New-York tribune., 1899-05-02

IN THEIR OWN DEFENCE.
MESSRS. WILLIS AND PHILIPS TAKE
THE STAND.
DETAILS REGARDING CONTRACTS GONE INTO
ONLY ONE WITNESS TO BE CALLED IN
REBUTTAr-cAsE TO GO TO THE
JURY TODAY.

Ex-City Works Commissioner Theodore p. Willis
and ex-Police Commissioner William E. Philips
who being tried the charge OF conspiracy TO
defraud the city. both went on the stand yesterday
The former made general denial of all the
| charges made in the Indictment. while Mr.. Philips
| was apparently frank In admitting that he re-
ceived money both from Daniel Doody and from
| Thomas Monlhan. The defence closed Its case the
trial being continued until o'clock.
| District-Attorney Steele has Just witness
| whom he wishes to put the stand in rebuttal
The witness could not be found last night. so Jus
tice Smith permission for the testimony to go
| on the first thing this morning The defence Is
aware OF the nature OF the testimony. so that both
| sides able last night 10 prepare their sum-
ming up arguments. For the defence General Tracy
| said that he would not take more than an hour
He is state the legal points. while the facts In
| the case will be taken up by Colonel Lamb. who
| promised not to take more than an hour and
half The Dstrct-Attorney said that he did not
| expect TO consume than hour or an hour
and half at the most. In summing up for the
prosecution This that the case will go to
| the Jury this afternoon
| Aside from the appearance OF Willis and Philips
the stand there little Of importance In yes
| terday's session. Every effort has been made by
| the defence to prove that Willis had no knowledge
OF the Irregularities in his department. The idea
| is that II the jury be prejudced in favor OF
| Willis It will be impossible to acquit him without
acqutting Philips also.
MR.. WILLIS CALLED.
| Ex-City Works Commissioner Willis WAS not alto
gether comfortable during tbs time which ne spent
in the witness chair. After asking him about his
personal history, Colonel Lamb took UP the inquiry
| as to bis relations with the contractor. Daniel
| Doody. Willis testified tnst he had known Doody
| for eighteen twenty yeers. but only as con-
tractor. He denied that he had ever tod Doody to
see Philips about securing city contracts. He also
| denied having introduced Doody to Philips.
mi al that ha called
| on him in his Office in the Municipal Building. and
gave for It that Philips belonged 10 the
same political faction and was considered as leader
| OF the Twentieth Ward. Willis denied ever having
sent out any invitations TO contractors to bid on
work. That left. he said. entirely TO the heads
OF departments.
| Dlstrict-Attorney Steele. cross-examinaton,
asked Willis about the alleged contracting partner
ship between Philips and Doody
Were you not aware that partnership existed
between Mr.. Philips and Daniel Doody?"
NO. never of such partnership"
you are pretty close friend TO Mr. Philips. are
you not?'
Yes"
| We'll. do you not think 1t strange that Mr..
Philips should hide such thing from you? Would
you not consider that such lack Of confidence was
breach of frendsh!r?'
Mr.. Willis did not know what to say TO this. but
opinion about such matters. He also admitted that
the Wortman-ave. sewer Job was improper IN re-
AT O'clock short recess was taken, after which
done 50 that the case may be finished today
after the r. After asking s nh" the usual
questions, Colonel Lamb at once began TO bring
Philips @ and % Doody IT The s witness esiifed as to how
Doody had called upon him several times and asked
He said that Doody had 1 held out a1ring @ stories Of
the profits that were to be made in the contracting
wealthy men whose fortunes had been secured
through city contracts.
DID NOT LISTEN AT FIRST
Phillips said that at first he did not listen to
Doody. and told him that he could not afford to
bother with small contracts, and Doody had told
him that as neither of them had had much expert
ence they would have to take small contracts at
first Finally Doody came to him and said that
he would not have TO bother about small contracts
but that he would like to have his (Philipss) advice
and help large contracts. Then Philips told
Doody to go ahead. Colonel Lamb then asked IN
turn about the contracts which the firm OF 'Doody
Philips" secured and the money which Philips
distributing 0i mains in New Ttrecht and Fort Ham
c %fer the "e had been given met
Doody In the street the next day lie said to me
How is that replied saw IL, IN the tRos paper; that
and tair mother % man received ed the other
I'm Cozzens,, he replied, ,,o >, .o ,,o,,
Monhan, the contractor, and recited the whole
story much as It has come out In The testimony
M9nhan had promised . to ass assist I'll in r the faeons
"ts e ad4tted that % 500 % was pretty large RI cam
paign contribution. and especially to come from a
went around when he said that although he was
vitally interested in the fight he had only contrib
with the 81. 800 contribution Of a Democrat
Philips testified that the Check had been offered
that when he saw that It m had been drawn by the
to % se the he md6ey 0S msd l9a This hf
han did, and the money was paid over in bills
for Campaign purposes in the office Of Tax Com:
RGss M Al the b satt of
which the O had been al tSs 0at an M
m ase be knew Wills was not ware Of the campaign
contribution by Monlhan
at 3asS afsSrslns stream me mr. Philips Told how he had
gaired for the farm and finally secured II i tor 70
be Varona, tho engineer Of the water supply, in
which he told R bn ha rs SEQ sa an tarm dr p s 70
which had cost him only 80 ne told or & pmrchasns
tested tae positively M that Denton never had had
dollars financial interest in the property He said
ance in this matter but that It w was rather ts in the
Of bSncs % Rep bnn oT T se%
Asked why ne used Dentons name, he said;
M II thoqgs' gs paVeps STs'G that William E Philips was
selling property to the CITY, especially 10 Iheooore
. iit Attorney Steele then began his cross.
examination. He asked several questions about the
Doody Philips testified that in reality he was get
ting percentage on all the contraSts tracts carried , ogt
obliged to put up money had there been any losses
in fhe partnership. but there were no losses |
he made considerable money. Mr.. Steele then |
questioned him to the nature OF the campaign |
10 which MonIhan had contributed $500 He said |
n was a dght for the control OF the County Com
fnIttee between the Worth and the Willis factions.
What year was that?' asked the District-At-
torney - -, - -
beaten shamefully," he continued.
Mr. Philips then left the stand, and r. Ross
ADpleton was called. He testified that in his ad- |
Commissioner Office
generally used as a meeting place for the poll |
tclans Of the Willis faction II was sort of "Po
litical Rialto" he said. on Colonel Lambs sugges
ton.
Mr. Appleton then testified that the 81 500 cam
paIgn contribution divided up in his office by |
Mr. Philips and himself and a number OF other |
leaders