told
Mr.. Magruder had been there.
e. Did you tell Governor Shepherd? A. ID sn't
remember.
q. What is your best impression about it? A
L think it lie likely 1 might have told him; he
never asked me TO 20 there.
CEoss-exs mined by Mr.. Harrington Am in
litigation with the Board OF Public Works: tie
sum amounts to about 800, 900.
=. Did yod not tell Columbus Alexander at
ested IN your contracts? A. No, sir; never.
z. Did you not say you had a written agree
ment, ana that you could blow them up IL yOu
wanted to? A. Oh, no. Mr.. Alt xander said he
was going to break up the Beard of Public
WOlks.
Q. And you said you could blow them w.,
WITNESS said he would leave with the com
mlttee the note he held against A. K. Browne
for money loaned.
Mr, Harrington: You speak of q check for
What was that for? A. 1t was deposited with a
bid made, as surety. 1t was returned to me
by the collector.
By Mr.. Stewart:-Why did you go to Colum-
bus AleHander's? A. Well, he invited me;
went out of curiosity; wanted to find out who
were there. L have lived here 20 years, and
wanted to see il 1t was the same old set; to See
If A. Grant, Marcellus West and A. Watson
were there.
Q. Who were there? A. Well, MAYOR Bowen
was there, and these three attorneys were there:
l think Pat Cullinane was there; Marcellus West
was there, and others.
Witness made an explanation with reference
to the employment Of MIR. Wilson on the X
street sewer; he also said that Mr.. SAWYER a
special superintendent on the X street sewer
work, was not drunk when he signed the time
roll OF the employees on that work.
z. by Mr.. WilsoD:-Did you lend any money
to Mr.. Same? A. Not by checks; / lent him
money in trifiing amounts some eight or ten
years ago, before the Board OF Public Works
i would say to the honorable committee that
1 don't intend to do any more work for the
Board of Public Works; am going to retire u
Witness Was asked to explain why certain
stubs were torn out of his check book; No. was
missing.
He said he did not remember how or by whom
it was torn cut; he said he had other books kept
on account of partnership transactions.
.. Then the books you have produced do not
contain the money you pad out on account of
contracts. A. Not of the street sewer or tue
b street interceptiDg sewer; these books cover
what did individually; there are other part
Witness was requested to bring all books per
tanning TO his business, at his earliest COVE
aience, tomorrow morning II possible
WIN. G. ToDD's ASSESSMENTS.
VIM. y. Todd was sworn and examined with
reference to his assessments, and sewerage tax.
COL. MAGRUDER RECALLED.
Col. Magruder recalled.
By Mr. Wilson %. Has there been any set
Element or negotiation for q settlement with
Samuel Strong within the last few weeks? A.
No, sir; he made proposition to settle By arbi-
tratioD; the board did not invite il, nor has IL
acted upon 1t; did meet Strong accidentally at
the National Hotel; he began to gable about
his affairs; told him IL was time to talk about
such matters; the board have made no settle
ment with him; do not propose to; the board
had q conversation three or four days ago upon
the subject OF An agreement sent 1t BY Strong
which the board refused to accept.
Mr.. Jewett-Bring copy Of that agreement
with you.
WORK ABOUT TIE SMITHSONIAN
Geo. w. Eslin eworn:-Q. Did you do any
work about the Smithsonian? A. did; paving
bluestone on the north side from 9th to 18th
street, on B street north: the contract amount
the Board Of Public Works; they gave my
father Ga, 900 of certificates; the work was o
government reservation; the board got an ap
preparation 70, its cost have never had . set
tlement with them.
Q. L. there any dispute between you and the
Board Of Public Works with reference to the
amount Of this work? A. None In the world.
At quarter after IL the committee took re-