New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-07
SQUIRE WlLLCALL 1T A JOKE
A HINT AS TO WHAT HIS DEFENCE WILL BE.
SOME INTERESTING TESTIMONY BY JAMES G.
SPENCER. FRANKLIN EDISON AND
JOHN O'DRIFN


The prosecution in the case of the Commits
soners OF Accounts against Ron NJ Squire whispered
together earnestly yesterday morning they met in
Mayor Grace's once and seemed full Of business 70
WAS quickly noised about that they were preparing
light fuse Of the bomb whose explosion expected
to overthrow Commissioner Squire Tie room quickly
flled up. Ex Senator Gibbs. Lawson n. Fuller aud
Aoueduot Commissioner Spencer were among the spec
tator Colonel Ingerso sauntered IN and took bis seat
beside Mr Strahan. He leaned his head on his hand
and looked thoughfuy at his boots. Mr.. Strahs5's
genial face shone amaby around lie takes every thing
as joke except Mayor Grace. The accusers Commits.
sioners OF Accounts Shearman and Adamson, sat with
the or osecuting counsel, Mt. Peckham and citizen"
Miller.
The case had been closed the previous day with thd
evidence on the fourth charge The fifth was read ana
had been that yesterdays session woud 10
begun with testimony upon this charge, wlich ieates u
the Fittlrave. pavement. But when the Mayor called
up the case Mr.. Miller summoned Gilbert NJ sper,JEs
as his first witness, and 1t became evident that tbe
Squire ynn letter be produced. Mr. Miller be-
gan
Odd you know Hubert o. Thompsons Avery
Q-You saw him ofton, Avery.
O.-How often A.-Severa times week.
Q.-You saw him frequently just before his death.
Q--Dii you see him on July 1917 Add.
Q.-wherei Ain MY Oiico
Odd you have conversation with him' Al
Q.-what abouti A.. on. different things.
Q.when he left your office where did he so' A-ro
Q-Wh-re did you leave hint A,-Ho asked me to
60 with him to see the Mayor | said | woud aud wa
came together to this building. He and Chambarlaa
Ivlns went into the MAYORS private Office, AM waited
for them until they came out. parted with Mr. Thomp-
son in 'front.' OF this building.
Odd Mr Thompson show you letter purpOrtns
to have been written by COMMISSIONER Squire A-ia
Q-Is that the presenting tho witness leticrl
Q-where did he get 1t Al don't know of my own
knowledge only know where he said lie sotit.
Sir. sTahanf desire at this stage in the testimony of
apa aTe Mr. Pecsham know vel encugn that they
right under heaven to AJAX such questions IL Is dem
proceoding ana it is wrong and Incompetent TO ask
witness tell conversations al which Mr. squire was
one man says OF what somebody else tod hun 10 ba
u fact. Nevertheless. my client desires that theso
to the with regard to this letter lie wishes
about TO como out and In Difference 70 MS
desire nterpose no objection TO the reception o les'
mony which IS highly unbecon,ng ana Improper, 81,
he got 1t from his safe deposit vault lie asked me to
read and said Le had concluded to SURRENDER ~
O-Nhen he came out OF the Mayors Office and met
you outside this building what did lie say aOout tnis
letter Al asked him he hai given the letter up aha
"V o.MDo ~ You know Maurice b. Flyni A.-Ye..
q. How long have you known hint A.-tor hvo OF
Q.-W6at is his BUSINESS Ale ia contractor and
member Of the firm OF Guy c. ioLchkiss Field co.
Do yoa know a4yaqg oI Pubic hs MorE. oay
Dbl you have any conversation with Flynn after
a. When, A-On the next day. Tuesday.
Q..-Wherei An Twenty y.fourths l met him ac-
What took place A. lie SAID there was certain
paper belonging to him ana MT m nas ShnH vas
there anywhere among ,lr. Thompson eiec'' H.
Q.-Did lie say what the paper wa'i A'-No' u''
HW3Indlrec,yi A-well Inferred what he mranti
O.-What was your nfsrencei Al took 1t tlal 10
a. nde,i to the letter you have Just shown me-
Mr. Miller ITO Mr.. strahanl HE 10 your witness
Mr.. strahan-I havs no questions TO ask hiin.
