New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-05
the rIrrH-Arr. OBSTRUCTION cAsE.
sToEEKEErERs TESTIFY ~ THE rol.icE COURT
THAT THEIR BUSINESS Is BEING INJURED
GENERAL. COILS 4 WITNESS.

sroEEKEErERs TESTIFY ~ THE roI.cE COURT
THAT THEIR BUSINESS Is BEING IHJrEEp
GENERAL. COILS \ WITNESS
The hearing OF the charge agains, William p.
Baird. the contractor. OF maintaining public null
sancc in Fifh-avc by keeping the thoroughfare In
a constantly torn-up condition. and having the side
walk Uttered with paving blocks ard earth. was
continued before Magistrate Hedges IN Jefferson
Market Police Court yesterday afternoon.
The first witness the complainant. Adolph
Audrain bric-A-brac dealer o, No. 25i Fif,h-ave.
lie said that his business had been greatly inter
iered with because II had long been impossible FOR
carriages to approach his store Not only was the
street torn up. he said. bug the sidewalk was pied
high with cobbesones and earth. Tn" street he
was sure had been torn up since March.
Joseph Byron a photoGra pher. James Fletcher.
representing Ioanders. at Thrtieth-st and Ffth-
ave and Alfred Nelson. a tailor gave similar tes-
timony. H. Nico. Twlss. representing A. II. Dav-
export. OF Fifh-ave and Thirty ,hird-st., said his
firm bull, a now sidewalk IN front o, their place Of
business In May. and would now have to build an
other as the stones piled on IT had caused II to
settle three inches. Samuel Adams. hric-a-bFac
dealer, Isdor Neuman. Of Neuman & Co. 80. %3
Fifh-aye and Benjamin Blaney. OF Werniokers.
ut Th!rty-hr.t-st. and Ffth-ave. also testified as
10 the condition Of the avenue This !ist witness
said that force Of men had recently been nj work
but in his opinion. had done little but talk and
XII time number Of photographs a. the avenue"
az It has lately appeared were also put In eNdenc"
General - II. T. Coils. Commissioner OF Public
Works was at last called as a witness. lie said
that tho work was done under direction OF the city
Tho necessary permit TO prevent police interior
cnce had been issued. The work done by Mt
Baird re- said, vas done by virtue OF his contract
Mr. Shepard, for the contractor moved 10 dis
mss the charge, arguing that no case had been
proved against tho defendant
Mr. Lew for the complainant, however. ur2"h
that II had been shown clearly that The obstruc-
ton OF the street without any warrant IN
less the defendant produced hfs contract, he said
he would subpoena Controller Fitch to bring H.
10 Identify Mr.. Baird with the work. In answer
to n question from Mr.. Levy. General COILS said
that Mr. Baird was the contractor for the laying
OF the water mains ATOMS Fiith-aye. He also said
that pipes had been laid ahead OF The work by
Baird al his direction. The avenue had been closed
at times from curb 10 curb by various contractors
II was dangerous TOO. when blasting was going on.
Did MIR Baird close Ffth-ave. at Twenty ninth
81 ?" asked Mr. Levy.
Yes Sir. with my authority was the reply
General Coils said that Baird had also closed the
block above Twenty -nInth-st. The avenue had
been closed In order to expedite the work. Dit
oral Coils, had permitted this 10 be dore during
July ard August when there was little traffic in
the street and five days work could he done In
three days by doing This
1T IL still there you know. said Mr. Levy.
1T would obstruct the street more now II carts
were there to remove g." replied General C'ollis.
The hearing was adjourned until Thursday after
noon Mr. Levy will subpoena Controller Fitch 10
produce the contract