New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-21
DALTONG NGETSBACKHARD
"TIFS" REPLIES AHEARN
Chief Begged Him to Sacrifice Him
self, Says Witness.

dent Ahearn from the once OF commissioner
NJ Public Works, on the stand before the Com
r,,isstoners of Accounts swore yesterday that
Mr. Ahearn after getting his refusal to resign,
+earfullv inplored him TO get out and prom
ised him a share in the profit of plumbing firm
fO'Brien Ryder. which for three years has
been doing an exceedingly large and profitable
business with the city orders from the Bor-
ough Presidents various bureaus.
Daltons testimony was the most sensational
heard in an inquiry in this city since thefLexow
investigation.
Borough President Ahearn yesterday after
noon after seeing in print what Dalton had
sworn 10 before the Commissioners Of Accounts
said Dalton was lying. When the Borough
Presidents comment called TO the atten-
ton OF Mr. Dalton, he said:
ITS easy enough for Ahearn 10 saw I'D there
in his office that I am lying but why don't he
say it under oath? I invited him TO and sug-
gested TO the Commissioners of Accounts that
ne be called to listen to my testimoy. 1 testified
to the facts, and most of them be substan-
tiated by the records. Let Mr.. Ahearn take the
witness stand and refute my statements If he
can"
Dalton says the Borough President suggested
10 him that certain plumber (meaning, Dalton
says, Patrick J. Ryder, now critically il) would
not last much longer. and that If Dalton got
out it would allow him. Ahearn, to save
himself, and Dalton could enjoy the profits
cruing 10 Ryder. and later. when the noise died
down, Dalton could come back into the service
Of The city in some capacity. Dalton testified
that he spurned these propositions.
DALTON SUPPORTS ASSERTIONS.
Early in the day Mr.. Dalton sent letter to
the Commissioners OF Accounts. which follows
in part:
I wish 10 make a tew remarks concerning the
character of the evidence l have TO offer in sup
port Of the assertions made in my letter Presi-
In. In large q =. part it is documentary, and VIII be
fee at the offices Of the Commissioner and heads
oral susceptible Of support or contradiction only
by other oral testimony. For that reason l would
Of the president As evidence will be given under
cam, Tdth attendaat responsibility and penalty
under the same conditions.
resign Office eoupied With assurance i and khow
edge that l was perfectly blameless. and that It
President Ahearn from the embarrassing and dan
gerous position brought on by the developments of
These These reg9esis have all been made orally, and
declaration through the public press that he would
reassert under oath what has occurred, and would
certainly Inuch prefer TO DO this IN the presence
hs you'd be compelled to make admission or de
responsibility I have the right demand that no
contradiction denial be accepted by your COM
Y was called TO see Mr.. Ahearn." said Mr. Dali
ton. when he took the stand yesterday morning.
"and he said 10 he wanted me to resign TO
save him. He asked me II / would not get out,
and said wanted any one TO get out who
was guilty. And then asked him if he would
name wrong act OF mine But 1 refused to
get out. did not believe 1 was called upon to
do So
" Why don't you resign on the understanding
that you going into business" he asked me.
said that I did not propose to do so, and he
asked me how he expected, if no charges were
made against me, he could save himself. He
said might go into business. and he asked me
what business I had been in. / said the butcher
business. Then he said If I would get out with
business IS excuse he would accept II, but he
said that made 1t seem best for me to leave the
department. 1 said I couldn't do that and 1
wouldn't do t.
AHEARN ASKED HIM TO RESIGN.
In day or two 1 went in and saw him again.
He asked me once more if I would resign. I told
him that ] could not and would not under the
circumstances.
Now he asked me why do you act in that
way? Why don't you help me? We are both
district leaders and ought to work together
refused, and then he went on: This won't last
out now we will put in a man from out of the
organization who will be taken up and hailed
by the newspapers ard the public. Finally the
noise VIII die down, and then you can come back
again
refused again, and 1 said that had worked
long and faithfully had taken very few vaca-
uors' and I said again that did not propose to
get out He said 10 me, You have worked hard
and had too long hours Suppose you get out
ana let your salary be made up TO you in some
other way. Now, there is a gentleman who will
not last long, and when he is gone there is no
reason why you should not get his share Of the
profits Of the plumbing.
suppose he meant Mr. Ryder who is in very
Dad health told the Borough President that
mad been in politics many years and that
was just about as poor man as when went
in.
said TO the Borough President: I never
wanted 70 come into your office The conditions
are not good didn't want TO go in knew
ne mad no executive ability Then. when he
sAea me again to get out, I refused 10 do 60
e appealed again TO to do So and 7 re
iusea ana he said he guessed he'd have IN send
me q letter That about 4:3o in the .e.r
noon AT t;3o letter was brought " w..
i Dai,on was then asked as 10 the refer
ehce ne had made to the profits ~ ~ r1,,,.,,
'"s mace ny the firm of oBrien 3 pvoer,
tho, = -. 10 mention Mr. oBrien's name bu+
!" the hrin think which was roeant..
rta. 10'i s1iu ne did not know that anv
60. - "a "au used TIC basement n, tho
ond ., -. - e--guSe Ior the storage of lumber
ana II any lumber was stored 4bao .. 1i'Dei'
he the city's." he did NOT 49,, II ought TO
or workshops in the same buildlr, -, ~s ''llces
% private persons he said 80 iei''sd