New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-23
MURPHY'S $4,000 GIFT.
MORE DOCK BOARD GRAFT
Tam many Leader Voted Big Sum
to His Alleged Hired Nan.

Charles F. Murphy Peter F. Meyer and J.
Sergeant Cram will have an opportunity soon
after the polls close Of telling what they know
about certain grating" that went on in the old
Dock Department. If there any doubt
about it before, it was dissipated yesterday
when Charles F. Murphy sprang another OF
his roorbacks by telling the newspaper men to
ask Jerome why he did not indict Dock Com
missioner Hawkes..
Murphy will be asked about entirely diff
terent matter when he gets in the witness chair
lie will be asked about the mysterious way in
which his close friend. Edward 2. Cunning
ham, Of O'Keefe & Cunningham. proprietors Of
the saloon at the northwest corner of Four
feminist and Third-ave., cleared So. 600 in two
years on an investment Of s.. 900 The figures
in the possession Of the District Attorney reveal
one OF the most astonishing instances of disre-
gard OF official oaths Of Office in the history Of
local politics.
In the spring Of 1899. after the legal formaIi-
ties were nearly all cleared up and the way was
made clear for the beginning Of the rapid transit
subway, Charles F. Murphy. cognizant Of the
extent Of business which the subway would
make, personally and singly made deal with
Cunningham. whereby Cunningham got the
privilege Of filling in behind the bulkheads be-
tween Nineteenth and Twenty fourth SITS. on
the East River This is in Murphy's Assembly
district Cunningham at the time was u follower
Of Murphy a member Of the Anawanda Club.
and the agent Of Murphy in several saloon
enterprises. The minutes of the Dock Board Of
May i. 1899 contain the following entry:
Present. Commissioners Meyer and Murphy
Absent Commissioner Cram.
Communication from the treasurer Charles F
Murphy. reporting that he has arranged with
Edward F. Cunningham for furnishing the filling
behind the bulkhead wall between Nineteenth and
Twenty fourth SITS. East River, for the sum OF
81 800 Report approved.
1t should be noted that Murphy and Meyer
were the board this particular day Murphy
furnishing half the votes that approved his own
act done in secret.
BEGAN TO SCOOP IN THE MONEY
A payment Of $1,000 was made on he con-
tract and Cunningham then began to take IN
money from people who wanted TO dispose OF
cellar dirt or rock without paying 10 have IT
taken away on scows Murphy. as treasurer Of
the Dock Board. was easy with himself and
Cunningham as lessees Of extremely profit
able contract. The next payment was on
March 49, 1901. nearly two years later. when
Mr.. Cunningham paid $1,000 more. Still an
other payment-for s1.oOO-was made by Cum
ningham on May 1. and then the expected hap
pened.
At this time Holbrook. Cabot & DAILY. the sub
way sub-contractors for the sections between
Great Jones and Thirty-third SITS. were looking
around for a place TO dump their hundreds OF
loads Of dirt and rock. They plump against
the DOCK Board ring. of which Brown & FIem-
ing Naughton & Co. and Cunningham were the
leading members Mr.. Holbrook OF the firm.
when he tried TO do business with Cunningham
found that Mr.. Cunningham, although saloon
keeper. had exact data Of the number Of cubic