Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-29

EXAMINES ONE OR TWO NEW ONES, AND THEN
CLOSES ITS CAsE-BRIG.-GES NEWTON. OF THE
ENGINEER CORPS, CALLED TO THE STAND.
The examination of Subcontractor Palmer
continued after The Stars report of the Ly-
decker court-martial closed yesterday after
noon. On cross-examination Mr.. Swift spent
some time in an effort to straighten out the re-
lationship between kirlin and the witness He
seemed to have a clue to some financial transac-
tions between the two, for he repeatedly asked
Palmer if Kirlin had ever borrowed money
from him or his father or if either of them
had borrowed from Kirlin. To all questions of
this character, however, Palmer's answers were
steadily in the negative.
PALMERs PAYMENTS TO oBRIEN.
Mr.. Swift gave him an opportunity-which
the judge-advocate had not cared to present
to tell the story of his payments to O'Brien.
This, he said, was not like the payments to the
other sub-inspectors, the result of a custom or
precedent in the tunnel. Before O'Brien went
to work he heard him say that he did not like
| the idea of going down in the tunnel for SIS
month. Witness told O'Brien that he thought
that he would like it better after he had been
down there a while. Then. after a few DAYS. he
told O'Brien that if Lieut. Townsend and Kir-
lin had no objection he would pay him the diff
between ana q mOntn Tor Keep
ing the time of the men. He denied. however,
that he handed him the money personally.
NEVER SAW THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE WORK HE
CONTRACTED TO DO.
Lieut.-Col. Flagler asked the witness if he
had ever been shown a copy of the specifca-
tions.
mo, sir
'On what, then, did you base your estimate
OF the price OF your sub-contract?"
Il depended on Mr.. Brennan's judgment for
that as he had been on the work before"
what was your idea of doing the work, il
you had no specifications to go from?''
Il don't know. except knew that was to do
the work well. l thought that the work was TO
be done as would have it done if was an in
spector myself"
MORE TESTIMONY AS TO BAD WORK.
The next witness was Henry Laycock, who
was sworn with his left hand up, his right being
in sling. Henry stated that his residence was
on 7th street; he did not know the number; it
was SIX or seven miles out. He was bricklayer
and worked on the tunnel. and occasionally did
little packing. His testimony was but cor
roborative of the bad work in the lining. He
had several times heard Emery tell the men to
throw the stones in dry i'll the hearing of the
sub-inspector, who frequently saw bad work
done. The witness had never seen any pack
ing done in a proper manner. He did not know
either Lieut.. Townsend or Major Lydecker by
sight.
PHENOMENAL sUB-INsPEcToR.
The court was next treated to a genuine sur
prise in the shape of a sub-inspector. who had
evidently made an honest effort to have good
work done. His name was Samuel Harper,
and he told his story with a directness and an
evident truth that, after he had gone. caused
the court to shake their heads and sigh. 1t
seemed relief to them. This witness had
seen Lieut.. Townsend in the tunnel about six
times and Major Lydecker not over twice.
INSPECTOR LUCAS ON THE STAND.
The court probably thought that another
Harper had come to the stand when Inspector
Thomas Lucas long, white beard was seen, as
its owner entered the room and settled into the
witness chair with an ease bred of long famil-
iarity with the court of inquiry. His state
ments, however, did not carry ont this hope,
for he soon testified that very bad work had
been found in his sections. But he did not
think that anyone could have detected this bad
work. The men worked while the sub-inspec-
tors were not there, but he did not report the
fact. He received SIS month from the gov
ernment, and 80 cents an hour from the con-
tractors for over time. He had seen Lieut..
Townsend in the tunnel frequently, and Mai.
Lydecker not so often. He supposed that the
lieutenant told the ajor everything that was
going on. When the major did come he added,
he always gave the work a most thorough in
spection."
Lucas was still on the stand when the court
adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.
Upon reconvening this morning the Judge
| advocate went out among the crowd of wit
nesses outside of the door and called in all of
| them who had testified Yesterday They filed
in some Of them bringing chairs with them
! and took seats around the courtroom, where
they remained with their eyes glued on the
major while he read the voluminous proceed
ings.
Gen. Crook suggested that the witnesses be
warned to make any corrections they wished.
This was communicated to them and the read
ing went on.
Gov. Boutwell, and Mr. Swift did not appear
at first, and for a time Major Lydecker sat
| alone In his uniform at the table in the corner.
WITNESSES RECALLED.
Shortly after IL o'clock Theodore Harbeck
was recalled to the stand. His name was YES
terday given as Harpy, but this was due to his
dialect. The judge-advocate asked him for the
court what he meant by, his testimony yester
day that after September, 1887. the work
| changed from bad to good. Theodore replied
that he heard the Kendall boys had made COM
plants of bad work being done and the in
spectors were more strict after that.
Sub-inspector Boyce was also recalled at the
request of the defense. Gov. Boutwell, asked
him several questions about the details of the
work. The witness stated that he used to set
the profles ahead of the gang. and for this re-
| ceived pay from the contractors. The court
| asked him whose duty il was to take the pro-
files. the United States or the contractors
Boyce thought that it was the duty of the
United States, but could give no satisfactory
reason for taking pay for it.
There was quite wait for the arrival of the
| stenographer who took the testimony after the
recess yesterday, and when he came. at ii As,
| the judge-advocate began reading again.
LIEUT.. TOWNSEND RECALLED.
After the recess the judge-advocate stated
that there were two witnesses that the court
desired to recall to ask a few questions, and
| that Gems. Newton and Duane were here and
wished to get through with their testimony as
| soon as possible This caused the court to
| postpone the reading of the testimony, Lieut..
Townsend was recalled, and Col. Whittemore
| asked few questions as to the system of in
| spection To Col. Comstock the witness stated
that he had understood that the packing was
| being done by stone-masons according to the
| specifications.
| To Col Flagler he said that he thought that
| the sub-inspectors understood fully the
| character of the packing to be put behind
the lining after the change from dry packing
| to rubble-masonry.
Col Piper took some time to write out ques-
| tion asking how long the night work continued.
| The reply was from June or july 1883, until
piece of bad work was discovered that had been
done at night under O'Brien, about two
| months later.
INSPECTOR OF THE NIaur wopu