Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-27
END OF THE INVESTIGATION
Engineer Howell on the Stand During Nest
of the Day,
DEVELOPS A CASE OF POOR MEMORY
Hearing Concludes with the ENts
dcncc of u. Report
that the Committee stands
Three 10 TWO ON It's Report.

Hearing tOnciuucs WIN tue bNis
dcncc of u. Report
that the Committee stands
Three TO Two ON It's Report.
The investigation of City Engineer How
ellis official conduct was continued yester-
day in the city hall. The proceedings
developed very little in addition to the evil
dence secured Thursday being largely in
the nature of more detailed comment ON the
facts previously ELECTED. Mr. Howell was
on the stand during nearly the entire sos-
sion, and was vigorously cross examined.
He seemed decidedly worried and continu-
ally evaded the questions OF the attorney,
who questioned him closely as to whether
he had had any conferences with John l..
Webster attorney for the Venner faction
of the old water works company prior to
making up his report to the mayor. This
the witness answered by saying that he did
not recollect any such interview prior TO
December L. Some time was consumed by
an effort to induce the witness to make a
more positive statement. This he refused
to do repeating the statement that he did
not recollect.
The same procedure was repeated when
the attorney tried to get the witness to
make a positive statement or whether, in
making his estimate of the value of the
water plant he had made any estimate OF
the value OF the pipe lines. The city engi-
neer evadcd direct answer for ten or hftecn
minutes, and finally admitted that he had
made no accurate estimate. Similar infor-
nation in regard to other features of the
plant was ELECTED after a good deal of quts-
tioning. The witness finally stated that he
had made no estimate. but had based his
figures on such general information as he
had acquired from his previous connection
with the water company and his friendship
with w. II. Hall
In this connection the fact was brought
out that Mr. Howells father had been the
law partner of Mr.. Underwood Of the water
company. and that he had an interest in
the legal business OF the company
E. Rosewater testified to the conversation
that he had had with Il. l.. Berbower.
relative to the action of the city engineer.
He stated that he had called at Mr.. Bier
bowers office in regard to the subscription
of the water company to the Tran mississippi
Exposition. On that occasion MIR. BCrbower
had requested him to formulate a letter to
President Woodbury. of the water company.
Sometime after he saw Mr. Bierbower again
and in the course of the conversation Mr..
Bierbower related the conversation in which
Howell had made the demand that Soon l..
Wiley should be given place on the COM
panys payroll This was sometime In
October, and he believed that Mr.. Berbower
had told him the same thing at 4 subsequent
conversation which occurred soon after eleC-
tion.
Further Mr.. Rpsewater stated that he had
attended the secret meeting In the mayors
office, where the engineers report was first
produced. He recognized many OF the state
meuts in the report practically verbatim
reproductions OF statements that had been
made to him by John l.. Webster. This
convinced him that the report was at least
partially inspired by some one who wanted
81 thn N nnt
original production of the city engineer.
On cross-eXamination Frank Ransom wos
very anxious to discover why the witness
should take the part of the water company.
Mr.. Rosewater stated that he would expose
any blackmailng scheme without regard to
who was interested in 1t. In reply to
further questioning Mr. Rosewatcr stated
that he had become convinced that con-
spiracy existed by which the parties who
had watered the stock of the old company
expected to get something out of their al
legged claims against the plant and that
Howell was one Of the men being used as
catpaws to that end At the close OF MIR.
Rosewaters testimony the investigation wac
adjourned to o'clock.
EVIDENCE ALL SUBMITTED
The investigation was completed at the
afternoon session and the decision now
rests In the hands of the committee. II ia
intimated that three members OF the COM
mttee will urge a report favoring Engineer
Howell's dismissal from the service of the
city while the other two members are dis
posed to simply pass the matter over as an
indscretion which does not necessarily i'm
ply any corrupt motives
The evidence introduced by Mr.. Howell
was very brief and amounted to nothing
more than an effort to prove that the receiver
OF the water company had abused City En-
gineer Rosewater for his attitude toward the
company two years ago This they offered
to prove as an indication that the company
was trying to ruin the present engineer be-
cause he stood in their way. Councilman
Kennard and G. w. Craig and Clerk Nc
Lain OF the engineering department were
called as witnesses to these allegations but
the testimony was ruled out by the COM
mittee on the ground that anything that oc-
CURED between Mr. ROsewatei and the water
company two years ago was not material in
tho present investigation.
Mr.. Ransom spoke !or about an hour in
defense of Mr.. Howell. He declared that IL
everything that had been said against his
client was admitted to be true there would
still be no justification for censuring him.
Ho dwelt on his view that while Mr.. Howell
did not deny that he had approached tho
water company in regard to the employment
Of Mr. Wiley, 1t was merely a friendly sug-
gestion and not a demand. He attacked the
integrity of Mr.. Hunt. Mr.. Borbower and
Mr.. ROsewater and declared that there was
a conspiracy to ruin the reputation Of the
city engineer. His argument ended tho
case and the committee adjourned subject