The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-06
HOOKER PROMOTED GRAFT.
HAD MEN APPOINTED TO OFFICE
WHO DID NO WORK.
His Nephew Draws a salary in the FredOnia
Post ONCE for Work Performed BY
WOmAn-The Postmaster Compelled 20
Refund the Money 10 the Government.

FObt UWCe TOT NOTh FNfIufiHNu W
WOman-The Postmaster Compelled Il
Refund the Money 10 the Government
ALBANY April 5.-To-morrow will prob
ably witness the end Of the taking Of
testimony by the Assembly Judiciary Com
mittee in the investigation into the charges
against Supreme Court Justice Warren b.
Hooker. When the committee adjourned
to-day Congressman George n. Southwick
one Of the members Of the Tapeworm
Club, Of which Benjamip B. Odell, Jr., was
the ruling genius, was on the stand. He
had not finished his testimony. He will
be used TO show that Judge Hooker was in
Washington in the interests Of the Fredonia
post office grafters after he had been
appointed to the judicial bench.
Congressman Edward b. Vreeland, who
succeeded Judge Hooker in the House Of
Representatives at Washington, being
elected in 1885, was placed on the stand to-
day and testified that he had no con-
nection with the cases Of graft that have
| been brought out before the committee
| Although he was the Congressman Of the
district he had never been consulted in re-
gard TO the appc intment Of Katherine Clark
| Of Fredonia, who was originally appointed
| 70 the Fort Plain post Office in order TO evade
the civil service laws, and also Of Maurice
/ Hooker. who was appointed a laborer in
| the Fredonia post office at a salary Of 500
year and never did any work. These ap-
! pOintm we're made while Justice Hooker
| was on the bench and documentary evidence
| shows that the Judge was responsible for
! the appointments.
! Mr. Vreeland also testified that he had
! not been consulted in regard TO the matter
Of increasing the rental Of the Dundrk
post office from $3.50 TO 5000 a year.
| He had accompanied Justice Hooker to
| the Post Office Department when the Judge
| spoke TO First Assistant Post master-Genera
johnson in regard to the increase to 5000.
! but made no recommendation
Melvin II. Taylor, the Fredonia post
master who was caught in the graft game
| was on the stand for several hours. He was
! the most unwilling witness that has yet
been called. II was easy TO see that he did
not want to give any testimony that would
damage the case of his friend Judge Hooker.
But, not withstandhnE this, sufficient was
brought out to show that he consulted
Judge Hooker in nearly everything pertain
ing to the Fredona post o flce.
Albert Colbum OF Fredonia was the first
witness called to-day Colbum was one Of the
three men who, Frank p. Ball testified. had
attempted to coerce him (BalD into giving a
damaging statement against Judge Hooker.
Colbum emphatically denied Balls state
ments,
On cross examination by John B. Stanch-
field, Colbum was asked what he meant
by saying TO Ball as they were leaving him.
Frank, 1 suppose you will tell the truth
II you are called upon to testify before
legal tnbunalf@
Inc witness said he referred to the inves-
tigat.ol by the State Bar Associations
grievance committee which II was thought
would not be satisfactory TO the people
Of Fredonia, as the committee would have
no power TO swear witnesses.
Merwin H. Taylor, who was postmaster
at Fredonia from Nov. o. 1899, to April /,
1904. testified that be WAS appointed on the
recommendation OF Judge Hooker. The first
appointment which he made, he said, was
that OF Chauncey ID. Sessions, who Is a
nephew OF Judge Rockers wife He said
he made the appointment without consult
ing any one. Taylor, as witness, had bad
lapses Of memory.
Whom did you appoint neIt1' he was
asked.
Morris Hooker, be answered, but cor
rected that to Katherine Clark She Ia
the young woman who was appointed to
the Fort Plain post Office and then trans
ferred to the Eredonia office In order TO
escape the civil service laws.
Whom did you ask to have her ap-
pointed?'
I probably asked Judge Hooker
Frank W. Stevens, Of the jamestown Bar
Association, croes-examined Taylor.
report TO the Post Office Department,
made by the witness, was cNswn 20 him.
This report represented that bail was per-
forming regular work in the Fredonia
post office. The witness admitted that Ball
had done no work there, but he could not
tell why he signed such report. He said
he thought il was all right 10 pay Ball, as
he found his name on the payroll when he
took office
when you wanted Miss Clark transferred
from Fort Plain TO Fredonia, did you speak
to Judge Hooker about iti'
Il presume did
"Do you remember Morris Hookeri"
Yes, sir
who appointed him TO the Fredonia
post office3'
i did
did you speak 10 Judge Hooker about hY'
i went to him and asked him to help me
to get the appointment
oh no ! wrote TO the Department
and then asked Judge Hooker TO fix it,
The witness said that n woman did the
work that young Hooker was employed
20 do at a salary Of $50 a month.
Witness identified vouchers put in for
cleaning the Fredonia post Office. showing
that the bills were 81 quarter previous
10 the appointment OF laborpr 20 do this
work, at Justice Hooker's request, at a
salar-' of 500 year.
Taylor did not recollect that he had asked
for 500 a year for Janitor but bic letter
to George W. leavers at Washington
was read 10 refresh his memory after which
he reluctantly admitted the fact The
sweeping ont Of the Office had been done by
the clerks in turn after Hooker Was APP
pointed the same as II had been done pre-
viously. He had paid . 10 SO a month 70
the woman who did the work for Maurice
Hooker, and had paid Hooker the balance
remaining OF his salary. As he did not
know how much he had paid the woman
he was asked to produce his check stubs.
did you have any conversation with
Maurice Hooker as TO bis work
Il told him when wanted him would |
let him know
why didn't you have him do the work."
There II no reason on earth.
Can you give no explanation as 70 why |
YOU didn't have him do the work1r
Il can give no explanation
Letters from the Post Office Department |
sent In August, 1908, calling upon Taylor |
TO repay the Government the amount Of |
Hooker's salary, were offered in evidence,
together with Taylor's receipts for such /
refunds. Altogether, Taylor paid back /.
s., 500.
Taylor said he consulted with Justice |
Hooker before he repaid the moneys to the |
Government. He could not remember the |
circumstances surrounding his talk with
Hooker. He told him that the Govern
ment had drawn on him for the moneys
he had paid In salaries 10 Ball and Maurice
Hooker. Probably he had asked Justice