The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-25
BOOKS BURNED UP.
- =
Ex.street and Water Com
missioners' Trial Resem-
Fbles the Trenton In
vestigation.
BY 'ls. ON THE RACK
Sehe4 -
he Tells Why Bills We're Sent in
for Small Amounts What
- asphalt Pavement Costs.

VI Tilt
Board Commissioners. Prosecutor Win
field began an inspection of the books OF
the Jersey. City Supply Company as 10
its dealings with the city in the mattef
of the supply Of oils. etc.
He intended yesterday afternoon TO 40
this. and for that purpose subpoenaed
Mark Curley. one of the clerks IN tnat
D to bring the books into court.
When Curley took the stand late in the
afternoon he told the Prosecutor that he
had not brought the books because they
were not kept by him.
who keeps them?" asked Mr.. VIM
field.
Mary Collins was the reply.
OH we'll we will subpoena Mary" re-
Joined Mr.. Winfield. and h Asked
Anybody else keep these booksf'
Yes. Mr.. J.. Layerty."
Good" and t~urningAto the Assistant
Prosecutor requested him to make out q
subpoena for Laverty and one also for
Robert Davis. President Of the concern.
who. by the way. during this coiioouy
was leaning over the clerks desk. EVIL
IDENTIFY amused at the proceedings.
Now. Chief Ruggles." said Mr.. Win
Geld to that gentleman. please take the
stand and tell US if you have the speci-
~ <AS
during June. 1885,"
But Mr.. Ruggles hadn't e and what
was more. did not know where they were.
They were missing from his Office.
but is it not the practice to keep these
specifications in the Office of the Board
of Street and Water Commissioners"
Mr.. Ruggles replied that it was not.
Often the architect would only send a
copy to him for the use of contractors
md others: that the City Comptreller's
Office was the proper repository for
them"
The Chief Engineer was then asked to
figure. out the total price Of asphalt
/ pavement by the Barber and Trinidad
Companies the differenee between their
if the lowest bid had been accepted.
Mr.. Ruggles. not knowing the distances
to be laid requested time, and he was
given until this morning to prepare his
COST OF PILING.
The last witness OF Yesterdays Pro,
the piling in the Hackensack River for
the city during 1891 and 1892.
|, Where are your books?" asked the
Mr.. Connolly dived into his pockets and
fished put v greasy looking Wen
lumber and other material.
rs that alI?n asked Mr.. Winfield glanc-
i ing at the collection suspiciously.
Maid Then Ion ! throw no them ouh a Gaei ~
piled Nj. Connolly in an easy. conhdenti-
al tone, RS Ias@
tractor said that on an average his bills
S saaon' Me f Rad st Supplied IF s srs g 60 P f.
chain at T3k cents per pound. The Pros
{ eedter ikapounded the books and bills
land dismissed Mr.. Connolly temporarily
n %1~ ~ S,- - Iar~f ,IN wnnra nf
cE5A SLAP AT JERSEY CITY.
Contractor Patrick Connolly took his
first heaming on the jury. His pleasant
and cheerful manner in answering the
body of his trnthfulness. Many of his
answers amused the court, particularly
one in which. he said
payers. and I don't care whether I ever
DO any more work fol. it or not.
sanas Of dc dollars as Ho Of work sod for pl III g in the
Hsckensack River"' asked Mr.. Winfield.
Connolly said that he was engaged by
damaged by a stone Barge coiliding with
work Chief Engines Ruggles came to
him and asked hin what he would charge
to drive piles to support the water piIg,ss
for yellow pine from the Freeholders, and
Sc e. lite 5e a and fh SO work q iao5 f0f fe ser feS i nlfX a.
~ . p'- scA ( THE 4Ry' CLERK.
Now please explain why your bills to
for less than s5oo?" asked Mr.. Winfleld.
Well, sir the first time ! took my bill ~
Office the Clerk nearly kicked me down
stairs. He said, DO you wan to get us
ell indicted?' and 1 asked him to make
them out to conform with the law"
"Oh, what do I know about such things.
{ l haou It a4d the sb sasTk l. re ss, smean G0o of Work
:vided into sums of s4Ss and $3.50"
adj. and i did as I was told by the clerk
he replied. with a CHEEKY look at the
things out and ELECTED that the price or
piing was fair. The work was of y
mated. The water pipe supplying Jersey
City constantly nesas attention; and the
you can't tell what is to be done until
0 get into the work of driving piles
was allowed to, escape, much to his un-
dassois 6EI sV1HSssI ISMeTio SEWERS.
The next victim gwac Contractor p.
s o.cenngl sia who 70 ss Has asked No. 81 t. as ehars sea
i.soS feet in length. He, too, couldn't ex.
during the Prosecutors pr0dd1nE QueS-
lions wrfggled in his chair and looked
as uncomfortable as st. Laurent on his
griddsonas9When he was aliowed to go,
called as experts to show that the dis
lance charged by the contractor was in
accupRtelg stated and the price charged
for the work was excessive. The~force
of their Testimony was considerably
weakened when it leaked out that neither
had ever laid a sewer and that-~they
didn't precisely agree as to price and dist
]. ance.As 1eh
gpropglng this branch Of the s, testimony
Layerty," and braced himself to make a
minute inspection of the books of the
Jersey City Supply Company.
I'D aesa, BOOKS BURNED UP.
HsssWhere are the books of your COM
.paiiy which the subpoena directed you to
bring? p, began the Prosecutor, Sweetly.
BURNT up returned Laverty, in the
most matter-of-fact way.
The Prosecutortwas aghast.
s'What did you say? he shouted, after
b. had recovered from his surprise.
They were burnt up when DATES shop
aext door was afire. and we lost our
books.n
Now" resumed Mr.. Winfield, will
sryouG tell me why you sent five barrels
cfAcastor oil to Bellevilie?"
Witness said because they were or
TfWhat do they do with castor oil at
BeIleyille?" asked the puzzled Prose
cutor.
"For use On the betting, 1 suppose"
Then when-the witness was asked why
the supply company charged more than
the regular market price for oil. he said
49, ho1 - 1919 g. -