Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-10
The DISTRICT Investigation.
Testimony Of IN Collector Brainerd

The investigation into District affairs was
resumed by the HouFe Committee on the
District this morning.
HHl. III. BrdiReTd testified that at present
he rs claim agent: from 1872 TO 1874 was a
contractor under the board of public works;
put In sea walls At James creek canal; about
two-th1rds of the work renamed to be done
when the board OF public works was sbol.
eanized there was nearly $40, 900 due him.
Lieutenant Hoxie, District engineer remea-
sured work in the latter part OF December
1914 and 1873 Hoxie condemned the whole
work, leaving q balance of SIS, 900 due wit
ness witness received the pay roll due him
and paid all he (wilnessl owed except
washington Nailor. Intended TO pay hi NJ,
but party borrowed some money from him
tw1tness) and never returned IL, so he was
unable 70 pay Nailor. The money due
5sss NV was !, Tor carriage hire sithoush W.T.
swear TO the bill; the board of audit never
asked him to swear to It; knew that the
thought be had a fight to put il In that way,
aid do not know that IL he put IL 10 as
carriage hire IL would not have been paid.
With the exception of Majors bill the re-
mainder was all for labor. and the money
was paid 10 the labOrers. Witness asked for
and received power of attorney to collect
the money. Do not know that any one wore
that the account was correct. II was paid
witness as attorney. Never made an eff la
vii before Mr.. Lszenby though remem 0ers
ina some OF ne Powers OF attorney were &C
knOwledged before LaZenby as notary public
The firm OF which witness was member
wholly Il Brai ed, sub let most OF their
work, ard owed very few OF the la5Orers ~
reilly. Col. u. +. Hamlink was his attorney;
they were previously partners; went mi
a u erthip In October 1874, and dissolved in
D@cfmter, 1915. Owed Ferris for money Dor
r3wed; have lived here eight years; borrowed
the money In Jules burg, III. Ferris gave
power OF attorney to Hamllnk to draw the
money from witness; borrowed the money
from Ferris 10 carry on the work. The final
N VI a Eran nm
Sl2 coo and Sl5 COO the mOney was drawn By
Hsmlink as his attorney. Hamlink is now
IN Syracuse, New York, having left here on
Friday; he will return on Thursday. Wit
ness got Ferris TO appoint II. his attorney.
Witness put all of his business in HamIink;s
hands 10 settle up. Witness sent $500 of the
money due Ferris 10 him. Took IL out of the
col Germ of HamIink & Co. There was no
tlme liked for The payment of the money back
10 Ferris. He advanced witness altogether
5000; S.. eco at one time, "a, 900 at another
500 at another, and $500 at another. Never
gave any Tote for 1T was to pay 10 per cent.
per year for IL as interest. There was no
agreement. Ferris Is the father in law of
witness. Have paid him back altogether be-
tween 5000 and 81, goo, besides $500 interest.
Still owe him the balance. The Whole OF the
money received from the board of audit
was put in 365 bonds, and instead of
their going up they went down, and
bonds outright ard hypothecated them.
Told Mr. Ferris last fall how the money was
lost, and why he had not paid him; was in
the haolt OF signing every paper that Ham
llnk wanted him To sign, supposing that
everything was legitimate and straight.
Understood from Hamlink that changing
the carriage hire on the roll to "hauling'
was all right, and that It was no more than
any other contractor would do; was informed
by Hamlink that the change was a mere
matter OF form. Witness still owes a num-
Der Of mis- suh-contractors.
The committee adjourned until 10 morrow
morning.