The morning call., 1890-06-07
STUFFED WALLS.
Mayor Pond Finds Rubbish in a
City Hall Pier.
The Commission Dscides to Appoint Com
mittee to Probs the Walls and
Ascertain the Truth.

missioners was held yesterday morning to in
yestgate The charges made by George r. Hanks.
a bricklayer that the walls Of the northwestern
wing of the New City Hall. now under cOnsIruc-
tion, are mere shells filed with dirt, broken
brick, sand and rubbish
Mhen Mayor Pond learned of the charges he
went Immediately TO the New City Hall and
directed that individual to point out places
where such walls had been built. Hanks dug out
q portion OF the Larkin- street wall In the pier
that joins the two wings. The inside and outside
faces consisted OF two layers Of brick, aud the
interstce was filed with pieces OF mortar, brick
and other rubbish, about enough to fill cement
barrel.
Another place in a subsidiary wall at Its end
was found in the same condition. only less so.
A third place also discovered, but it subse-
QuenIly transpired that it WAS Intended for
fue. number OF other places WAS opened but
found In good condition; but. according to the
assertion of Hanks, there are hollow places In
all the walls, and from his declarations the
Mayor believed that $4,000 worth OF work
had been avoided and a saving TO that extent
made.
HANKS STATEMENT
AfteT the Mayor had Inspected the walls,
Hanks made and signed the following written
statement:
1 was employed seven weeks on the Lark in-street
(northwesD wing Of the new City Hall under Nc
(arthy, Eiddell and NlcCaun, contractors. l know
that during this time the following pieces OF work
were iiled with dirt and rubbish o. All kinds in
stead OF beng SOlldly constructed OF Dricks
FtrSt-Larkin street front of northwest wing,
stcond-AIi the strip right up to McAuster,
where walls should be four feet thick, IL IS only
eight twelve inches OF briekwork around two
feet Of dirt In one place the dirt is three feet thick
l spoke TO McCarty once about it, lie said
.o---ii, no one will know anything about it
100 years from now"
Third have seen this dirt dropped in in wheel
barrows
blth fronts east and west and also Ia the cross wall
places where girders are anchored and filed in with
Filth-In one portion OF the wall, where there are
three arches, Large portion OF the wall fell down
about month ago in consequence OF the dirt which
was round anu above the arches giving no support
The ialeu WORK was replaced but the dirt left,
and props have been put in to hold up the work
estimate tadt counting all the art IN the Dlg
buttreSSeS and the different walls, something like
$4,000 bricks have been put in according
tract IN the work done during the time was EN-
ployed. In my Judgment the work in its present
condition is unsafe, the big gIrders properly
anchored, and all the part around them is liable to
fall down II any amount OF weight is put on them,
which there Will be.
HANKS THREATENING LETTER.
Hanks is a discharged emplove OF John Nc
Calthy, who has Il sub-cOutraet from McCdnn &
RlddeIl lie was discharged about TWO weeks
ago at the instance Of Robert Boyd, SuperIn-
tendent Of Construction, who alleges That lie was
incompetent. and after such dismissal threatened
to expose The contractors for alleged fraud In
lie construction OF The bIck work.
On May 3Oth he sent the following letter to
Contractor Mccarthy, which the latter submitted
for the enlightenment Of the New CITY Hall Com
mssiouers:
NJ. John AcCarthy-DEAR SIR: think you have
not treated me You should, and understand you
had something TO say. l think you have done
about enough rotten work on the new City Hail and
hole d-u lot frOtten work that yoI have been do
t.g for the past few months to the public Yours
P. S.-Before tomorrow IL O'Clock
When the commission met Mayor Pond and
Auditor Stroller were present. a large number
OF contractors ana employees were present, all e1-
pecIlng sensational developments. McCann &
Ridd=ll, the contractors for the work, aud John
Mccarthy, he sub contractor, we're also on hand.
AN INVESTIGATION SUGGESTED.
After some routine business The Mayor drew
attention 10 the charges, saying he knew uUtli-
ing regarding tie letter shown by Mccarthy, but
did know what lie had seen IN his inspection of
Tie walls He presumed that the best method TO
pursue, since the board must take cOgniZance OF
The charges, would be 10 appoint some compe-
tent man dtill the walls and ascertain whether
there Is any foundation for the charges.
