The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-14
INVESTIGATION.
Street Commissioner Warren
and his methods.
Evidence Submitted Last
Evening.

i Evening.
The investigation of charges against
Street Commissioner Warren, was contin-
ued last night at the council room, and at
tracted large number of interested spec
| tatofs.
The committee consisting of Aldermen
Mahoney, O'Neil and Larkin, appear to
be thoroughly in earnest, and as result the
investigation of the charges and the exam
ination of the witnesses are both critical
and conducted with the idea in view OF
securing the whole truth.
! The testimony submitted last night de-
monstrated that there has been system
in operation among the laborsrs of this
city whereby they are expected to give SO
much every month toward instruments
for Warren, or gold watch for that Off
cial or some of the secondary bosses. Ii
was generally understood among them that
if they refused the assessment they would
be discharged.
Oneewitness testified that it was told
him that all the teamsters were expected
to give one days work to Warren, as it was
stated to be the custom, and as such he
followed it.
I THE MOST DAMAGING
testimony, however, submitted last night
was that furnished by City Clerk Koehler.
He stated that he never was officially mott
fed of the sale of one thousand brick to
Reach; but that after Alderman Bennett
had brought charges up against Warren
which was the early part of January, that
official had volunteered the information
that Roach had bought the brick last sum-
mer and paid for them at that time, and
Warren had turned the money over to
Lyons by the driver of the wagon.
It will be remembed that Lyons had
already testified that the brick had not
been paid for until the 4th of the present
month. Captain Koehler also testified
that he had discovered mistake in the
brick bills for month last year. The mis-
take consisted in difference betweensthe
/
sioner's check book. Two of the laborers
for the city had complained to the city
clerk about being compelled to pay SO
much money to keep their places, and he
had informed Alderman Warnock but
nothing had been done about it, and the
assessment plan was carried on.
The testimony in detail is as follows:
| w RAFFERTY,
| testified that he was fifteen years old and
| had been and was now engaged for the city.
He had been engaged by Warren. He had
always received his pay from the city, and
| had never been asked to contribute to any
| fund He had worked for Warren such as
carrying wood and building fires War
rem had paid for such services. He worked
until six o'clock, but sometimes he quit
work at four o'clock. He did not rsmem
Der whether he ever worked for Warren
during the ten hours that he worked for the
city. Witness had been visited by War
rem. He worked for the city last Novem-
Der, but could not remember how much
money he received as he kept the amount
| in a book which was st his home. A part
| of the time in November witness was en-
gagged as Harper's theatre During that
time. he was not employed by the city, nor
did he receive any money for that time.
Witness further stated that he went on
errands from Warren to Ceyne and was
about the sever. He did not know
whether he was in the city employ or not.
He did not keep track of his time, but sup
posed that Warren and the bosses kept
! track. During this time he sometimes
drove cows for Warren. This was both In
| the morning and evening, and took him all
the way from thirty minutes to an hour.
| In the morning he started before six and
got back by seven. In the evening he left
atsix and sometimes before that hour. He
did not know whether he had ever left
work at four o'clock in the afternoon. The
arrangement was made between witness
and Warren. The latter was perfectly sat
isfied. Witness told Warren that he was
| employed at the theatre. He did not keep
track of his time during the month Of
November and was not sure that he re-
ceived pay from the city during the week
in which he was engaged st the theatre.
Witness had seen some brick in Warren's
yard. He first noticed them about one
month ago.
PETER KCMAHAN
next took the stand, and stated that he had
been working for the city hauling dirt; but
had not worked during the present year.
O'Connor told witness that he (witness)
would have e work one day for Warren.
He did not know whether the city paid for
it; but thought that all the men engaged
by the city had to work one day for War
rem. While he worked for the city he paid
SIS at one time and two at another to
OConnor. He thought it might have
been year between the two payments.
OConnor said the money was for War
rem, but Coyne said the money was to be
used as present to pay for some drawing
instruments. He had not worked for the
city since last July. He paid SO to Cain
last summer making total of 81 Cain
wanted So out witness only give 81. He
did not tell witness the purpose for which
the money was to be used, but witness
was told that he would not lose anything
by subscribing the money Witness never
saw anybody else pay money to the bosses.
Witness never had any trouble with War
rem.
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