The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-09-18

on the staad under cross examination 70
some time yesterday afternoon, but failed d
get any damaging admissions from him
Careys contract for furnishing the schools o
West Mahanoy township with coal was one o
the main subjects Of inquiry. And from th,
minutes of the School Board it was fount
that the following bids had been received fol
coal Anthony McAndrew, 500; Thoma
Brennan, $3.50; Michael Carey, Sr, $3.50
David Thompson, $3.50 David Thompson
S625 The minutes also showed that on
motion Of Flanagan the contract was given
to Carey Messrs. Crane and Dixon voting in
the negative
Mr.. Whalen Why was it that the Board
agreed 20 give Carey the contract for S6gj in
the articles Of agreement for the coal?
Mr. Ferguson 1 don't know anything
about it. He was paid the amount of the
contract on the books 1 suppose.
The books produced also showed the fol-
lowing bids for the upper VIM. Penn school
house; J. r. Cooney, S4,1OO; McGorvin &
Dee, A, 100; Tim BIahony, a, 1900.
Mr., Ferguson said the contract was given
to Mr.. MahOny because of the workmanship
lie built three buildings before which gave
satisfaction Mr.. Ferguson denied that S4OO
and barrel OF beer were promised if
Mahony got the contract IL was not under
stood that MahOny was to do the work for
$4,000 but for S4 300 and he got a, 30O so far
as witness knew. Witness knew no reason
why the amount of the bond was changed
from $1,000 to $4,000. Dee and Gallagher
got the contract for the Colorado building be-
cause they agreed to do the painting. They
were the highest bidders
On the coal question Mr. Whalen wanted TO
] lrt1nu rsrNr n.
! lowest bidder, did not get the contract and
asked if the fact that Carey was Ferpuson,s s
wife's uncle had anything to do with if
Ferguson said it had not that when Carey
had the contract before he did not give salts
faction. He had the contract to furnish the
coal for the Raven Run school and the school
had to be closed.
Later Mr.. Whalen fred this at Che wit
ness You claim you had to close the school.
The books show that in 1891 you gave the
contract to Carey, your uncle-in-law, for SlOO
more than ThOmpson's bid, when Thompson
had bond with his bid ? How is thatY
A. don't know only we gave it to him.
Mr.. Whalen referred to the minute book
again and read the following bids for the
Colorado school building: Shenandoah
Lumber q Feed Co., 81 ,OiO; James O'Hearn.
| Sl,O70; Gallagher and Dee, 1,1s4. Mr.. Fer.
guson said the contract was given to Gala
CHER & Dee because they put in an offer TO
furnish porch and do the painting.
o. Don't you know, Mr. Ferguson that
the Board paid to Gallagher & Dee $500 for
extras for that very school house and it cost
up to S2,OOO2
A. No, sir
Q. Where does the School Board Of your
district meet2
A. In the school house.
| 2. Where do they meet after the meeting?
Objected to and objection sustained.
q Have you son, a sister, brother-in-
law and cousin teaching school in that
township
On objection being raised Mr.. Whalen
said, We propose to show that this School
Director has a number of his relatives teach
ing school, and follow it up with evidence
showing the manner by which the money
got into the hands of this director, directly
and indirectly. The objection was overruled
and the witness said he had a son, sister
and brother-in-law teaching school,
Have you cousin teaching school?
A second cousin.
And cousin named Dominick Gaughan is
a ianitorY
No relation whatever.
Witness said his son is 10 years old and is
in his third year as teacher. His son gets
$40 per month, his (witness's) sister S45, his
brother-in-law, M. II, Carey, $50 and his
second cousin, Miss Mcclure, S35. Witness
also said the son generally pays his wages to
his mother. Witness neYor received cent
from his sister.
Did you receive an institute order from
your ssterP
No, sir
Don't you know who did receive it?
l don't know anything about it.
Don't you know that that institute order
was paid over to a collector who went around
as the representative of the School Board. to
whom these orders were given to be used by
the directors for their personal use. or as a
fund to be used for local political purposes.
and for the purpose of continuing you and
your colleagues in political office in West
MahanOy tOwnship2
This was objected to by counsel for the
Commonwealth, but the court Overruled the
| objection and witness replied that he never
authorized anybody to 60 around and that
he never heard of it being done. Witness
also swOre that he never received any val
liable presents from teachers, never received
institute orders from teachers, except when
he cashed them as treasurer, and never di-
rectly or Indirectly, retained one order since
he has been director in West Mahanoy town
ship.
Mr. WadlingeT: You know Mr. O'NeilI has
been unfriendly to you for number of
years
Yes sir.
Mr. Whalen: Didn't he help to get your
son position2
He helped to knock him out of position.
Do you remember the night of the 7th
Regiment reunion here-were you here2
Yes .ir.
Did you see Mr.. O'Neill on the train that
night2
don't remember
Do you remember Offering him 300 dollars
that night to settle the case2
| No. sir; don't. L never spoke TO him
about the trial.
Don't you remember saying, "What in
hell are you trying to do with mo If you
push this case against the Board for misde-
meanor you will ruin me2"
Inever did
| You don't remember saying 81 haven't
enough money now. have S25 l will give
you if you will agree to settle for $500 ?"
| nevor spoke to the man from the start to
the finish Of the case.
School Director Thomas Flanagan was
called to the stand and testified that he was
serving his eleventh year as a member of the
4