The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-08
charged. MeElroy knew this when he

W
charged that did.
In support of his allegations that fur
nished the state the brick and states for
the north aud south wings, he introduces
the testimony OF one John &. Vincent OF
Grand Rapids; and although this man
Vincent in the affidavit marked Exhibit
b" In the Free Press of Oct. 3 fails TO
state absolutely that the brick and states
were purchased from me, decided that
would take Mr.. McElroy's own witness.
therefore submit herewith tho affidavit
OF John &. Vincent as follows, and
marked
EXHIBIT A.
State Of Michigan, County OF Ingham. IS.
John G. Vincent. being duly sworn, de-
poses and says that he is ana has been for
many years a resident OF Grand Rapids
Mich, and that i'm the years 1884 and 1885 he
was member OF the firm of Farr a Vincent,
contractors and builders, and that during
said years said firm had the contract for con-
structng, aud did construct the buildings
| known as the north and south wings OF the
main building of the Michigan School for the
Blind located at Lansing, Mich: that he has
| carefully read the Detroit fr0e Press OF Oct.
3, 1890, and the charges therein made by
j. Il. McElIoy against Mr.. James W. Turner.
then local member of the board OF control
for said School for the Blind. In which Nc
Troy charges that Vincent or the firm OF
! tarr Vincent was required by the said
| Turner 10 purchase brick and other materials
from him. the said Turner, and also charg-
| inc that by such requirements the buildings
| were made much more expensive than other
| wise.
This deponent insists that all such charges
against Mr, Turner made by the said McEl-
roy are wholly baseless aud without any
foundation whatever, and that any state
ments OF the kind rejecting upon the char
acter of Mr.. Turner are simply outrageous,
and doubtless inspired by malice. This de-
| ponent states tho fact to be that some time I'm
the month OF June or July, 1883, there appeared
| In the Chicago Tribune, Detroit Evening
| News and Lansing Republican an invitation
10 contractors, issued by the board OF con-
| troll OF the Michigan School for the Blind, re-
| QueSting bids 10 be submitted for the con-
struction and completion Of the north and
south wings OF said school for the
blind; that in pursuance to such in
! Yitation this deponent, under the
! firm name Of Far q Vincent, submitted
bid or tender for the work; the same 10 be
| completed In accordance with the plans and
| specifications prepared by William II. Apple
| yard, architect; that this deponent appeared
at meeting OF the board held July 81, 1883
| at which were present Gov. Josiah ".
Begoe. Townsend North, Tom s. AppleGate
| ard James NJ Turner. The various bids
were opened, and il was here that this de-
! ponent trst met the said James NJ. Turner,
against whom the allegations are fled by the
/ said McErOy. That this deponen. was in
! troduced 10 MIR. Turner In the presence Of
the above named gentlemen, and that any
| and all conversations had with him were
had in the presence of the governor and the
| board as above described. That upon tue
| opening Of the bids the tenders were as fol-
| lows: For furnishing all materials and COM
| pletion Of work:
| Farr & Vincent, Grand Rapids. .s57.s56 90
| Collins Jeynes, Detroit. .......... 5S.Oi0,OO
| Fuller q Wheeler, Lansing. ..... 64.6i6.S7
| richard Glaistcr, Lansing ......... 70,i90U
Martin * billiard, Lansing. ... 49,. l,5j3.7S
That this deponent,o or his firm Of Farr s. Vim
cent, being the lowest bidders the contract
/ was awarded To them, and formally entered
| into between said firm and Josiah W. Be
gole Townsend North, Tom 5. Applegate
| and james NJ. Turner, comprising said
| board; the two buildings for the lump sum Of
| So, $500; which said formal contracts are
| now on file at said school FOR the blind: that
| after securing the contract for the construc-
| ton OF said buildings, es before men
| toned. this deponent on behalf OF hts firm
had conversation with one John Jordan
| OF Lansing, Mich. brickmaker. which re-
suited In the purchase by the said firm OF
| fsrr * Vincent from the said Jordan OF all
the brick required for tho construction OF
said buildings: that this deponent. or tue
| firm Of Farr & Vincent never bought Of
James NJ. Turner a single brick, nor had any
conversation with the said Turner in relation
thereto; that there was no suggestion before |
the letting Of said contract or after by the
said James NJ. Turner, or any other member
OF the board, as TO where he should purchase |
any kind of materials, or what price be
should pay tor the same; that on the con- !
trary he was always treated fairly by each |
and every member of said board and never |
coerced by MIR. Turner or any other member |
| IN relation to the purchase OF brick, or any |
other matter or thing: Aat all reports 10 the |
contrary by the said j. II. McElToy are scan |
dalous and malicious ana wholly de- |
void Of truth; that once having taken |
tho contract TO construct said build |
ings in accordance with the plans and |
specifications said deponent declares he was |
at perfect liberty, and lawful right 20 con- |
tract with the said James "; Turner, or any |
other person, for the materials necessary for |
cot ht,ff aud hot fhArn Ia
nothing in such an arrangement not fully in |
harmony with the statutes, as well as right |
and good conscience. as this depOnent had |
given sufficient aud satisfactory bonds for |
the construction and completion of said |
buildings. as provided IN the plans and speci- |
hcations, aud was not limited by statute or |
otherwise as to where the material should be /
procured.
This depouent states that his attention has |
also been called to "A copy OF an AFFIDAVIT al |
legged 10 have been procured from him and |
printed in said Detroit Free Press of Oct. J, /
1890, which said affidavit was procured from
this GepoaenJ by one jay L. Lee, attorney, |
Of Lansing, Mich. This depOnent states the |
fact 10 be that said affidavit was brought 10
him already prepared by the said Jay T. Lee,
and that IL was signed by this depJnent with
out full understanding of its contents.
This deponent further states that as totho
slate entering into the roofs of said build
ings, the specifications called for Bangor or |
Michigan Slatt 5, which permitted him TO use
Bangor, Penn, states; grade OF states
greatly inferiorto either ne Bangor, Me, or
Michigan states, that the architect IN charge
Of tho work stated TO this deponent that In
drawing the specifications he made mis-
take, or omission, in not writing tho specih-
cation Bangor, Me-, slate; thnt the
states from Bangor. Penn, AT the tirie could
be purchased laid down in Lansing at about
$3.50 or s. per square; while the states OF
Bangor, Me-. or Michigan were worth at
the regular market price at the same time,
$500 10 81 per square I. o. D. Lansing; that
with view 10 obtaining the best materials
for said buildings the said board of control |
Of said school for the blind decided TO rectify
the omission OF the architect In relation to
the slate; which change was carried out and
resulted in the placing of Michigan states on
the roofs Of said buildings.
This deponeut further states that the slate
so furnished was of the very highest quality
and greatest value, and much more than
worth tho difference (Which amounted 10
Sl.iO per squared between the price origin
ally agreed upon and the price nnally paid
this deponent by said board.
This deponent further states that all pay
ments TO him on account CT said states, or on |
account Of any other materials or work on
the said buildings, were paid To him on the |
regular audited vouchers OF said school Tor
the blind aud that each ana every one OF |
said vouchers were certified as correct by
j. +. McElroy, superintendent, the very
man who charges Irregularities in said pay
ments; and who, II my recollection IS cor
rect, was the first man 10 call attention to
the nferiority Of the Bangor slate which
was being delivered on the grounds.
JOHN c. VINCENT.
I hereby certify that j.. G. Vincent has
read the FOREGOING affidavit by him above
subscribed, and that he knows the contents
thereof and that he swears the same To be
y ~ GEORGE C. COOPER,
Notary Public In aud for lngham county,
Mich.