The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-22
Trend of the Investigation Of Sweep
ing Contract as Conducted by
Attorney Noel. $50
CHARLES w. WELLS A DIRECTOR
HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN
HE WAS ELECTED.
william c. Smith Also Tells About the
Company-An Adjournment Until
Next Tuesday Night.

Attorney Noel spent most Of last night
examining witnesses as to the business and
affairs of the Marion County Construction
Company, which has the city sweeping con-
tract. The testimony elected was not of
the greatest Importance and the session
ended an hour earlier than usual. The ses-
sion was without incident of the usual
character and was unusually quiet.
Charles NJ. Glover, assistant clerk of the
Board of Public Works, was the first wit
ness. He was asked as to what knowl-
edge he had from members of the board
as to what would be done with the bids
for sprinkling, received Feb. q, prior to
their rejection. He said he had none. He
said he had not been told by the board to
notify Remington to prepare his bond,
nor had he been asked by Remington for
a blank bond form.
Jesse Ferguson, shop man for the Marion
County Construction Company. testified that
the company had used nine sweepers a
part of last year-a small part-and eight
at other times.
DIRECTOR WITHOUT KNOWING 1T.
Charles w. Wells, of Kothe. Wells &
Bauer, was called to testify as to the or
ganization of the Marion county company.
of stock. but did not know he had been
elected director with G. w. Seibert and
w. c. Smith, nor named in the articles Of
Incorporation as director. In fact, he
said, he had never received his certificate
of stock and had no knowledge of the
company's business after he signed the
articles Of incorporation. He said w. n.
Gates. with whom he has been acquaint-
ed all his life, had asked him to aid in
he ivAn ION n "a
Gates and the witness are stockholders in
the Climax Coffee Company. He said he
knew Mr.. Gates TO be an honorable man.
and he complied with his request In sign
ing the articles of Incorporation because he
knew everything would be all right The
only persons he knew TO be connected with
the company were Mr.. Gates and George
w. Seibert, with whom he was also well
acquainted. He said Harry b. Gates S
connection with the company was not men,
toned. He said he once received tele-
phone message from Floyd Woods about
the company, but later when he tried TO
answer the message he did not find Mr..
Woods. He said he had thought so little
about the transaction that IL had passed out
OF his mind until recalled by Mr.. Noel.
Mr.. Noel introduced the spr1nkling rec
ords TO show payments to the Marion coun-
ty company for sweepings on Ohio street,
from Arsenal avenue to East street, South
eastern avenue, from Washington street
TO State street, and Alabama street, from
Twenty second street TO Twenty-hfth street:
These are the streets witnesses testified
were not properly swept.
w. c. SMITH EXAMINED.
William C. Smith. secretary of the Marion
county company. was examined for over an
hour about the organization of the COM
pany. Mr.. Smith said the company was
organized by Mr.. Sebert with whom the
witness was in partnership in public con-
tracing. and the original stockholders were
Mr.. Seibert, the witness. Harry b. Gates.
w. n. Gates and Floyd A. Woods The
capital stock was $1,000. and was all paid
up and deposited in bank 10 the credit of
the company. Mr.. Seibert. W. n. Gates
and the witness each had 50. 600 OF stock. and
III. b. Gates and Woods $1,000 each. Smith
said he kept no stock register. He said Mr..
Wells was an incorporation, but not stock
holder. He did not know how Wells became
an incorporation and not stockholder.
Smith said he was out OF the city most OF
the time. and Mr.. Seibert looked after the