The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-26
THE DEFENSE RESTS
End Of the Weary Trial Of
the Ex-Street and Water
Commissioners in
Sight.
PHIL MULDooN JUSTICE
He Just Decided by Himself That
the Sidewalk Law Would Not
Hold = MI. Corbin's
Opening.

A TrappiSt Monk couldn't nave kept
his gravity yesterday afternoon in the
Court of Oyer and Terminer trial of the
old Street and Water Board. when the
doughty ex-Sidewalk Inspector sPhlr'
Muldoon was on the stand explaining
the arduous character of his duties. 1t
was the first CLEAN of zeal unadulterated
fun to enliven the dullest Of dull pro-
ceedings. Prosecutor Winfield had just
called out in stentorian tones, Philip r.
Muldoon." when that individual walked
trembling to the witness chair His face
was q. deep red and he mopped his face.
IN which stood big drops of perspiratlon-
Nevertheless he braced himself for the
| coming ordeal and shifted a large quid OF
tobacco from his right cheek to the left
and looked pleadingly at the stern Prose
! cutor who was diligently searching
among his papers for information per-
tanning to sidewalks.
"What is your business? began Mr..
Winfield.
Cigars"
How long have You been in that bust
ness?"
T~wenty-seven years"
'Were you appointed Sidewalk 1nspec-
tor in 1872
Eyes sir"
Now please tell us what your duties
were
Clearing his throat and transferring the
tobacco to the other side of his mouth.
Muldoon said he served notices on prop
erty owners to fix their sidewalks
"How many notices did you serve?"
"Oh. thousands" quickly replied Phil.
delighted that everything was going on
smoothly.
"Ah. indeed! Are you guessing or have
you data to prove that?' purred the
Prosecutor.
mo! 1 don't think so. I reported to
the board." and then he muttered some
thing about the law on the subject or
sidewalks mot holding water"
sWho sat in judgment with you on that
statute?', asked Mr.. Winfield with a
queer smile which terrified poor Phil. and
he fdgetted about. turned red but didn't
reply.
You suddenly. then adjudicated that
the statute wouldn't hold water. After
you overruled the law what did You do?"
Still no audible reply.
"By what authority did you serve these
notices?" demanded the Prosecutor in his
bantering way.
PHIL'S AUTHORITY.
Poor Muldoon wriggled about and at
last sputtered out Just on a bluff"
daughter in which Justice Lippincott
and the jury joined).
Have you anything to show what you
did month by month";"
month by which," asked the puzzled
Muldoon amid another burst Of laughter.
The Prosecutor then threw on the
table in front of the witness, six heavy
- - rrrs{1 cr1n1
a frightened look that another laugh FOL
Lowed.
Now. show us what you did?" said the
relentless Prosecutor. turning over the
leaves; but Muldoon hopelessly bewil-
dered. said
Il don't know who entered In these
books. They have nothing to 10 with
me- a reply which %convuised the audi
ence. and the Court vainly ~endeavored
to maintain it's composure.
"What did you DOR again demanded
Mr.. Winfield.
Il notified people on C-ommunipaw ave
nue.. About zoe. 1 think"
Tell us one person you served?"
We'll. there's Seth Bapcock. ana ne
has never beer known 70 Ix anything IN
That's one. Wno next" said Mr..
Winfield. wlping mis- eyes.
'Dr. Edge"
1--WE, proceed"
PILLS PERFORMANCES.
st lave a list here OF some people"
he said. and was ABOUT TO read from a
slip of paper. but the Prosecutor stopped
him by asking il the list was made at
the time of the service. Muldoon said he
took them out of his head a day or W
the little corner store on Grove street,
well. you lave told Us TWO people
you served. Go on" urged the Prose-
Il told the West Shore Railroad. the
Pennsylvania and the Tabernacle"
"Ah. indeed, quickly ln5erpossd the
1 tell at the Ta~bernacle?o
PHIL GUT THE JOB.
was the tHesv Vague nu~ reply ; and sdft then. as # the
With a ! broad smile. Z got the job to TX
the sidewalk" Gaughter).
s,That makes five you served. Let us
nave some more. pursued Mr.. Winfield.
BY this time Muldoon was bathed in
pfrS bis tormen aor &p h,s ap9aea more s amuses
defendants were enjoying themselyes
After another effort to recollect names
he ratified off Denny Reardon, pr.
Adams on the Hill. Phil Martin,
| G. Brown. Mullone and Roche.
II object to this line" interrupted Mr..
Corbin. II cannot see how Il is reie-
why. i suppose ruled the Court,
sthe object is TO show that services
were not performed"
sExactly," nodded the Prosecutor. who
| continued his proddihg process.
Nov. Mr.. Mufdoon, after the notice
was served and the owner didn't repair
his sidewalk, what did you do?"
went round and gave him another
responded Phil with al I'ye-got-hinl-there
."supposing after hat he didn't repair.
what them"
Served him with anoth.r
.Then what did you do if ne didn't
respond to that?'
oh. let him go at that" Roars Of
aAnd for these highly important ser
vices you received one hundred dollars a
month"; was Mr.. Winield's final dig at
MAYOR wANsER INTERVIEWED.
Mr.. Gilbert Collins then undertook to
set Muldoon's services IL their best light.
and in esponse to skillfully put Inquiries
the ex-Sidewalk Inspector said that
five months: but being convinced that
Muldoon was really accomplishing good
results with his notices, returned him
his arrearages of pay.
yes" added Mr.. Muldoon proudly,
and / had 5000. 900 worth Of work done.
When streets were repaved. I saw that
the sidewalks were fixed and remained In
the streets until the work was done.
your son attends toSthe cigar bust
show that the cigar store was q side
4Simpoftantsduties at the Sidewalk Inspec-
iffarEN$&