New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-28
BROOKLYN NEWS.
BANK BOOKS OVERHAULED.
PROSECUTION RESTS IN THE WILLIS
PHILIPS TRIAL.
VIGOROUS But FUTILE OBJECTION BY GENERAL
TRACY TO THE ADMISSION OF DEPOSIT SLIPS
AS EvIDENcE-DEFENcE BEGINS TO-DAY.

TRACY TO THE ADMISSION OF DEPOSIT SLIPS
AS Ev1pENcE-DEFENcE BEGINS TO-DAY.
District-Attorney Steele yesterday afternoon An
ished the prosecutions side OF the case against
ex-City Works Commissioner Willis and ex-Pollce
Commissioner Philips. charged with conspiracy IN
attempt TO defraud the city.
The principal features Of the trial yesterday were
the bank accounts OF the two defendants al the
Fulton National and the National City banks.
General Tracy made a hard fight TO prevent the
deposit slips covering the last few years being
placed the record. but he was overruled Dy JUS
tice Smith who declared the evidence relevant
Daniel Doody, whose revelations caused all the
trouble. examined by Colonel Lamb for the
defence. and 1t came out that Maurer VINO was
told by Commissioner Willis to go and see Doody
about selling a plot Of ground at Valley stream 10
the city, owed Doody some money, and DOGGY tes-
tilted that Maurer did not say anything ABOUT COM
ing from Mr. Willis when he tried to sell the land.
William II. Haywood OF No. 273 Tweltth-st.
clerk in the employ OF Hobby Doody' TESTIFIED
that he was one OF the dummies through whom
his employer Daniel Doody. secured city works
contracts. and Henry L. Finkel, Of NO So' seven
feminist. Brooklyn. also employe OF HOBBY &
Doody. made similar admissions. Daniel F. Doody'
a son Of Daniel Doody. testified that his name
used by his father to secure contracts al
though he had no personal interest in them This
young Is I lawyer.
William Kenmore. jr, OF No. All Classon-ave.'
the receiving teller OF the Fulton Bank, was called
by the prosecution and General Tracy and Colonel
Lamb suddenly showed unusual interest In the pro-
ceedings. Mr. Steele handed the witness bunch
OF deposit slips deposited by Mr. Philips. Here 1t
was that the most vigorous opposition yet inter-
posed by General Tracy made. Objection a,.s-
objection was overrued. and finally the slips we're
admitted The Dstrict-Attorney had lot Of these.
Mr.. Steele said he intended to show by these slips
the amount that had been deposited 81 Philips in
1895 and 1897 in the Fulton Bank. and further. by
later and prior accounts. would show a marked In
crease in Philips's deposits in years when he was
busying himself about the City Works Department.
Mr.. Kenmore was on the stand when the court ad-
journed at o'clock
MORE SCRUTINY OF BANK ACCOUNTS.
William H. Kenmore. receiving teller OF the Full
ton National Bank resumed the stand at the
afternoon session. He looked the deposit
slips Of Philips's bank account for 1895 the Dis
trict-Attorney attempting TO show that Philipss
deposits fell or in 1895. compared with the pre-
vious year General Tracy objected 10 the adms
sion of the slips on the ground that they had been
unawfully seized Witness read from the slips
showing cash deposits follows:
Bills deposited in 1898 42s 90
Checks deposited 1895. Is T65 81
Bills deposited between september Is. 1895. and
Checks deposited between september iS 1880. ~,
December 1897 5000 IL
The latter dates cover the alleged conspiracy
period Witness testified that Philips opened
account with the bank in July 1879. and had had
an account there continuously since then He
opened no new account in September. 1896 Dis
trict-Attorney Steele asked about the account OF
William e Philips e Son.
Are we going try the whole family? blurted
out General Tracy. amid merriment
Frederick A. Haskins OF the City Works Depart
ment was recalled and asked about awarding con-
tract work by order Of the Commissioner. as shown
by the mnute-book kept by the Commissioner
The Dstrict-Attorney called attention to the tact
that the Commissioner personally directed work
done by Thomas F. Frazier & Co.. and also ordered
similar work done by Daniel F. Doody. number
OF such orders personally signed by MT. Wills were
offered In evidence
Barrant b. Van Berthuysen receiving teller OF
the National City Bank where Mr.. Willis Is a de
postor was requested 10 identify the deposit SIPS
FOR 1895 a nd 1897 made out by Mr.. Willis.
General Tracy objected TO the admission OF these
slips on the ground that they had been unlawfully
seized. The Constitution. he asserted guaranteed
privacy in such matters; also on the ground that
any such proof might tend to fasten felony on
Mr. Willis thus conflicting with the technical con-
struc;ion Of the indictment.
There was a thick packet Of the slips. and the
witness was MARI owly watched by the spectators
as he thumbed them over and finally identified
them.
The Dstrict-Attorncy offered other deposit slips
made by Willis for the same bank. covering the
General Tracy again objected that the admission
Of the slips was improper Mr.. Steele said he
wanted 10 show that there was a marked change
in the size and CHARACTER OF the deposits as COM
pared with 1895 and 1881.
General Tracy asked II the witness remembered
that Mr. Willis was a candidate for public office in
1887. This indicates that the defence will endeavor
to show that in 1897, when Mr.. Willis was cand-
date for County Register, he was handling ex-
traordnary
Robert y. Broad, bookkeeper in the National
CITY Bank asked TO look at the deposit slips
for 1898 1884, 1895 and 1898. and say whether the
amounts were credited to Mr. Williss account
The deposit slips for the years referred TO show
as follows.