New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-24

levied on John OBrien, but which that enterpris-
ing business man tried to saddle upon the hrn.
The examination of Mr.. Clark was conducted py
MIR. Boardman, who was assisted occasionally by
the chairman.
MIR. Clark said that he came to NewYork from
the West in ss4. The first work that he under
toolr after coming here was the Staten Island
Panid Transit Railroad a 81, 900, 900 contract,
which was carried through successfully. he
made the acquaintance of John o. Brien about the
time he obtained the first Adueduet con.rac r. the e
partnership, but was not certain how much Botn
contributed credit. lie supposed at the tlme
oBrien was man Of means but ai hd 70 .aE cong
, these contracts found that he himself hau 10 con
tribute most Of the money.
Mr. Clark said that O'Brien told him he wanted
81 O. 600 for Governor Hill and asked HIM lGiarN
In ret IL at the Mount Morris Bank. The witness
was reluctant to do SO, but finally consented au9
! Endorsed the note after Muller and OBrien had
done SO. O'Brien got the money
TAKEN UP AND THEN RENEWED
The note matured March 8, lsS6,. On that day
Il was taken I'D Another note for 81 900 was
substituted, signed by John O'Brien and Endorsed
by Maurice B. Flynn. and this note matured IN
June, 1886. Then another note for the same
amount was substituted and this action was re-
heated in September In December Flynn ceased
TO appear on the note, and O'Brien paid $1,000
ON IT, giving another note for $4,000 for the
balance He paid of 81 600 at time in this way
as the notes matured until October 81 1887, wnen
the face value had BEEN reduced to 50, 600. Inns
was paid off by OBrien 81 Clark. and the amounu
was charged to the account Of OBrien The con-
tract for Section q Mr. Clark continued, was SUD
let by OBrien & Clark to Charles Peterson q 20.
Peterson was OBrien & Clark's superintendent;
but Mr.. Clark did not know who composed the
company The contract was for s3o0,0OO;
O'Brien & Clark advanced the money, and had
fo their r FG the oGf and they DO
said Mr. Clark adding that as last as the money Iy
was received from the city 1t was PAID 70 Feser
Clark continued that he received sl,oOO from
Peterson, which Peterson said had been asked OF
him to help defy G9yeF n odn no camPasn
Inc 10 O'Brien about this matter the witness de-
ciared that Clark advised O'Brien to send this
n would be charged to O'Briens account This
led TO lively quarrel between the partners, Dup
the Democratic party got the money all the same
THE $4,000 NOTE PARTY ASSESSMENT.
"This 81 0, 900 note of HIS" broke in Senator
Fassett, was really an assessment Of that amount
made upon Mr. OBrien, was it notP'
Mr.. Clark said that was about the size
Of it. The whole trouble was whether
OBrien should pay it individually
or whetehr the firm should do SO. q I told O'Brien
that it was not right for him to bring in his po
litical party. was Republican. and ola noo
care to contribute to the enemy Naughterl
GLOW much money has been paid for P S5 aSa
6EyTo wbom was this paid Al should say to the
treasurer of some Democratic organization
In reply to the chairman's question: Mr.. Clark
said that the S. 600 note was finally taken up ai1er
the fall campaign last year and after all CONTRACTS
had been awarded Mr.. B1rdman asked u Mr..
OBrien had ever complained Of Controller LoeW;
Mr. Clark said that he had and that ne also IeIo
aggeved at the way Mr. Loew nad ac5ed th is wy
he had reaudted bills after they had been agreed
to by the Aqueduet Commisson Loew S ae Mated
| nre from the Aqueduct Commission had Deen no'eo
with gratefulness by Mr.. OBrlen.
o,BRIENs BUSINESS" AT ALBANY
The witness said that O'Bren was in Albany
nearly all the time the Aqueduct bill was pend
ing in Albany
Odd he have any other business? Ayes,
should say from the way he talked that be had great
deal Of other business -,
This led to a general snile whereupoh Hlr'
Clark explained that this other business per-
tanned to O'Briens position as chairman Of the
Democratic State Committee and various other
measures before the Legislature.
Senator Pierce took hand at this polnt ana
endeayored to show by the witness that political
assessments like that made on 0'Brlen were inc
common practice. This led Chairman fasse1t 10
ask 4 the hrT 4bd eaq Ro DSf5 Committee Mr.
Clark said no such request had ever been maze.
Mr. Clark had never had any communlcatlo1n
about political assessments previous to the time
that the contract assigned to o. Brien ~ CIarK
Everything Of this nature came up Ga the
sub-contractors was made by Mr. O'Brien, ana
was of q verbal character. MT. ClarK 'leh eA.
nlained the necessity Of subletting Aqueduct
practically the same basis as Peterson q 20
that is OBrien & Clark received U per c.hC ,,. VI.
the ross receipts. No written agreemenGt Z, was
made between these firms and Brien 81 Olqrk NIX
In response to the request or the comlnueee, Mt
Clark agreed to produce all the hrms o9oks' pa.
Nors and contracts in reference to the Aqueduct
work ---- .-.oorr
SOME TESTIMONY FROM DE LANoEY NlCoLL
De Lancey Nicoll was next called. Whlie wale-
ing for him the counsel submitted as evidence
the various records Of Che Legislative COM
mttees in charge of the Aqueduct DILL
Mr.. Nicoll was then asked about The squire
Flvnn Indictment, and if he had had talk
with Hill on the matter He said he dld, aIoer
learning from Messrs Newcombe, lngersou ana
Strahan that they intended to have the prosecu-
ton of the case placed in the hands OF the Al
torney-General of the State. The Governor told
him that the Distrct-Attorney's office had the
Confidence of the people and should prosecute the
case Mr. Nieoll discussed the case at length
with Hill whom he found decidedly IN favor OF
pushing the prosecution. Later on the Governor
asked why these cases were not pushed ana WAS was
the Governor became still more urgent People
were saving that he waS protecting Squire ana
he wanted to get rid Of this imputation as QUICKLY
as possible "This' added Mt; NieoI' was JusS
Hin did not intimate then bow he intended 70 act
on application for Squire's removal by the Mayor;
The investigation was then adlourned unul
Saturday at 10 o'clock, when it is said Maurice
3. Flynn will testify.
GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF BONDS
Washington April 23.The Secretary of the Treasury
to-day at noon opened proposals for the sale OF bonds