Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-09
by NEV|N'S ORDER.
Charles Brown Tells of the
Changing Of Storm
Drain Cement.
CAUTIONED TO HOLD Hls TONGUE

George ". Chandler, who Inspected the
Job. On the stand.
The interest in the storm drain
conspiracy case remains undated.
The court room at both sessions was
crowded with spectators, among
whom we're noticed quite q mum Der
OF citizens who do not ordinarily at
tend court. The morning proceed.
ings developed no special features
except an intimation by the Judge,
in reply to technical objecIion by
the defendants counsel, that the in
vestigstion would not be restricted
& mere changing Of the cement.
but that the lease on trial was
charge BY the state Of an attem at to
deirnud the city by the improper
construction OF the sewer. and that
he would admit any testimony which
would throw any light upon the
subject. This in,imstion seemed to
surprise the counsel for defendants,
and they argued that such was no.
within the province OF the indict.
mens or the bill Of particulars fur
nished the defendants by the states
attorney upon the order Of the court.
The cross examination of Charles
j. Brown, commenced last evening.
was concluded today by the attorney
for Looney 4 Kelly and D.ost. II was
prolonged, labored, long drawn out,
and did not shake linn in the least.
Ou the contrary, it seemed to
strengthen the testimI ny given by
him In chief. 1t cannot be part.cu.
ls'izsd, but was directed chiefly to
showing that his habits OF drinking
generally, and his condition, partic-
ularly on this occasion. when he was
being operated upon, as he claimed,
by LshiG, Cox. Dsost and Kelly, was
such that his memory would not be
reliable as TO the occurrences he re.
lated rs to the attempts to secure the
change in his statements. Bus while
being frank as to his drinking, he
strongly asserted his remembrance
OF everything that occurred. He
was then taken in hand by Mr.. Ssur-
geon, and admitted that Mr.. Schnell
never spoke to him about the cemen,
and witness never told Schneli; in
fact, Nevins told witness not to tell
Schnell anything and he would no,
say that Schnell knew that they
were changing the cement. But he
did make the remark when they
were throwing out some broken
sacks that "they will wear out some
time" from which it might be in.
ferred that he knew. But witness
did not know whether the sacks then
being thrown out we're Milwaukee or
Portland sacks. He also said that SO
far as Looney was concerned. he had
no conversation with him about the
cement, aud did not know that be
knew about the substitution.
George W. Chandler, an expert civil
engineer from Canton, ILL.,, was next
examined. He testified to his train.
ing qualifications for his profession,
being a graduate OF Tufts college,
Boston, and an engineer located q,
Canton, H., since 1888; that he came
here at the request Of the sewer CON-
mittee Of the city council in Decem-
Der, 1896, and made an examination
OF the drain. He walked over the
top OF it first, and then went into i.
and examined it critically from out.
let to inlet; that about two blocks
from the outlet there Was bad
crack about so feet l. NC in the cen.
ter OF the arch; another crack about
a. Fifth-and-s-half avenue about SO
feet long in the same location in the
arch. and then q still worse crack at
Ninth avenue about the same length
that these cracks might arise from
various causes; too early back filling
after the work was done and before
the cement hsd set. inferior cement.
or too little OF it in the mortar. or
too little mortar in the joints. or a
variety OF other causes. In the ex.
animation he made b. found a scar
city Of mortar in the work aud too
little 20 make the work effective and
durable. He was al.o asked AZ TO
the probable durability Of the work
as whole and whether il was q
~orkmsplike job. aud he said i, was
neither q durable Dor workmanlike
j'b. and was not satisfactory 10 bis
opinion.
Yesterday Affsrnocn's Evidence.
John Montgomery. . bricklayer on
the job. while on The stand yester-
day afternoon. said he was aware the
Cement had beeuN changed sitter
Fourth avenue had been passed. He
also swore bark sand was used in
stead OF river said. the former being
inferior in quality. He reviewed
numerous qusrrels he witnessed be-
tween Inspector Martin G. Frick and
Superintendent William c. Nevin.
the unplesssntYies. be said. being
the outcome OF the inspectors efforts
TO enforce compliance with the spe-
cifications. Nevin, after refusing
to obey orders in this connection.
removed Is coat and threatened to
throw F.ick into the ditch. Mont
gcnery said this apparently fright.
ened the inspector 10 such an extent
that be thereafter reirained from in
sisting on the following Of the speci-
fications.
Charles j. Brown next took the
stand. He was o mortar mixer or
The storm drain job. He told the
whole story CT the substitution o,