The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-14
ANOTHER 100000 STEAL.
THE DELTBERATE ROBBERY or
EAITHFUL CONTRACTOR.
A Shameless Plot 10 get n Fortune out OF the
CITY Treasurv-Thrcc Bids from william e.
kinpaInx-T rick of ExIrn CompensnIIon.

A Shameless Plot to get n Fortune out OF the
CITY Treasurv-Thrcc Bids from william G.
Kingsley Trick of Extra Compensntiou'
There is hardly page OF Brooklyn his
tory for the past six or seven years on which
the finger marks OF the rapacious Ring head
ed by Kingsley and tailed by Fowler are
not TO be seen. A short chapter on
swinde out Of which 10000 was made
has for it, subject the building Of sewer
In Third avenue, from Twenty-eighth street
to Carroll street. TnE Sun has already ex-
plliued the trick by which the corrupt Water
Board could put the contract for any puohc
work into the hands Of the highest rather than
the lowest bidder. II was only necessary to have
a venal contractor, who having put In very
low bid could, after obtaining the award, throw
up the contract on some pretext OF affected
misunderstanding, and thus give Fowler the OPP
portunity to help Kingsley, who had been a poor
raftsman on the Susquehanua and was ANXIOUS
to get start IN TIVE world.
In 1869, when Knsell, and Fowler made the
majority OF the Water Board, PROPOSALS lor
building a sewer in Tnrd avenue were hdVcr-
tsed for, and Kingsley sent In proposals AZ ON. ON,
price In his own name, hts partner heeneY sent
In another prico IN his name, and McCdnn, thclr
foreman. sent in proposals IN his name, making
three estimates offered 10y one concern. mere
we're ten bids opened on July s,ISg, and Instead
of any OF kingsley's bids proving successful the
board were compelled 10 announce that Joseph
Van Wrinkle was tue lowest bidder, ana tnaV NC
had agreed to do the work for SlijOOl.
The Water Board spent eighteen days trying
to pick a flaw IL Van Niuklc's lid or ms bond
that Kingsley a keeney, VINO were not the next
bidders, but were the higuest bidder, might
have the job. Fowler, with wonderful re-
gard for tue city's welfare, shook his hedd
over the sureties that Mr.. Van Mink'e oncred,
and was ABOUT to refuse nm the contract
when MIR. Van Wrinkle presented his bondsinen
to the board, aud they swOre to tue ppsses-iun
Of twice tue property that was required: tail-
ing In this, the Ring attempted 60 Guy Mr.. ' N
Wrinkle on. He WAS met IN the city nan threc
times by messengers Of the Ring, who offered
him money to fail To nut his name To the pap, r.
The first offer was SlOOO, and tue next $2,VO
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS DECLINED.
on the day that tie went to the board to sign the
contract a City Hall politician, "A tool Of Kings
| ley and Fowler, called him one side ana showed
| INN certified check for 5000 lie put his hand
over the signature SO that II could not he read
anu said, SAY you WON syn that c1ntrav, ana
| the offer. and took the contract, expecting 10
| make Ssu.0UO out Of II. .
lie went to work on July %, 1869, and by the
late fan Of the year he had all OF the largest
| sewers laid, and ABOUT three blocks OF the 10
! inch sewer. / he work WAS through the deepest
cuts along the line, aud at the outlet where the
worst digging was To be encountered, 'he w
| inch sewer had been LAID. In the winter the
| work was suspended. a. was usual anu Mt. IAN
| Winkle at great expense puIchassu 81 an
| hOisting machine aud other machinery, READY
to push the work through the next ear. Ia
| the early spring OF 1870 ne went To Work, anu IN
| d month Fowler mt word that more lhoorers
must he put on aud the work hurried. Mr.
| Van Wrinkle oueycd. But the contract was ths
| objective point. An employee Of kin-sley X
Kcenev procured the signatures Of a numper Of
| urorerty owners TO a com plant against Van
| Wtukle for OustricunS travel aud when
| this was done, Fowler peremptorilY COM
| handed Van Wrinkle to cease work, sa,
| ing that he had violated his contract
| and tn 1 1t must PASS into other hands. row
Ter refused to explain, but said that there
were compl iiuts that he was wurking too low.
These other hands were of course KINGSLEY \
keeuey's. Some disturbance was made bout
tnc surrender OF the work, and Van Ninkle. 10
| protect himself In some future Lawsuit, sur
rounded himself with a Gordon OF policemen
and would not leave Until kingsley took pos
session. and refused To stand aside. In uns"el
to compl .ints, the Water Board publicy said
that MIR. Van Wrinkle bad been a year dong
small part Of the work, aud tnat lac had violated
his contract by falling 10 ouey orders To bt
mere prompt. Frank Swift, being the next low
est bidder. put IN a clam for the contr CT; bul
| In srite OF all protest., Fowler ordered the
engineer to arrange with keeney Us to price
and enter into a contract with him To compiet,
tue work. No Advertisements were Inserted
| In NAV. $50. the new contract was made VIII
keeney, at prices far in advance Of his proposals.
| ia JulS VI tue previous year.
THE FIGURES.
The following table will show the dtnerenc
| between keency's bid in 1870 and his own hi
| iu ls4il as " u a. the difference between his vi
| in $50 and Van WlnAles Ind IN 1853: