The record-union., 1898-03-09
MORE LIGHT WANTED.

Mr.. Ryan-Mr. McGrath states that
none of this money was ever paid to
any CT the Supervisors. What l want
to get at is, who was Mr.. McGrath act
ing for? According to his statement
he was acting for two parties. This
should be explained.
Mr.. Jenkins-But it has been alleged
that some of the money involved has
been paid to Supervisor Morrison and
myself, and 1 want that matter cleared
up.
Supervisor Curtis-Mr Witter hav-
ing made these charges, l want him
sworn.
WiTTER REITERATES HIS
CHARGES.
w. G. Witter, President of the Golden
Gate Dredger Company, was sworn. He
explained how he was engaged by Re-
clamation District $40 to have the
dredging done. The contract was signed
IN his office in San Francisco He had
the assurance OF Gett, Elliott and Nc
Grath that the resolution referred to
had been passed by the Supervisors. The
work was done in accordance with the
contract.
A claim was filed for the S2,SS0, but
the board was not prepared to allow it,
and it was arranged with Mr.. Gett and
Mr. McGrath that he (Witter) should
receipt to McGrath for the money. He
dld so. and subsequently learned that
the money had been paid to McGrath.
The first he knew of McGrath having
filed claim was few weeks ago, when
ne came here to see about it.
Mr. Jenkins-How long ago did you
learn the board had allowed the money :?
Mr.. Witter-Oh, it was a year ago last
month.
Mr.. Ryan-What did McGrath say
when you asked him for the money?
Mr.. Witter-He said he didn't have it
convenient.
done with it?
Mr.. Witter-He said he had paid some
of it to two members of the board and
to Mr. Gett.
Mr.. Jenkins-Well who did he say ne
paid it to? Come straight out and tell
Us all about it.
Mr.. Witter-Well he said he had paid
some to Supervisors Morrison and Jen-
kins, some to Major Gett and used some
himself
Mr.. Witter then went on and repeated
the statements contained in his affida-
Wit heretofore published.
The various claims presented for the
work were then taken up and examined
and Witter explained, as we'll as he
could, what he knew about them. He
said the first he knew of the McGrath
claim was when he saw it on file re-
Gently in the Auditors office.
Mr.. Ryan asked Witter if he had re-
ceived S44O that morning from Nc
Grath, and he said he had. The money
was paid in the presence Of w. A. Gett
and others, and McGrath said at The
time that he did not consider that he
owed it.
Mr.. Witter denied that he had en-
ployed McGrath to do anything for his
company. The demand filed by him was
for the same work for which the Nc
Grath claim was filed on behalf of his
company.
MEMORY a LITTLE CLOUDED.
Lawyer Fl. w. Johnson, representing
McGrath, asked Mr.. Witter if he did not
appear before the Supervisors last sum
mer in relation to his claim, and when
informed that McGrath had filed a claim
right.
Mr.. Writer'S response was that his
memory was not cellar on that point
In response to other questions he Ge-
MED that Engineer Johnson had ever
told him that McGrath was ready to
settle with him.
Mr.. Johnson tried to get Witter to tell
when he first heard of any alleged bood-
ling, but Witter would not admit that he
had heard Of any division with Supervis-
ors prior to the time the claim was al
lowed.
Witter evidently saw that it would
not be safe for him to acknowledge any
thing Of the kind, so he was very evasive.
He had previously stated that there was
an ''undercurrent" of understanding in
regard thereto, but Attorney Johnson
could not pin him down to admit any
knowledge of the alleged boodling prior
to the payment Of the McGrath claim.
In the curse of his statement, Witter
intimated that Lawyer Gett had some
knowledge of the alleged misuse of
money and this brought Gett to his feet
You're a liar!" exclaimed Mr.. Gett.
you" replied Witter, ARE the arch
fiend. You are at the bottom of the
whole thing."
Mr.. johnson then took a few turns out
of the dredger man. He called Writer'S
attention to the fact that he had certi-
fed to the claim for 81 40 in January,
1897, and that the number of yards of
earth specified were shown therein TO
have been based on figures obtained
from District Engineer Johnson
Now" said Mr.. Johnson, lis it not
a fact that Johnson was in New York
at that time, and that the figures sworn
to in your claim were not obtained from
him?"
Witter at first was a little uncertain,
but finally admitted that he might have
got them from Surveyor Boyd.
Mr.. Johnson then wanted to know of
Witter how it was that he certified to
the amount of his claim before he had
the figures, but Witter, who is himself
lawyer, managed to. evade his thrusts
and nothing definite was brought out.
PARTNER HARRIS ON THE STAND.
NJ. c. Harris, a member of the dredg-
ing firm, was next sworn He said ne
knew very little about the matter under
consideration, so far as the details We're
concerned. When he first spoke to Nc
Grath about the 81, ,440 the latter inti-
mated that he had to use some of the
money to get the claim through.
Mr. Harris then said that when he aud
Witter called on McGrath last week to
get the money McGrath, after paying
the 81 600, told them they would have
to put up seme 5000 before they could
get the rest of their claims through.
Mr.. Jenkins-Did he state at any time
that he had paid any money to men,
bers Of the Board of Supervisors.
Mr.. Harris-Yes; he mentioned the
names of Morrison and Jenkins as per-