The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-15
OLD STORY.
Assessments for the Street
Commissioner.
Evidence Submitted Last
Evening.

the witnesses who have already appeared
on the stand, and proved even at the pres
ent stage of the proceedings that the labor
| ing classes in the employ of the city have
been systematically robbed by the bosses
| in order that they might be retained in their
places The testimony even goes SO far as
to show that the men generally understood
that they had to devote a days labor to the
Street Commissioner, in order that they.
might continue in the employ of the city.
The ostensiblc object of the assess
ments was to purchase case of drawing
Instruments for Warren, and that job hav-
ing been stopped the money is converted
into watch and presented to that example
of official honesty and personal integrity.
THE INVESTIGATION
+ was continued, at the termination of the
evenings session, to next Saturday. night,
when evidence of a similar character to
that submitted on Monday evening will be
presented. Owing to a restriction of the
| council Instructions, only the charges pre-
ferred against city official and backed up
by affidavits. will be considered by the
committee, and this necessarily narrows
down the investigation to the accusations
originally made against Warren 1t ID
not improbable to suppose that at the con-
clusfon of the present investigation, other
charges will be made against the official,
and in case that is ordered, some very
peculiar transactions may be brought to
light; at least that is the opinion Of the
knowing ones.
The testimony last night was as follows:
The first witness sworn was
OSCAR BIsANT.
Witness testified that he was teamster,
had worked for the city in that capacity.
He had been employed in hauling brick.
Had never received check from Warren
for brick>tlelivered to the city. Had seen
Mr.. Warren take a book probably check
book, frem his pocket when he delivered
brick, and enter figures. He was present
the time that the brick were delivered at
Roche's well, the teamster told him that
they were for Mr. Warren. Hauled brick
for the city sewer in the lower part of the
city; worked by the day and did not know
how many brick he hauled per day. He
had hauled brick and sand too. There had
been a discrepancy in his time" while
working for the city at two or three
different times. Mr.. Warren always cor
rected them and said that they were mis-
takes of his foreman. He had paid 80 to
Robt Coyne to buy an Instrument for Mr..
Warren. Went to Mr.. Warren's farm and
hauled load of hay for him and received
50 fer his service. Witness was not work
ing for the city at this time. He thought
that all were required to do fair"
days work, while employed under
Mr.. Warren for the city. He had
donated a days work to Mr. War
rem, in hauling dirt to fill up his let; all
the teamsters did the same. The city did
not pay him for it; he knew positively that
the city did not pay him for that days
time, and knew that the day was not fig
ured in that month Never knew what
became of the two dollars he donated
towards purchasing an instrument for
Warren, but heard that it was applied il
purchasing watch.
JOHN MULQUEEN
was next sworn. He is teamster, hauled
brick to the sewer when it was being con-
structed. Witness was employed by Mr..
Warren. He had assisted in the dirt
donation to Warrens lot. Mr.. Conner
asked him to do it, he was sure that the
city did not pay him for that days work.
He received no money whatever. He con-
tributed four dollars toward the alleged
Warren instrument funds. Paid it to
Robert Coyne. at the latters request. Had
never heard of either the money or instru-
ment since. He went out to Chippianock
cemetery one day and dug grave, took his
team with him. Mr.. Conner told him that |
he would fix it, with the city on pay day. |
Saw brick being unioaded at Reaeh's well, |
while working at the sewer. He heard Mr.. |
Warren say to the teamster tell Lyon these |
brick are fer me-.
JOHN DUNNING
was next placed upon the stand. He had |
contributed So TO the invisible instruments |
for Mr.. Warren, had seen Pat Rooney pay |
over the same amount for like purposes. |
The only work he ever did for the city was |
on the sewer, one year ago last summer. |
He had never heard any complaint regard |
ing the assessments for the instrument"
RICHARD JONES
next mounted the stand, Mr.. Warren en- |
ployed him to work for the city. He had |
escaped the instrument affair. He sign
ed the paper that Mr.. Coyne presented to |
him 20 worth, but hadn't whacked up |
as yet. Mr.. Coyne asked him for the |
money once but he declined to pay with |
thanks, giving as his reason that he failed |
to see Mr.. Coyne's name on the paper and |
thought that he should have ''whaeked up
some himself. Witness had never said |
anything to anybody about the affair.
PATRICK ROONEY
was sworn next, he is brick layer. work |
ed for the city in laying brick ON the sewer
He paid S5 toward the Instrumental bust
ness Mr.. Coyne asked him to do so.
Had talked to Mr.. Lane, fellow employee,
about the matter, and Lane said that the |
money had gone to buy q gold watch for
Mr.. Warren, that the Aldermen had a good |
time; and big supper and dance. at the ex
pense Of the boys.
PATRICK RAFFERTY,
sworn. He was only asked few unim-
portant questions and excused, as he APP
peared utterly ignorant of the case under
JAMES MULQBERN.
next took the stand. He testified that he
had worked for the city on and off for the