Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-13
sUB-NSPECTOR O'BRIEN.
Examined by the Military Court of In
Quiry.
HE ADMITS THAT HE ACTED As TrMK-KKKPER FOR
THE CONTRACTORS AND RECEIVED PAY FROM
THEM FOR HIS SERVICES AT THE RATE OF ONE
DOLLAR PER DAY.

Jerry Morton, colored, was the first witness
before the military court of inquiry investigat-
ing the aqueduct tunnel after the noon recess
yesterday. He il q laborer, and was employed
in 1886 a cement carrier in the aqueduct
tunnel During the present year he had
mixed cement at Champlain avenue shaft
He only worked there for four or five days
Colonel Kirlin instructed him as to the proper
tons of sand and cement. He told him to put
three barrels Of sand to three bags of
cement. He always used the same guam
titles Witness said he was 80 rushed
that at times he had to send the mortar to the
bottom of the shaft before it had been properly
mixed. He frequently asked Mr.. Palmer, one
Of the sub-contractors, to give him some one to
assist him, but there was no help given him.
INSPECTOR o'BRIEN ON THE WITNESS STAND.
The next witness was accorded more atten-
ton than the court was in the habit of giving
witnesses, and when he entered the room he was
gazed at with some curiosity. 1t was Thomas
O'Brien, the ex-sub inspector. Lieut. Davis
administered the customary oath, and I hen
OBrien went on to state what his work had
been previous to June last, when
he was appointed as inspector in
the tunnel by Lieutenant Townsend His
first work was in Champlain avenue east, and
about zoo feet was done under his supervi-
sion- 1t commenced about 800 feet east of
the shaft. Then he went to Howard Univer-
sity and began about 800 feet west of
the shaft, and continued for $50 feet east.
From there he went back to Champlain ave-
nue. east and inspected about IS feet. Then he
returned to Howard University and finished up
quantity of work near the shaft. Witness re-
ceived his instructions as to duty from Col. Kir-
lin. but he was not provided with copy of the
specifications. Witness carried out the instruc-
tons to the best of his ability. He stood
up on the scaffold and watched both
bricklayers and packers The packers laid
the stone in courses and mortar was laid on
each course Of stone. 1t was the invariable
up before the packers were allowed to do their
work. 1t was
POSSIBLE FOB THE PACKERS TO LEAVE HOLLOW
SPACES
in their work, because the inspector could
not always see them. Witness said
the smoke often prevented him from seeing the
packers when they were feet distant. When
ever he looked at the packing it appeared to be
all right. He did not think he could tell, from the
distance by which he was separated from the
packers, whether the work was being properly
done. Col. Kirin ordered witness to sort out
stone, and that sometimes took him
away from inspection. There was
no contractors foreman present where
witness was at work. He did not know who
was foreman. There were places in Howard
University shaft where the
PACKING OVER THE KEY WAS DRY.
He permitted that when mortar was scarce.
Witness said that he took the workmens time
in Howard University shaft. He had heard Con-
tractor Palmer tell the men to hurry their work
up. The contractors paid witness for acting
as time keeper. They paid him dollar a day.
he never received any other recompense than
that. Witness could not account for the vacant
spaces which had been discovered in work
inspected by him. He could not al
ways see how the packing was being
done, but he did not report his inability to see
the packer. He could almost always get to
within AZ feet of the packer. 1t was possible
for an entire center, or two or three centers, to
be without packing over the key without wit
ness being aware of it.
O'BRIRN CRoss-ExAMINED.
On cross-examination by Capt. Chester wit
ness said that he had no suspicion at any time
that bad work was being done. He did notreport
to the chief inspector that he had allowed certain
packing to go in without cement. Witness had
been employed as an inspector for a couple of
days when he became timekeeper for the con-
tractors. Col. Kirlin consented to the arrange
ment, and said it was
NO MORE THAN THE OTHER MEN WERE DOING
Mr.. Palmer made the proposition to witness.
The contractors paymaster or Mr.. Palmer
handed him the money when the other men
received their wages
Cross-examined by Lieut. Townsend, witness
related the conversation which took place at the
time when he agreed to act as time-keeper
Witness had asked Palmer to send foreman to
the place where he was inspecting, and both Pal
mer and klrl1n said that witness could perform
the duties Of foreman. Witness construed Col
knhn's suggestion into an order, and from
that time until he was discharged acted as fore