The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-05

PAYMENTS TO FORD.
Painter Kinnaird's Books
Give More Proof of State
House Rottenness.
BLAMING IT ALL ON MARTIN
Senator skirm's Cutting Attack on
the Witness = Corbin's
Cool Methods.
BLAMING 1T ALL ON MARTIN


TRENTON, April 5, 1S95.-Although it
was generally understood that the Voor-
hees Committee would produce some
startling disclosures this morning, there
was smaller number of spectators in
the Hobbies and galleries when Mr.. Cor
bin began the proceedings than there has
| been any day Of the INVESTIGATION.
Hugh Kinnaird, the Newark painter,
| who received such large sums for paint
ing the State House, was the first wit
ness. He said that he had been unable
to obtain any clue to the whereabouts of
Merrick Martin. who was his partner
during the time the work was done for
the State, and who conducted the nego-
tiations with Ford. He could give the CON-
mittee no information as to where Mar
tin now is. At the time of the partnership
Martin was indebted to him and was to
| receive a salary and a percentage of the
business which was to be applied upon
the Indebtedness.
Mr.. Corbin then put the screws on He
showed the bill of January, 1891, for
81, 7a2.oS, paid by the State and showed
the ledger where the same bill footed UP
in pencil s2,3sO13. To this latter amount
was added in pencil $41195. He asked the
Mr.. Kinnaird, in a very low voice, re-
piled that he could not. He left every
thing to Mr.. Martin, who he supposed,
was an honest man.
SYSTEMATIC FRAUD.
Mr.. Corb;n theu took the other bills
and showed by the books where they all
had been raised in a similar manner
The items in the raised billes were most
ly for natarials furnished and days
work dome. Mr. Corbin showed that the
bills for the State called for /, ,i20 pounds
more Of paint and nanety days more
labor than the books showed he had fur
ntshed.
Asked to explain how that came about,
Mr.. kinna.rd said he could not tell ur-
less, it was for material and other work
wiAlch was not charged; Mr. Martin
York and Trenton. He had been de-
BADLY CAUGHT.
Mr.. Corbsn then picked out a number
of items on the book for travelling eX-
penses and asked Mr.. Kinnaird if he
considered those legitimate charges to
s'CertaEnly I do replied Mr.. Kin1laird,
of town, We expect TO get our expenses" :"
.'Well Them said Mr.. Corbin, "h you
consider them legitimate charges, why
did you bill them to ti1s State as pounds
of paint and days work."
Are Eney entered CQdLl way asked
Mr.: Kennaird in great astan4sh1nent.
They certainly are, replied Mr.. Cor
bin, pointing out the items in the bill.
'.Tt was my bookkeeper's fault. replied
the rather crestfallen witness.
You had. better get more careful
bookkeeper," interposed Senator Voor-
hees.
Indeed had sir" replied the witness.
Wnen asked why Martin smade three
false entries and forced balances which
Mr.. Corb;n pointed out, he said, II will
n hi thn tO T n
think he would do such crooked work. -
ESpec1afy when you go to the CHECKS
for the money" dryly remarked Mr.. Cor
MORE DISCREPANCY.
The witness attention was next direct
ed TO a bill Of s4.262. Al, which the State
Carefully itenized for paint, etc, fur
nished, yet the only entry of the trans
action on the witness books was a single
was paid for the amount of paint and
labor. Mr.. Kinnaird was astonished at
the matter, and declared that he never
and this was the first time he had ever
FoRD's COMMISSIONS.
Mr. Corbin then attempted to point out
how Ford received his commissions from
Kennaird. He showed that whenever
Fsfeyed check neon fGm the stats
blank, on the stub of which were various
entres. Each stub bore the words for
X L.
Kennaird declared emphatieally that, he
got the money and put. it into his pocket.
His explanation, of that was that he
House, and as Martin was to get com
mission on the job, he took these amounts
out for his services, SO that Martin would
One of the .stulbs Mr.. Corbin read off
ITO Barney and asked the witness if
tha5 ob was no BaTniy repyed FIrd Rennaira that's
Barney that's 'Bainey,' Newark horse
dealer and and the faint al suspicion of
Tbsre @s5 crep' one items ms on the cash book
i was "store for s. $3.50" After the
at first read it Store for State House. .
Mr.. Corbin was questioning the witness
closely as to what it might mean, mean, when
Smith, then he bit his lips in ,vexation
as Mr.. Corbin exclaimed. That's. ii;
nigh, It not !, have been for the political
The witness said that could not be, and
stuck to the opinion, that IT meant store
that he sometimes made political con-
i'0O ''o-is BITTER TALK.
Senator SgkirTn was particularly severe
on l'sti1pe'i the witness. & After a long siege Of
Dissemination, the Senator broke out,
See here, Kinnalrd, YOU and Martin
simply bought Ferd @ ana ha PAD pst1na nm ms ms
time of the committee for two days try
ing to hide what you know" Kin
denied that he had ever paid Ford
cent directly. He said that it was the
custom to pay percentage to officials
for public work, and ne had been ap-
preached by city and county officials in
Newark When asked when that. was.
Is RENTED Five or Ten years ago..
4sGh tha Renublicans wers n power
them, CALCULATED senator DAILY.
Kinnaird could remember details about
his business even to single dollar trans
actions several years ago, but N regard
to State House transactions, he could
not remember.
Mr.. Voorhees, finally said, "Mr. KIN
naird, the hardest witness to get any
thing out of is the one that don't re-
member
Kinnaird acknowledged that it began
to LOOK as if Ford had been paid out
Of his business, but denied that it was
done with his knowledge. The commit
tee then took recess.
uhMpD pn2 TUE NEW EMpPpcc