Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-28
THE s1s, 900 FEE.
Testimony or witnesses Show tina
Colonel O,Byrne slad quite n sssof
Snap.,,

| -
Testimony OF Witnesses show that
Colonel O'Byrne alad quite N ssS0fr
snap.''
brought out yesterday week in tire dock
department investigation, the New York
papers devote considerable space to evil
dence respecting the payment, by the
Oyster Dealers Association, of fee Of
$l3 900 to Dol. John O'Byrne, formerly Of
this city, ostensibly for counsel services
b t, inferentially, for the purpose of in
tiuencing legislation in Albany. In
neither direction, as far as the gist OF the
evidence submitted goes, was much
accomplished, and the examination
failed to show with any definiteness what
Colonel O'Byrne had done to earn the
money. The principal witness, James
W. Boyle, teBtifisd that 0'Byrne did not
60 to Albany in the interest Of his clients,
SO far as he knew; that he was not sure
that he drew up their bill; that he ap.
peared before the dock commissioners
three times and once made an argument
before the board, and that his clients
consulted him regarding the bylaws and
rules OF their association. Asked what
else O'Byrne did TO earn the $l3, 900,
witness replied: 81 don't know" Never
theleBs he swore that he regarded IL "a
fair counsel fee." William Foster, treas
urer Of the association, in reply TO the
question "Who said $4,000 was neces-
sary TO get the bill passed ?" replied: 81
think II was the presented of the aesocia-
tion." MIR. Foster also thought the SER
vice worth the money.
The Investigation by the New York city
commissioners Of accounts OF tho pay
ment by New York oystermen Of $l3, 900
to John O'Byrne, Esq, TO get an oyster
bill passed by the legislature, was con-
tinued Thursday. Colonel Michael o.
Murphy, state senator, thus testified:
Il introduced tne Oystermen's bill in
the senate at the request Of James W.
Boyle. l never egked any member OF the
legislature to vote for il. According to
custom handed tho bill to the then cor
poTstion counsel, MIR. Beekpian, who was
in Albany, and he amended the bill so as
to make the oystermen's privilege re-
vccable at the option of the dock board.
| had no conversation with MIR. Boyle
beyond his saying that the bill was in
the interest of the oyetermen. paid no
further attention to the bill beyond vot-
ing for it. never saw M. Boyle at Dol
onel O'Byrne's office. l don't know
where his office is. l will say right here
that il the oyster merchants think that
their money had anything to do with
passing the bill they are grossly deceived.
l look upon the abstraction OF that
money as one Of the foulest crimes ever
committed. The money did not go for
legislation. II was o simple bill. 1t gave
no new powers"
Mr.. Foster, On oysterman, declared his
belief at one tims that the Sl3,0 had
gone for counsel fees" adding: "But
think now we were skinned it was a
grand roast-an oyster roast"
William M. Negus, secretary OF the
Oystermen's Association, said the Sl3 ,0gO
was divided up according to the space
occupied by the oystermen. Messrs.
Boyle, Shafer, Merrill and Frazer, as o
committee, had reported that Colonel
OByrne would take care of the bill for
$4,000, payment contingent on SUCCESS.
The hearing was adjourned until
today.