The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-13
INSPECTOR O'BRIEN DID NOT SEE IT.
The Bad work in the Tunnel Done be
hind His Back.

When THE EVENING PosT's report Of
the tunnel investigation closed yesterday,
Inspector O'Brien, the one whose work
was pronounced criminally bad, was on
the stand. He testified that owing to
the close quarters in which he had to
work II was sometimes impossible to see
how the packing was done. He never
knew of an instance where no stone at
all was put on top Of the arch. He was
frequently absent. however. sorting out
stone.
In answer 10 q question as to why he
should sort out stone when he was
placed there as an inspector, he said he
was ordered by Col Kirlin to do it,
There was dry packing done at times,
but only when they ran out of mortar
There were no open spaces left. He was
time-keeper for the masons and packers
and usually started them to work. he
had heard Contractor Palmer hurry up
the work. He had received money rs
compensation for keeping time for the
contractors, being paid 81 q day. He
could not account for the vacant spaces
found in his work. He had no suspicion
at any time that bad work was being
done. He also stated that Col. kirlin
was perfectly aware that he was looking
after the contractors interests.
Col. Kirlin had told him he might
oversee the men, and he construed 1t as
an order to do so. He did not think Col.
Kirlin knew he was receiving pay for 1t.
Close cross-examination only brought
from the witness expressions OF complete
innocence and surprise that bad work
had been found in his bailiwick 1t was
| certainly done while his back was turned
and without his knowledge.
To-day's Session of the Court.
At to-day's session of the Military
Court, which commenced at 1880 this
morning, Edmund +. Fisher, o sub.in-
spector, was examined. He worked at
/ Foundry Branch and Rock Creek, and
| his only duty was to supervise the laying
| of the stone side walls. The witness was
not examined at great length.
John B. Rowzee was next sworn. He
was a carriagemaker by trade. and said
he was not mason. However, he had
been a sub-inspector on the masonry and
stone work of the tunnel. He was given
instructions as to how the work should
be done and was told to see that the stone
in the packing was imbedded in cement
He saw that the packing was well done,
that cement was used and no large stones
put in or holes left.
When asked if he was certain this had
been done he replied that he knew the
work was carried on in the manner de-
scribed. There were no vacant spaces
left over the key of the arch, to his
knowledge. 1t might have been posi-
Bile for the workmen to have left few
vacant spaces, but it could not have oc-
Cured very frequently, as he was con-
stantly on the spot Upon two CT three
occasions he caught the packers trying to
slight their work, and, upon reporting
them, they were discharged.
Several times the brick masons would
try to do bad work, but he caught them
at it and they were discharged and the
work done over. He supposed their
motive was because they were working
in an unpleasant place, where the water
was dripping on them, and they wished
TO get through and away. Instances
were also discovered where attempts We're
made to use dry packing, but he had the
stone taken out and set in mortar and
the workmen discharged for their neg
lect.
Witness had never received money
from any outside parties, his only pay
being from the Government Witness
,had seen Lieut.. Townsend in the tunnel
about once week, and upon those occa.
sions the Lieutenant would examine the
I work aud give instructions. Witness had
never seen Maj. Lydecker in the tunnel
in fact, he would not have known him
had he seen him.
During the investigation of the tunnel
by Lieut.. Townsend some time since. nc
bad work was found in Rowzee's section
and no charges of bad work have ever
been made against him. He gave his
testimony III a sincere way, and after he
had gone out the Court remarked upon
the fact that the best work in the tunnel
was under a man who was not mason
but a carriage-maker.
There being no more witnesses, tn,
Court resumed the reading of testimony
taken at former meetings.