The Portland daily press., 1886-08-07
COMMISSIONER SQUIRE.
Mayor crace's investigation Of His
Official Acts.
His Letter to Flynn Positively Iden-
titled by Several Witnesses.

NEW YORK, Aug. 6.-The examination by
Mayor Grace into the charges made against
Commissioner Squire of the Department of
Public Works was continued today, the nth
charge, that of neglect Of duty, whereby the
interests and property of the city had been
damaged and impaired, was read This
charge refers to the fifth avenue requirement.
job, and it is claimed by the prosecution that
after Squire had obtained $1,000 from the
Board of Estimate for the salary OF an en-
gineer to superintend and carry on that work
he neglected to appoint any one to the posi-
tion and therefore the work had been improp
erly performed. This charge was passed
over and the hearing on the sixth charge be-
tion letter. Gilbert M. Speyer,sJr.,, was the
first witness called. He said that he knew
Hubert o. Thompson and had seen ninla
short time previous to his death. On Mon,
day. July 10, Thompson called at VIII TiInesS9s S;T
From there he went to the office Oh mayor
Grace in Hanover. square. Before we went
there" said the witness, "Mr. Thompson
showed me a letter or paper DETER of Dec.
terS ;-Dld ne tell you "hsre nc S0' ''"' i''
A.-He did.
Q.-What did he tell you2
Ale told me
Mr.. Straham-I object.
Witness-He told me that he had got it
from box in the Safe Deposit Company.
Q-After he had shown this letter to you
and left your office did he come back?
A.-After he had shown me the sletter, he
asked me to read it, did so and then went
to Mayor Grace's Office with him.. We there
met Mayor Grace and Chamberlain WINS. L
remained in an outer office while the others
retired to an inner ONCE. When Mr. Inonip- lI-
son came out asked him if he had given the
letter up and he said that he had. lie then
got into his coupe and drove away.
Q.-Do you know Mauraee Is. Flynn
Al do. After Mr.. Thompson DIED had
a conversation with Mr.. Flynn. 1t was on
Tuesday or perhaps on Monday. | met him
in Twenty fourth street accidentally he
told me that there was certain paper that
belonged to himself which Mr. Thompson
had in his safe, and he would like to get II.
told him that didn't think that itwas there
or in the safe.
Q.-To what paper did he refer?
Al inferred that he referred to that let
ter.
Q.-Was anything else said?
A.-Nothing further was said on the sub
ject as Immediately afterward we were
Joined by party of gentlemen,
There was no cross-examlnatlon.
Auditor Lyon identified the signature OF
the letter as being that OF KoilH M
Squire.
Q.-Do you know his signature?
Al know it from official documents. As
far as the body of the letter is concerned, 1
am unable to say with certainty that IL is tne
far as the signature is concerned, l should
take that to be his.
Strahan-Let me see that letter Che tries TO
snatch it from Mr.. Peckham). Strahan, call
Lyon. Lyon, take the stand.
Lyon was not allowed to the stand, row
ever, as Strahan had previously declined to
cr0SS-eXamine him.
d. Louber Smith, ex-Deputy Collector of
the Department of Public Works, also identi-
fed the letter, saying, in spite Of the inter
ruptl0ns of Strahan, that is Mr. Squlre.s
writing; there can't be any deubt about 1t
whatever
Strahan-That is farce.
Lawyer Miller-We don't propose to have
any farce about it, andl you need make no
mistake on that point. The letter read;
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1884.
Dear Sir-In consideration of your securing net
less than four County Democracy Aldermen who
shall vote for my confirmation as Commlssloner OF q
Public Works, in the event that the Mayor shall
send in my name for that office, hereby agree 10
place my resignation as Commissioner In case OF
my confirmation in your hands whenever you may
demand the same, and further 70 make no ap-
pontmentS in said office without your approval,
and to make such removals therein as you may
suggest and request, and to transact the business
- Very truly, RoLLIN NJ. SQUIRE
The witness continued that he knew Flynn
and saw him frequently at the office OF the
Commissioner of Public Works.
Q.-Do you know OF his directing the Com
missioner?
AIN the matter of appointments the sys-
tenn in vogue was this Every appointment
was submitted to Mr.. Squire for approval.
writing in the signature to the letter of res
ignation, and gave evidence of the peculiar
relations existing between Flynn and Squire.
The hearing then adjourned.