The Mayor then Called up Hanks, who was In
the room, and he was sworn. Auditor Strotner
at once proceeded 10 question hln regard ng the
charge. He admitted That for three months the
corrupt work had been going on in the wing He
was laid of by Contractor Mccarthy lie would
not have made any complaint Hanks admitted
having written the letter 10 Mccarthy.
" What did you mean by saving that something
" Nothing" was Hanks reply.
well why did you say that?" asked Auditor
"0h, just put it on-hand," was Hanks re-
ply.
BoYD's STATEMENT.
Superintendent Boyd then stated that he was
ignorant OF anything wrong going on aud never
auy rubbish placed in The wall. This could
be done In his absence by running up tile outside
and inside wall, hiIiug III the rubbish and then
covering II over. II any Stuf1ng had been done
it could be easily discovered by drilling and
taking the walls down.
Mccain informed tie commission that II auy
OF lie walls had been nlled they would be taken
down. He asserted that The only pier in which
any rubbish had been discovered is the one
Which Hanks himself had lullf.
In answer 10 an inquiry from Mayor Pond,
Hanks denied having constructed it aud asserted
that Joseph Fitzgerald and two OF McCarthy's
sons Lad done lhe WOIH aud anew Of the stuffed
walls.
Upon demand of Au'iIor StrOher Fitzgerald
WIS sent for. lie soou came into the room ac-
comuanied by large number Of fellow en-
plles.
Fitzgerald Indignantly denied having had apy.
tllH- To- do with the pier. " l never buiit that
pei," he exclaimed with force. "aud any man
that says did Is a liar. Hanks built that pier
and knows all about IL. 1 never saw him shove
any rubbish INTO the wall" This statement
was corrobUrated by several otuer brick-layers.
AN INDIGNANT CONTRACTOR.
Mccarthy grew very Indignant and denOuuce ed
HduGs as 4 BLACK mailer. He claimed that his
reputation was spotless aud that lie lad been as
Sailed by villain.
fal-e no damage had been done; but, if true, il
would 20 hard with him. .
McCaun than informed the Mayor that he was
anxious 10 have the matter fully inquired into
He did not believe the walls are stuffed. except
la PLACES where Hanks himself had doue the
work. The work had been sublet 10 Mccarthy
who is under bonds and responsible. III The
walls are found 10 be built in the way alleged"
said McC9un. Il VIII tear them all down, no
matter low much II costs. / nearly tainted away
when heard of this thing, was SO astonished."
II was finally decided, upon motion of Auditor
Srrother, 10 employ au architect and compe-
tent mason 10 DIM the walls and ascertain the
presence OF rubbish. Hanks agreed 10 assist
Tie Mayor. This ended the matter, but after an
investigation by lie Mayor tie subject Will
again be taken up.
The Mayor stated that lie would not appoint
the committee uutll today, as he wanted to Sc
cure the best men 10 the city, but at once en-
poyed Hanks to accompany the committee on
lis tour Of inspection.
AN ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.
The conlraci under performance by McCann s.
for So9,53O and includes some OF the IRON
work. McCaFthy is doing tile DrlckwOrk for
La an Interview Mccarthy stated that the only
ciOoAed work had been done by Hanks bimseli,
whom he had befriended. at the lnstIgation OF
Hdnks' wife he had taken him on again, as she
said dey were STRIVING. This was IN the face OF
Superintendent BOyPs ORDERS SO far as the
WORK Was concerned, he feared nothing, and
ton.
II the walls are not satisfactory he would re-
place them, no matter what the cost might be,
lie chdiacteTiZed he charges as belug for black
mall, which would be found TO be true when The
matter Is Investigated. He also proposed TO
prosecute Hanks.
Superintendent BOYD stated that he believed
the whole thing was simply an attempt 10 eXtort
monty. de admitted that two places had been
stuffed bnt all other parts Of the wall had been
found good, aud in the former Instances The de-
fectS had beer where Hanks worked.
Thomas L. Beader, Richard MldSOn and Fred
StOrIner were also seen and stated that prior to
his discharge Hanks endeayored 10 induce them
TO stun the walls and then obtain money from
Mccarthy 10 prevent exposure. They ali indig-
nantly repeiled his proposition, but also stated
that he had said If the opportunity offered
lie would dtop brick on BOyds head because
he was always complaining about his work.