William l. LYON tho auditor OF the Finance Depart
mont was called and asked for his opinion rs TO whose
hand writing the letter IN question waa lie 'aii ne w.
familiar with Mr.. Squires signature and peeVeu 'hS
the etter to be his, but he was In douos
about body Of the document as he had never seeu
any of Mr. sauIres hand writing except his signature
Mr. LYON was excused and ID. Lowber Smith, formerly
the Deputy Commissioner OF Public Works, was called
lie said he WAS entirely familiar with Dir. squifes
hand writing.
Mr. strahan-Let me see the letter.
The witness was about hand 1t over but Mr. Pecx'
ham prevented aim Not yet" said Mr.. fe'AAam;
cit is not offered in evidence yet
"But you have marked 1t for idenihcauon, SAID Mr'
strahan. "and tina, entities me to seeit
"On no. II does not" cred the two prosecutors In
concert
well. we'll see about that" retorted Mr. strahan.
r,.,ry You will please vacaie tho witncssstand Mr..
spuh want 10 cross.examine the last witness Mr..
Lyon ,
lyon can't do IL now and you shan't SEQ the letter.
sad Mr.. Miller.
Mr. strahans face grew purple and he cried out tha'
h. was in.ul,ed. Mr. Miller took no notice OF hiD'
but asked the witness the letter was in MI squres
hand wrising. .
"Iobiect - shouted Mr.. strahan. "s.or. sir. MT
you dare answcr"
But Mr. smith, who was removed by Mr.. squire was
an eager witness against him. and went on WITH MS "'
swer, that he should say II was Mr. squires na-""f"s
without any doubt Whatever
"lhis is contemplate" said Mr.. sirahan
The letter WAS then offered IN evidence and handed
over 80 the Mr. straan and Colonel lngeisol
looked Il over and returned It, saying that there was 10
objection to Its admission.
O. Q,y Mr. MIler,-Do you know Maurice b. Fynni
ODD you see him IN the Dcpartmcn. o. Public
wSrks often while you Mr. squirss deputy Ale
rhe- const anty Pretty much all the buslnrs, "a
tscrhone dld call up Mr.. Flynn. AMI II The te.
phone dd not tetch him qilcsly enough ~me's'nsee
O-Dm Flynn direct the business OF the hepsrtmcntt
Not that know OF, except III the matter oi Appoiht-
ments. ., w.u ,.,h,,,,st
ali appoint ,msnt. 10 Mr. Squire lie would fteIu'H,y,
saw TO me hs not ready to act upon them Jub
now as 10 wished 10 consult with Mr. Flynn
Mr.. strahan In ncrosseXsminaton, asked the witness
only one question.
Q-Cornmissioner Squire removed you from tho posi-
ton OF deputy. DID he not A.-fes. SIR. - ..
@ re-drscp-W A.-Iho only answer "e k"''
WAS that 1t WAS IA political necessity
Mr.. Miller then read the Squirrel ynn lc.t' ,o'
lows:
YORK, December 20. 1854
MAURICE b. FLYNN esq. ..- mn, Las than
DE AZ SIR: Ia consideration of your securing h" 'e s
fonr County Aldermen who siall voc y" , & ,s
arnaton as Commissioner OF Public WORKS IN ,s hSy
th, M.or shall send In name Tor th~s. ~ o, p" g. ~ no
agr,e Ia n ACE my resignation commissioner !" ~ ~.
IN vnur hands whenever You ma! 'ei-nu .'
same ana fuithrr Appol W >s' . ~,
v,,r aunr,ya such
may sus ami request, and IA uAnsd.t ,ne ~
ne, ne - ,ut r -, - n,v ,iirsct Very truly yours .
office as you may "'''" koLLN M. SVVI.E.
Mr. Miller also offered In evidence the ioNo1in- ttf
,.ren from the files OF the Mayors Office;
prp.KInRxr OF PUBLIC WORKS.
COMMANDMENTS OFFCR.
n e., y Dec. 81, lSoJ.
r,oo wtttlAM r. GRACE. Mayor.
sir in view OF the recurrence OF The rumors o, r,sg
80 ,sttns nv official self giving rise 10 continued ana
.s.. A. and the tact that the lapse oi unie haS
ps them one ALL groundlrss permit me r-spe uN 70
,oSv Vour Honor that and AL alleged resgndt"hs
med 10 be in prior 10 tins dat ssnei OF M
isarn. such shall rcach
sisneu W -. h.rr,y r,yo.rd and wi