New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-08
OTEER WORK Nv JERSEY CITY.
TIE FOUR COMMISSIONERS ON TRIAL
rrcr,uovv RrropE JUDGE LIPPINCOTT-Tow
STREET CLEANING CONTRACTS WERE
AWARDED

AWAkDED
The trial OF Commits Sloncrs Kern, lIiard. Reynolds
and Watt, the E; Four" combination Of the Jersey
CIV Iuarl Of Public Works, for malfrasancc, was
continued YESTERDAY In that city in the Court OF General
SESSION, bcicr Judge Lippncott The testimony was
rtcrcsting as q showed tho methods by which that
lcparmcnt Of The city government has been coniuced
The evidence on first day proved that there were
men on rIe department pay rolls who were otherwise
employed. one named Richard Dooley was wat"hmah
I'm the employ Of thu Pcnnsy lvania Railroad Company
and his hours Of duty were from p. m until u a M
vet he found time work for the ely from a. m. until
3 p III. and draw full pay. He did not hesitate t"
swear that he able to got along with two hours
sleep daily for months Another witness named
smith testified HAT while he was IN the employ Of the
United states Government a Caugor he found time
10 work for the city and work full lime. DOOlcy and
smith are handy at primaries, as we'll as expert
election officers.
The strs.t cleaning contract, which is considered
one Of the biggest plus In the pudding was the first
subject considered after tho court opened yesterday
morning After the contract has been AWARDED By the
board Of Public Works It CUES To the Board Of Finance
for concurrence. The bids for c"aning STREETS ranged
from - 10 go a mile. Tho contract was awarded t"
Lawrence Carey the latter price, although the bid
Of bernard stanley, responsible mar who does
great deal Of work the Pcwsy ana Railruad Com
pany was 80 a mile. Martin lnck the clerk Of the
Board wa, unable 10 explain Why the Big Four
picked our Carey from several others whose bids were
the same his, Tie minutes Of the meeting show'd
that alter alleged combination was formed all the
committees appointed by President Kern were com
pp,c>i Of Watt Reynolds and billiard, with tie pres-
dent ~ all eN .OfiiCiO member. Commissioners Van
Keurrn and Somcrs were left out In the cold. For
months the minutes showed that every resolution
adopted had thu votes Of Kern. Watt billiard and Rcy
uold- I'm the Affirmative aud Van Keurcn and somcrs
In the negative.
The examination OF James VI. Brann, clerk TO the
chief cnCiTrer disclosed The loose methods OF trans
acting business. The witness shown proposal
& Dennis Byrnes. which had the names OF Patrick
II Cosgrove and Michael Mullery as bOndsmen He
admitted that the bid IN his handwriting. The
signatures Of the bidder and the bOndsmen and the
AFFIDAVIT Of the latter were IN writing which bore a
striking resemblance 10 that in the body N the doci-
ment. Brann gave his testimony with GOODNESS and
elaboration.
Q.-Do you know Dennis Byrnes7 asked District
Attorney Winiicd. Al do.
Q.-Do YOU know hi, bo"damcn, Cosgrove and Null
Odd liyrTo, and his bondsmen sign this bid and
the a"davts attached A.-Ihcy did. SAW them
~ Don't you know that you drew that bid; that
you signed lyrn"s2 name l." H. anu tha you SRho'
| III" names Of tn" Iondamcn 10 the ahdavtS your
selt7
Rraun seemed confused for a moment. and finally
| admitted that he had signed tie names, but said he
did it 10y their authority. Cosgovc was called to tho
stand Immediately aftcrwad, aud denied that he had
his name AIullrry declared positively that lie had
| signed his 10 the paper, but when his attention
was called the difference between his signature
that another payer, he said he authorized Brann
| to sign for him.
| Odd Won also authorize him 10 sign your name
! 10 yOur afiidayit, asked Mr. Winfield. Al did.
Q-Werr you present wlcn you made the affidavit
The audience burst into rJar OF laughter during
which the answcr Of the witness, II he made any,
lost. Byrncs called to the stand and whom
| huntcd with COSgrovc unable 10 say whether he
| was his iundSna not. On being pressed lie turned
10 CU>ErUve ,nd IN sarp vhiSp'!. which wa heart
all The court room, asked plcHilngy, What Will
| | say, Cos grove Help me out
The case was clUrd for the state during the after.
noon, and Counselor Ncdcublrgh opened for the de
| fence lie claimed to he able 10 prove cOncIu>rcS
that his clients innocent Of tue charges alleged
| against them. The trial will be resumed to-day
| From the statements Of Chief Gaug"r Charles ii.
| Custom House Il would appear that when Smith, tho
Gaugcrs laborer testified yesterday that he was paid
| he pcriurcd himself The Officers OF the Gaug'r's
BuN al tai he regularly REPORTED and discharged
his duties on evcgy day for which he WAS paid, from
| October Is-6 Wien lie secured his place. That
work for The general GOVERN ent, employing the
lime for which he received pay from tho Government
IN working for jersey City, II IS Said can be, and VIII
| Le ahundantly proved.
| surveyor Eeati" In reference ~ the newspaper
| ports about tie matter adires 'cl communication
| 20 Mr knight n which he ordered that tho casc be-
| urtil the result vas known. Mr.. Ecattc Informed
collector ErIard Of this action. The investigation
| I'm the promptly held In the Surveyors Office
| smith heIng present. large number OF his fellow
| worRmen testified that the man reported regularly
! for his duty under the Government. Smith himself
| ,tatcd that he he worked for the Jersey Chy
| friends out OF y ho".7 The result Of tho invest
| CATION male known To the Collector Smiths