New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-30
TRY TO FORCE DISCLOSURE?
! THE HOOKER INQUIRY.
Minerva Jeffrey Oaces appointment
to Bearers, 1t Is SAID.

Albany, March 29.-That attempts were made
to influence Frank P. Ball the Dunkirk ticket
broker. alleged to have been placed in the FIRE.
donia postoffice by the influence of Justice War
rem B. Hooker, to disclose certain facts said to
be in his possession, was the substance of the
testimony of Ball before the Assembly judiciary
Committee to-day in the resumption of the in
vestigation into the charges against Justice
Hooker. Justice Hooker was not present this
morning, but in the afternoon sat at the table
with his counsel
Aside from a mass of documentary evidence
introduced this afternoon. interest attached to
the testimony of F. c. Maggie. former postmaster
at Dunkirk. who testified as the jacob Link
case. Incidentally, through the Introduction of
a report by w z. Cochran. chief postofice in
spector, it was learned that Minerva Jeffrey
not a myth. as has been declared. Evidence
was introduced at the early hearings that MI
nerva Jeffrey was appointed to the Fredonia
Postofice on January II. 1898, in connection
with H ]. Pemberton. George Cooper, Thomas
ONeill and Ora Caldwell. without the knowledge
or request OF the postmaster, who testified that
he had never seen the woman and that her pay
checks were sent to George W. Beavers in Wash
ingtOn. The portion of the report admitted is as
follows:
Blackmar. Of Washington, d c. at whose resi-.
Georgia Jefrrey 1850 Clerk in the Stamp Division
OF the third assistant postmaster generals office.
at $500 per annum in the Washington city POST
office; sister of James H: jeffrey, employed in the
per annum. and an aunt OF H. Clayton Graft. until
and n 5s
airy Of $500. She owes her appointment to George
for the purpose OF being converted into the cassi
fed service without being required to take the Civil
Service examination.
TXyI,aY cuaSrioDa7 &c +ba CONTAMINATION,
in regard to the appointment to the Fredona
Office, Mr.. Ball. who the first witness to-
day. said
driving past Judge Hooker's house and saw
him out in front | stopped and asked him If ne
He said he could get a position at Washington
but didn't want 10 go there If | remember cor
rectly, he said he would see what ne could do.
In relation TO his first knowledge OF his ap-
pointment, he said: II went to the postoffice to
get my mail, and Mr. Moore, the postmaster,
told me I had received an appointment"
Did you ever perform any services a
clerk or laborer in the Fredonia postof1ce?"
NO. sir AS far as my doing any work Is
concerned, I don't claim to have done any,
Ball testified that his appointment continued
until December 81, 1902 and that he drew from
the government S2,532 in all.
An effort to draw from Ball certain relations
with three men was objected to by Mr.. Conan
MT SIancnneld SAID ne proposed 10 snow tnat
these three men, one a newspaper man of New
York City. and two others. hostile to Justice
Hooker. had attempted to corrupt the evidence
of Ball, by assuring him that ne would not have
to pay the $500 note and that they would fur
nsh a lawyer at their expense to defend any
suits that might he brought as the result of the
non-payment of the note if he would disclose
evidence which they believed he possessed in
relation to Judge Hooker Mr.. Conan finally
consented to allow the evidence.
Ball said that in 1904 George E. Tiffany, an
undertaken, and Albert NJ Colburn, miller of
Fredonia and William c. Hudson. a Brooklyn
newspaper man, formerly secretary of the State
Railroad Commission came to his Office, where
Hudson said he did not desire an interview. but
wanted to learn of the relations between Judge
Hooker and Ball. He added:
Mr. Tiffany said he understood that my wife had
signed security the & 800 note to the govern
ment. I said she had not He said that If I would
give up something that would remove Judge Hooker
he would furnish a bond: that he would the
best lawyer in Chautauqua County, and that l
would not have to pay the note l told him
would not do anything 10 inJure Judge Hooker.