Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-29
The Temperature, To-day.
As nxawrraxD AT THE COMMERCIAL oYS1os.
ASA. II, I2l At P. NJ,
The water Investigation.


OF MIR. HYDE.
The Water Investigation was brought to an
unexpected termination, last night. Messrs.
Adams, McMenamin, and Lynch of the commit
tee only were present, and in the absence of the
Secretary Mr.. Underwood, JAS. p. Hayes as
sumed his duties. The attendance was about
the same as on Monday night composed mainly
Of basin employees, witnesses for the defence,
who, az the expression Of the insuificency of
the test mony for the prosecution were made by
the members of the committee, gave vent to
their sympathy in applause.
Before any progress was made Mr.. Lynch, of
the Committee, rose to ask how much more time
would be consumed by the Defence, and added
that he was already disgusted with the whole
proceeding. In his opinion he said the charges
were unfounded. Mr.. Hyde, he said further,
had given great satisfaction in his work and had
discharged his duty fully if errors had been
committed they were of the head and not of the
heart. He did not want to waste more time with
this " nonsense y the other members Of the
committee no thought were equally disgusted
with himself. He moved that the Committee
adjourn SINE die.
Mr.. Bradford said he had host of witnesses
to call aud enough to refute each and every
charge, and he should continue to call them un.
til the committee were satisfied of the ground
lessness OF all the charges II the committee
had heard enough and will vindicate Mr.. Hyde
he would say no more ; he WAS unwilling to stop
until the committee were fully satisfied
Mr.. Adams remarked that 30 far as his obser-
yation had gone he did not think the charges
sustained. He had not been present at all the
meetings OF the Committee, but from what lie
had read in the newspapers he thought he had a
fair conception of what was done IN his absence.
Mr..McMenamin said that the opinions ex-
pressed by the other members OF the committee
had been held by him for some time, and he did
not think single charge had been sustained.
He wanted, however, some further evidence
brought to contradict the statements OF one or
two witnesses for the prosecution on the 4th
and 9th specifications whose testimony seemed
to have some distinctness.
Mr.. Adams, again rising, remarked that there
may have been some little Irregularities and in
discretons in the building of the new basin, bnt
in work of such magnitude, where 30 many
men are employed, the avoidance of such things
| are impossible. In his opinion the work had
been carried on remarkably well, and reflects
great credit on Mr. Hyde.
Mr.. Lynch did not want to make a speech nol
do injustice to the witnesses for the Prosecution
but to one who had sat with the Committee
night after night, as he had done, it must be
clear, he said, that the whole thing WAS a pre-
concerted plan to cut Off Mr.. Hyde's head. The
witnesses, he thought, had drawn on their i'm
| aginations, and he was prepared to sign paper
| of vindcation without further proceedings.
| He believed the work had been well done, and
\ the new pipe had been laid cheaper than eve
before in this city. He, therefore, insisted that
| the investigation stop.
| Mr.. Bradford said chat Mr., Pickles, chairman
| Of the committee, had assured him that the De
| fence should not be pressed for time, and havinI
| already met twelve or thirteen nights he did no
think it hardly fair to close without the commit
tee suggesting to the Defence such resolution
as will exonerate Mr.. Hyde fully.
| Mr.. Lynch did not want to cut off the defence
but he said it was impossible for the defence tt
prove more than had been proven by the wit
nesses for the prosecution.
Mr.. Bradford, anticipating that the investiga
ton would fall through, said he had prepares
the form of report which Mr.. Hyde will be Eat
isfed with, but before accepting this he though
it better to introduce a little more testimony t
fully satisfy the committee on the points sue
gested by Mr. McMenamln.
Mr.. Adams suggested that one or two wit
nesses be called OH each charge, and referred +
4 rule of Council which rendered it mpossibl
for the committee to adjourn SINE die.
Mr.. Bradford here read the following as th
report above alluded to
The Committee appointed to investigate tn
charges brought by Mr.. Jno. W. Hawking, agains
| the present management of the Water Uepari
ment of the city of Wilmington, respectful
reports to.couneil as follows
| That the committee has heard all the ev
dence rendered in support of said charges, an
the evidence of few of the witnesses on til
part of the defense, all Of which evidence
herewith submitted to Council.
| That the Committee is of the opinion thf
said charges have not been sustained and tbs
it is therefore unnecessary to receive furthe
. evidence on the part of the defence.
And that in the Judgement of the committe
the Chief Engineer Of the Water Works and til
present management Of the Water DepartmeI
of the city Of Wilmington should be clearly o,
onerated from said charges.
| The examination of witnesses for the defenc
was then begun, commencing with the secon
specification. MIR. Hyde was put upon the stant
but before he had said only few words NJ
| Lynch again pressed his motion not to go OF
but yielded in Difference to the Defence Th
examination then went on, and both lMr. Hyd
and Mr.. Ford stated there were only about do,
en- perches Of good stone taken out Of the Secon
street ditch, worth from GO to 10 cents per percl
while the filling in WAS worth about S22. The
estimated that the agreement saved to the cit
from S6 to 81. On the 3rd specification NJ
Hyde explained that he Imade an allowance
time for overwork in order to prevent generi
demand among the caukers for increased pa,
and that he thereby saved to the city sever
dollars per week.
D To disproye the charge of drunkenness
against Mi. Wickersham, VIM M, Candy, Che
Engineer Hyde. Mr.. Maloy, Frederick Fit;
gerald and w. II. Fountain, none of whom ha
: ever seen him drunk or under the influence
, liquor, and especially OH the 18th Of May. NJ
! Candy, however, said he had seen Mr. Wicke
sham when he had been drinking, as he smee
the liquor on his breath, but. at no time was Ii
| unuL 10 uihCHhIbe Hls uutl5h. III Mr. MClDtlre
: case, Messrs Candy, Hyde, Fountain, in,
, Maxwell and Benz. Grooms (col'd) were callet
and they all exonerated not only him, but all I'll
gang bosses from the charge of drunkenness.
, Un the charge of msmanagement of men
the detriment of the city, Jas. b. Crozier an
Pierce Scarbury, two colored men who were on
poyed at 10th and Spruce streets, denied thu
: they were idle at the time specified by Jno.
Hawkins, and Jas. Callahan, Matthew Malone
8 and Jacob Baker contradicted his further stat,
ment that men were loating and smoking on I'll
!. long bank at the basin.
During the progress of the examination G
this last charge, Mr.. Lynch arose and said |
did not wish to dictate to the Defence, but /
proceeded to recall to the mind of Mr.. Bradfol
bis promise, during the trial, to prove col
4 spiracy and thought 1t due to him that he shou
do so.
Mr. Bradford, in reply, said it was not difficu
to do so and should have done so had the pros
i cution been stronger, but as it was he hard
! thought 1t necessary to consume the time OF IL
!, : Committee with such an effort
Here the investigation was ended, and Nj
Lynch moved an adjournment subject to tt
= call of the chairman of the committee.
=, Mr.. Bradford objected to on adjournment III