The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-26
PlttStOn'S Reform COunCIlmen Under The Glare
Of the Calcium Lights.
DONNELLY IS FLATLY ACCUSED
Ex-County Commissioner Thomas
English Says the Leading Reformer
Had Worked Up a Silent Partner
ship with a Wilkes Barre Man to
Bid on Street Paving, but the
Scheme Falls Through--Dis closures
Before the Burgess.
.sDecial TO the Scranton TriUan..


PITTsToN, Sept. 20.
GPHE investigation of the charges
of councilmsnic rottenness in
connection with the street paw
u ing contract was begun in the
town hall at o'clock this afternoon
before q large audience. The testi-
mony was taken before Il. A. Fuller,
of Wilkes Barre; Arnold Cohen.
stenographer. and E. w. Stark, notary
Of the public. Counoilmen Donnelly,
Mangan and McFurman. Of the Barber
Asphalt company. were sworn. Mr..
Donnelly testified that Mr.. Dun, Of
Dun Bros, brick contractors. had
called on him in July, before the com
mittee investigated paves. and made u
proposition whereby he, Donnelly, by
voting on a bid to be presented
by them, could become sill
ent partner Of the firm and realize
about 81 O00 On the junket with an
officer Of the Mack company he was
told that IL his pavement were adopted
he would make 1t interesting to the
extent OF $4,000. Had heard rumors
from certain councilman that he had
81. coo to distribute. Told him that il
ne did not keep away he would call a
policeman. Mangsn. Kennedy and
Knowles had told him that Townsend
had 81 900. Furman never offered him
any money. Have not heard of his
offering it to others.
Mr.. Mangan emphatically denied
ever having told Tom English or Cap
tain J. F. Flannery that he had seen
the amount of $12 900 in certified
checks in the possession Of Mr.. Fur
man. II he did he meant those pre-.
sented with the bids to the council as
an evidence Of good faith on the part
Of the company, admitted having &C.
cepted an invitation from Detective
James O'Brien, of the Lehigh Valley
railroad, to visit the latter in Wilkes
Barre. Upon arriving there found
Councilman Henry Knowles. M.
O'Brien wanted him (Mangsn) to get
members Of council together. At an-
other interview held in Curley's sa-
loon In Pittston later he (Mangan) was
given to understand that the Hallow-
wood block pave people were willing
to spend money.
Mr.. Furman denied point blank hav
ing ever offered, or suggested. either
directly or indirectly, any money oi
other consideration on condition thai
his company would be awarded the
contract This ended the testimony
for the day. The investigation will be
resumed tomorrow afternoon at
o'clock.
TOM ENGLISH REPLIES.
Concerning the statements made by
NJ. N. Donnelly while giving his testi :
mony before the investigating com
mittee. ref.cting on the integrity oI
OK. County Commissioner Thomas Eu-
glish, that gentleman last evening
said:
This is all / know about the case: Ton
McConvill, agent for the Mack Pavinl
company, told me that NJ. N. Donnelll
gave him tMcConvilD letter to Will
O'Malley. Of Wllkes-Barre, with the un
derstanding that O'Malley was to bid oil
the contract for paving Main street.
was alleged on the street that Donnelly
was TO be silent partner with O'Malle!
providing the latter secured the contract
/ told Donnelly in hi, office at Wilkes
Barre that the above statement
were currently circulated ON tn
streets. He denied 1t. Edward
Frey, the well known Wilkes. Barr
architect vas present at the time. ant
after Donnelly's denial said; "Mr. En-
glish's statement is tiue. heard 20,
| (Donnelly and O'Malley) make the agree
ment." After Mr.. Frey's remark Don
nelly admitted that he and OMalley di
have such an agreement, but said .it wa
before he lDonnely) became councilman
0'Malley did not bid on the pave, as CON
plications arose with tho Mack compan
which forced the latter to drop the Don
nelly and O'Malley combination and tax
up Dun Bros., Of Scranton.
Mr.. English further stated that b
regards the voracious statements mad
by Donnelly as sn attempt to throw
mud on other citizens In order to scree
himself.