, 1876-08-20
How Mchei|| Came to Get the
Courthouse Contract.
An Interesting Conference Recently
Held at hike McDonald's.
An Agreement Made Between Tanning,
McNeill, and HennessJ.

there was something lueXpicable in tht
whole transaction. No one doubted that there
was corruption about the affair, but how ant
where to fasten it was another matter. From
Walkers action It was bclfeved-in fact knowr
that be had an interest in the matter somehow;
hut just how certain antagonistic elements haG
been harmonized no one knew. It was know
that when Walker was beaten on his bid ol
s695,00o he had attempted to take ur
the bid OF Atkinson, which failed only
because Walker and the "Rine" were toe
hoggish Then it was expected that
some one else would be taken up it man could
be found who would be satisfied with very
small part of the steal, and that there was a
steal in the job, Walker lad demonstrated by
already decreasing his bid about $780, 900 On the
entire work.
was the man, it appears, that was wanted, but,
as before stated, no one understood how he had
been captured, nor how the "Ripg " could have
the impudence to take him up, present his name
and bid, and push the latter through.
a TRIBUNE reporter took it on himself to in
Tcst'gate the matter somewhat during the day,
and, rs will bc seen below, his work was not
entirely in vain. He found, in the first place,
that McSeill had in the last fouridays become
the bosom companion Of Walker and Periolat
Notwithstanding his Indirect instrumcntalty in
causing tile indictment OF the latter, which ac-
ton he was known to have taken in a revenge
tul spirit to get even with Per1olat and the
Ring :" for refusing to give him the con-
tract for the Courthouse foundation.
Following this lead, The reporter
asccrtaincd TINT few evenings ago Walker,
Periolat, and Mcneil met at Mike A1cDonald's
by ap ointment: to arrange to take the job,
Periolat having arranged previously with John
sou, hlcCaffrey, Carroll: aud Comfy, that what
ever arrangements the trio might make would
bc ratified BY them. McNcill's BID was, OH its
face, the next lowest to Fanning's, aud, Tanning
having turned deaf ear to all overtures, Me
the most likely to serve the purpose. The meet
great deal Of w confesspg io' and nd
forgiying had to be gone through with before
business could be reached, Finally, however,
EVERYTHING WAS AMlcABEf ADJUSTED.
MIR. McNcill was to be awarded the contract,
but the only interest he WIS to have in it, out
side Of q gift of $1,000, the difference between
Fanning's bid and his own, was that he should
BE- employed to do the stone-setting, while
Walker was to do the rest. The division with
the "Ring," it was agreed, should be 5000
apiece On the county's half Of the building, as
had been arranged before.
During the meeting very mysterious paper
vas discussed, the nature OF which could not be
learned except with the greatest difficulty and
sec through brick walls and read letters through
an ovcrcoat pocket,-a faculty acquired only by
the longest practice. The first intimation OF the
contents Of the paper gained was that it was in
tile shape Of an agreement between stonemen
OF some kind, and, learning this much, the docu-
1t was followed, as was also the gentleman
to have it. The reporter saw it
subsequently displayed, AMI still later heard it
read and discussed in back room on Clark
street. 1t was an
BETWEEN PATRICK TANNING, ".
MSE1LL, AND PATRICK n. HESSEssT,
Of date Of May g. forming copartnership for
the erection Of the Court House, and, to the as
tonlshmeut OF I'll concerned, copy thereof Is
herewith printed as follows:
drticles Of agreement made and entered into
s o 9a an ii D. nSsy s ana and sR
and State OF Illinois:
W1rSE<sETn. That the parties above named have
agreed to become copartners, and by these pres
-ntt do agree to be copartners together, under and
oythe name, or firm, OF Tanning, McNeill 4 Com
pnny. in the building and construction OF the cnt
stone portion Of certain building for said Cook
County. to be erected and constructed the Court
House SQUARE in the City OF Chicago. in said county:
aid building to be in accordance witlthe
7lans and specifications prepared and submitted by
!. j. Egan- architect: Provided, that certain pro-
,osals about to be submitted by the parties above
,amed to the Board I'd Of r. County Commissioners OF
eria1s Of the cut.stone portion Of the building
aforesaid, are accepted, and q contract made and
uttered into By said parties iontly' namely. By
1cnncss5. or either of them, scvcraly and indiyid
lal1y for the labor, workmanship, and material of
he eaid building. on the said Court House square,
Sth the said Board OF County Commissioners Of
cook County. 1t is expressly. understood and
greed, by and between the ssid parties to this
greencnt thnt said contract shall be tor the joint
md several interests OF all the said parties hcrcto
hat is to say, each OF the parties hereto shall
ain and he entitled to IN equal third share OF
he profits, receipts, and en,oluments to be de-
mentioned and set forth expressly or implied, BY
he said contract with said Board OF County
In consideration of this
Sny baa thensee5 ther hess executoes
nd assigns, to act in every iawful and businessko
manner as equal partners in the advancement OF
heir joint and several g, interests, and they: the
nee, and supply Of the said labor, Workmanship,
nd materials of said bnildingas expressed and Inn
']ied BY the said contract such reasonable share
# time and attention as each one uf them is best
dapted to perform without prejudice or injury to
ny other business which either of them may en-
age in undertake. and they shall act in the per-
ormance and execution Of the terms Of said con-
ract equal partners throughout.
In witness whereof we have hcreunto set our |
ands and seals the day and year first above men |
ionad. F. FAsSiN9, (Seal. |
WILLIAM McNE1IL, [Scai.l
PArR1cK n. HESNEssY. (SeaL
Attest: CHAs. 4. flaming.
After getting hold Of the document, or at |
EAST gaining knowledge Of its contents, the |
cportcr elected from one Of McNeil's confident
Il friends some Of the
UNDER WHICH IT HAD BEES /
DRAWN.
S told BY him, Mcneil wanted to have hand,
appears, in the erection Of the Courthouse, !
S did also flennessy. They saw Mr.. Tanning
nd boastcd Of their influence with the Ring"
ud got from him the figures upon which to base
bid, agreeing to make it 5000 higher
nan Fanning's. Mr.. Tanning refused to
ave anything to do with the Is Ring "
lovement and Mcneil yielded to his ideas,
hcreupon the two joined forces to play into
le hands Of the q King " with the ayowed pur
osc Of getting the work, and then turning their
acks upon it. aIcNeil's part OF the work was
push the thing through,-thc contract speaks
or itself. The same prrson told the reporter
lat since the award to Mcneil be disputed the
srecment, took back all that he had said, aud
the award was confirmed By the Board, pro-
oscd to live up to the agreement made ut Mike |
[cDonald's between Walker and Periolat and
D into the work, prcfcrring to take his chances
it'll the 'sRing'' to fulfilling his attested and
,rmaI agreement with Tanning.
The above establishes beyond dispute the rot
nntss Of the whole matter Of awarding the |
work, SO far as it has gone. The
aste and readiness With which McNel's bid
as accepted and aloptcd, establishes the
aowledge Of the Ring'' OF the whole trans
tion, aud the fact that Mcneil now turns hts