The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-16
CASE AGAINST JUDGE HOOKER
REPORT TO he PRESENTED TO
THE BAR ASSOCIATION.
Substance Of the Testimony Taken by the
subj ommttcc Of the Associations
Grievance Committee In Four specified
Cases-JuSticc lockers DcfcnCe.

JAMESTOWNt y. -, Jan 10 .NduldiiuA
county attorneys who have casos on tho
calendar for the January torn OF Supreme
Court, which opens At Mayvihe tomorrow
have been bu-ily engaged tho past week
In making lawyers agreements TO have
the cases put over the term, and when the
calendar Is called II will bo swept as baro
as a campaign treasury after election mo
reason for this reluctance TO try lawsuits at
this time is due to the fact that the Hooker
hearing before the State Bar Association
is scheduled for Tuesday az Albany. and
every lawyer who Is member OF the
association intends to bo present II he can
raise the price.
Il wouldn't miss il for $50, said one OF
the ChautauQua county members MY
cases will all 60 over the term
The proceeding before the State Bar
Association will loo simply the submission
of the report Of the grievance committee.
10 which the matter was referred year ago.
This report will be based upon the findings
OF the subcommittee, which held two ses-
slons last summer one at Dunhrk and the
other at Fredona and on both occasions
took vouminous testimony on the question
at issue. This subcommittee consists of
Prof. E. W. Hudcut. dean of the Cornell
law school. chairman: Robert o. Basoom of
Fort Edward, secretary; S. C. Huntington
of Pulaski John Desmond Of Rochester and
r. w. Johnston Of Albany,
The matters under investigation are
outlined at length In tho report OF Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Brstow who
investigated various cases Of alleged graft
in the Post Office Department. From those
matters the committee took four specific
cases in which It was alleged that Supreme
Court Justice Warren b Hooker was In
terested These cases We're.
The appointment OF Frank p. Ball Of
Fredonia, n. Y. as lnborer in the Fredonia
post Office. and tho payment to him of
s2.532.o7, for which no services wero
rendered
The appointment Of Katherine X. Clark
OF Fredonia. n. Y, to a place in the Fort
Plain post Office and her subsequent transfer
10 tho Fredonia office.
The appointment of Maurice Hooker.
n nephew of Judge Hooker. to position Of
hborer in the Fredonia post Office.
The lease of building for post ofloc
purposes in Dunkirk which was owned by
Justice Hooker and State Tax Commissioners
Lester +. Stearns, and the subsequent
increase OF rental.
THE FRANK BALL CASE.
OF all these matters, the Ball transaction
is the most interesting Mr.. Ball was a
ticket broker in Fredonia. The anti-soalp-
ing law was passed and no did not desire
to continue his occupation. ltappears from
his testimony, which was given before the
committee in secret session, that in 1890
he engaged in an oil deal in which Judge
Hooker was interested The project was
Ill in Wc4t VIRGINIA Rail
had one-sixth interest. Two Of the
partners he said were Mrs Hooker. wife
Of Judge Hooker. and one W. Il Barker
He borrowed 81. 700 OF Mrs. Hooker and gave
her his note for that amount. Tho oil
Gal was not successful, and at the time Of
his appointment rs laborer In the post
office he was still indebted TO Mrs. Hooker
for the amount of the note 10 which were
added operating expenses. 30, which
brought the sum total to 50 o5s 60, which
amount was put in a note dated Sept. 10,
1898.
II is important TO bear this date in mind,
as it is a part Of the evidence before the
committee that on Oct II, 1893, just thirty
days before Justice Hooker resigned his
seat in Congress, this order was issued from
the Post Office Department at Washington
TO Postmaster A. r. Moore Of Fredonia
WASHINGTON. d. G.. oct II. 1895.
You are hereby authorized to appoint
Frank p. Ball "a laborer ia your oiIlco with
a salary at the rate OF $500 per unnum. You
viii please make this appointment ut once
and forward a report Of same to this ofice
on Form AS.
Penny S HEATH.
First Assistant Postmaster-General.
G W. h.
The above initials are supposed TO stand
for George W, Beavers, who was then SUI
perintendent of the salary and allowance
division Of the Post Office Department,
and Postmaster Moore had no hesitancy
in making tho appointment. 1t ia not
disputed that tho appointment was made
on tho accommodation Of Justice Hooker,
or at least that Justice, then Congressman,
Hooker, was Interested in the same, for out
OF the records at Washington the COM
mttee unearthed the following letter.
FREpuNIA. y T. jim. 10. 1880
DEAR BEAvFRs On my return home find
your letter concerning tho matter of Frank
p. Ball no the FreiouH Post Oncc Il
remember Il. We talked thar matter over
before 7 lcf. Washington. but for fear We
did rot l would suggest that have a great
luter>at ~ .dr. BAN and want to hive him
retained In the classified service u possible.
Thanking your asain FOR our Kindness,
an. For- sincerely yours.
w. - HOOK m.
HooKERs INTEREST ~ THE CASE.
Why did Congressman Hooker have n
great interest in Nj Ball?" Tho testi-
mony which tho committee dragged from
the reluctant lips Of Mr. BAN himself may
perhaps suggest an answer. For example
read this:
q Noyr is ~ not tn4c that suhst1nrialiv