The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-07
THE NEW YORK SCANDAL.
Relations Between Commissioner Squire and
Mr.. Flynn-Farming Out Public Trust.

NEW YORK, Aug 6-The examination By Mayor
Grace into the charges made against Commits
sioner Squire was continued to-day. The fifth
charge, that of neglect of duty, whereby the in
terests of 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 So 900 from the Board of Estimates
for the salary of an engineer to superintend
| and carry on the work. he neglected to
appoint any one to the position, and, therefore,
the work had been improperly performed This
charge was passed over, and the hearing on the
| sixth charge begun, the regarding the resig-
nation letter. Gilbert NJ. Spier, jr. the first
witness called, said that he knew Hubert 0.
Thompson, and had seen him a short time pre-
vious to his death. On Monday, July 10,
/ thompson called at witnesses Office, and held a
conversation with him. From there he went to
the oflce OF Mayor Grace, In Hanover square.
| Before he went there the witness said, "Mr.
ter of Dec. &c, shown and identified. did he
what did he tell youq" "He told me-
Mr.. Strahan-"I object"
Witness-He told me he had taken il from a
| box in the Safe Deposit Company.
Question-After he had shown this letter to
| you and left your Office did he come back9 An
| swer-After he had shown me the letter he asked
1 me to read it did so and then went TO Mayor
| Grace and Chamberlain WINS / remained in an
outer office, while the others retired to inner
| Office. When Mr.. Thompson came out asked
| him If he had given the letter up and he said
! that ne had He then got into his coupe and
| drove away.
| Question-Do you know Maurice B. Flynn9
| Answer Go. After Mr.. Thompson died had
conversation with Mr.. Flynn. 1t was on Tues
day 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 it. / told him that didn't
| think that it was there. or in the SAFE
Question-To what paper did he refer9 Answer
i inferred that he referred to that letter.
Question-Was anything else saii2 Answer
| Nothing further was said on the subject, as i'm
| mediately afterward we were joined by party
| of gentlemen.
| There was no cross examination.
| Auditor Lyon identified the signature of the
| letter as being that of Rollin NJ Squire.
| Question-Do you know his signature? Answer
| Il know it from official documents. AS far as
the body of the letter is concerned, | am unable
to say with certainty that it is the hand writing
of Commissioner Squire, but as far as the sigma
ture is concerned, should take that to be his.
| Strahan-Let me see that letter He tries to
! snatch it from Mr.. Peckham.
| Strahan (glaring wildly around Call Lyon.
| Lyon, take the stand.
| Lyon was not allowed to take the stand, how
ever. as Strahau had previously declined to
| cross -examine him.
D. LOUDER Smith, ex-deputy collector of the
| department of public works, also identified the
letter. saying, in spite of the Interruptions of
| Strahan:
That is Mr. squire's writing. There can't
| be any doubt about it whatever"
| Strahan disguised This is farce.
Lawyer Miller-We do not propose to have
any farce about it, and you need make no mis-
| take on that point
The letter read:
New York, Dec %, 1884.
| To aurice B. Flynn. ESQ.,
Dear Sr-In consideration of your securing not
less than four County Democracy aldermen who shall
vote for my confirmation as commissioner of public
works in the event that the Mayor shall send in my
name FOR that Office hereby agree to place my resg
nation az commissioner in case of my confirmation,
and further, to make appointments in said Office
without your approval, and to make such removals
as you may suggest and request and to trans
act the business of said Office you may direct.
Very truly, RoLLIN NJ. SQUIRE.
The witness continued that he knew Flynn
and saw him frequently in the Office of the Com
missioner of Public Works
Question-Do you know of his directing the
commissioned Answer-In the matter of ap-
pointments the system in vogues was this-every
appointment 7as submitted to Mr. Flynn for'ap-
proval.
runner was circulated to-day to the effect
that Rollin NJ. Squire and Maurice 3. Flynn
were liable to be arrested at any moment on
criminal charges made to the district attorney
1t was said that alreadyibench warrants, signed
by Judge Cowing, were in the hands of couple
of Inspector Byrne's detectives, and that at an
opportune moment the documents will be put in
action. Diligens inquiry made of attaches of
tn" district Office failed to either confirm or
ny the startling report Many said it was
nonsense to suppose that any action had been
taken which would place Squire and Flynn in
custody, while the hearing before the Mayor was
pending. Judge Cowing absolutely refused to
speak about the reports saying that it was some
| think he was not at liberty either to affirm or
deny.
The most interesting testimony was that given
by ex-Mayor Edison He told how he had sent
| in the nomination of Gen. Fitz John Porter to
the Board of Aldermen, but there some diff
fculty about his confirmation There was no
ganization in the Board of Aldermen on which
witness could rely. He had no party acting with
him. Witness told how he first met Squire, and
said that he understood that his standing in
Boston was good. Squire believed that enough
County Democrats and Tammany Hall men
would vote for him to effect his confirmation.
Queston-Why did you act so hastily at the
last moment In nominating SQuireg Answer
Because hoped that my nomination might be
| confirmed and thereby man put out of she Office
of the department of public works that was not
fit to be in it.
Q.-You mean Mr.. Thompson9 Ayes sir.
John OBrien, chairman os the Democratic
State committee and contractor having in
charge the building of the new aqueduct since
1884 was the next witness. He said he knew
Flynn but not in business way. In 1884 he
talked with Mayor Edison about the new com
missioner of public works The Mayor asked
if the witness could not agree with Brown, How
ard & Co.. who were also contractors. and di-
vide the profits. The witness said he could not,
and then the Mayor asked If he had any indu-
ence over any aldermen Witness replied he
| thought he could control two The hearing was
adjourned till Monday.
CholerasOr Cholera AIorbus?
MILWAUKEE,, Aug. 6.-Reports OF the exist
ence of Asiatc cholera cases having reached this
citv to-day from Madiaop Chirpnwa Ealla ard