The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-22
CLAIM OF DRENNEN MAY BE CONTESTED Agreement With Construction
 Co. Causes Comment THE COMMISSIONERS TALK T. H. Motion Leaves It With the Con- tractors "to Say Whether or
 Not They Bought a Gold
 Brick"
 
THE COMMISSIONERS TALK

the Donelson Construction company. bankrupt, will contest the claim of S0oo0 entered by D. M. Drennen against the firm on an alleged agreement with this and two other contracting firms by which he was to receive the amount named for acting as adviser in securing contracts from the Jefferson County Sanitary com mission.
 Receiver H. W. Coffin of the insolvent company was out of the city yesterday and it could not be learned whether or not he has been informed of any contests that arc to be made by the creditors. He will return to Birmingham today
 The suit of Mir Drennen, which claims such an agreement was entered into with him by the Donelson Construction com pany, c. M. Burkhalter x Co. and the Pennington Construction company was filed in the United States court. Although Referee in Bankruptcy Trimble has not set the date for making the settlements in the affairs of the Doneson Construc- ton company, 1t is said the matter will not be brought up until early In January.
 Developments Expected.
 Some interesting developments are ex- pected when the claim of MT. Drennen is heard John E. Donelson, who was, at the time the alleged agreement was signed, president of the Donelson Con struction company, will be called upon to testify in the case Representatives of the two other firms will also be sum- moned to give their testimony. it is said. The liabilities of the Donelson Construc- tion company were placed at $75,000.
 The suit of Mr. Drennens has caused much gossip Several members of the sanitary commission have given out in- terviews on the subject. Commissioner James Weathery will insist upon the en- tire matter being thoroughly investigated in the bankrupt court he says.
 The sanitary commission is composed of the following prominent men of Jefferson county: Major Frank Y. Anderson, pres ident; M V. Joseph, E. j. Smyer, James Gillespy, Thomas H. Motion, James Weathery, Robert Jemison, James J. Smith, Chambers McAdory, c. A Nolan, Arthur w. Smith.
 Deponent Drennen's Statement.
 MT. Drennen, the deponent in the claim, when asked yesterday afternoon whether or not he had any statement to make for publication, said: "I have nothing to say further than the statement I made in Sundays Age-Herald."
 The statement of Mir Drennen which appeared in the issue referred to follows:
 q have nothing to say except that the t,, bn .I,o ,lIo I complete transaction. The contract re- ferred to between the sanitary commits sion of Jefferson county and the contract ors was secured and duly signed by both parties. l am only seeking to have the contractors live up to their agreement with me-"
 An afternoon paper yesterday quoted MT. Drennen as saying:
 q understand that some of the members of the sanitary commission think the claim puts them in a bad light, but l do not see it that way. I am only trying to make the contractors live up to an agree ment which pertains to myself alone and has nothing to do with the sanitary con- mission"
 When asked if he gave out the above interview Mir Drennen said
 q will not say whether I did or whether did not make such a statement. l have talked to great many people about the matter today and really do not know what I said to the reporters. l would not attempt to repeat it. Further, l do not care to say anything
 With the remark How is the Christmas trader" MT. Drennen turned away.
 Attached to Claim.
 Tn the alleged agreement with the Don olson Construction company, C. NJ. Buri- halter & Co and the Pennington Con struction company, which is attached to the claim of Mir Drennen against the Donelson company, is this clause:
 "We further agree to execute to the said L. NJ. Drennen negotiable promlssory notes, each for the sum of 5000, immedi- ately on the signing of the said contract for said construction"
 When asked last night whether or not these promissory notes were given to Mir Drennen by the three firms, MT. Don- elson stated emphatically NO"
 MT. WeatherIy Talks.
 When asked whether or not he desired to make any statement in regard to the matter last night, Commissioner James Waetherly said:
 q read in Sundays issue of the Age Herald the account of the filing of the claim for $l00O0 by D. NJ. Drennen against the Donelson Construction company As you know, it was asserted that this claim grew out of an alleged contract between MT. Drennen and the Donelson Construc- ton company and others. whereby Mr. Drennen agreed for the consideration of $10 900, to act as adviser to the other par ties In securing for them, directly or in- contract from the Jefferson County Sanitary commission for the con struction of line of sewer.
 Public Entitled to Know.
 "As member of the sanitary commis- sion al the time of this alleged transac- ton, feel an interest in the matter and I think the public is entitled to know all the facts connected with it.
 "I am glad Mir. Drennen has filed this suit, because now for the first time the facts can be got at from witnesses under oath. l hope MT Coffin. the receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or some creditor in the bankruptcy proceedings will con test this claim on the specific ground that the promised slOOO0 was for services to be rendered by MT. Drennen in infiu- encing the sanitary commission to award