Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-14
BACKS HIS
CHARGE WITH
.AFFZDA WITS
E. R. WERDIN's ACCUSATIONS
ARE SERIOUS
CASE MAY UNVElL GRAFT OF
LONG STANDING
Former Street superintendent says
Real Estate Man Tried to Col
Iect In Connection with
Street Work
lContlnued from Page one.l


communication from one Ralph Sullivan;
October 20, 1906.
"Mr. Werdin: L have been trying to
find YOU in for some days, but have
never yet succeeded. l should like very
much to see you in regard to an I'M
portant Western Paving company mat
ter. Please make an appointment ana
oblige, RALPH SULLIVAN
Sullivan Calls
Mr.. Sullivan called some few days after
I received the same, but 1 was very busy
at the time He told me he had con-
tract with other paving companies that
he wanted me to sign.
I told him that l was too busy anu
could not see him at that time. He said
he would come back the following day,
and on the following day he came into
my private office and told me that he
had been instrumental In getting move
ment for the improvement of Jefferson
street, from Main street to Key West
street, under way, and that the other
two paving companies had signed a con-
tract with him agreeing to give him D
per cent of the gross amount OF the
contract for the Improvement OF Jef-
ferson street from Main street to Key
West street, and that he would like oui
company to sign up the same agreement
i said to Sullivan: "The work is to be
let by competitive bidding, and l do not
see why we should pay you commission
of per cent when you can do us no good
nor any harm in the matter"
Sullivan said: "I will show you what
l can do, as 1 will be on the job right
along while it is in progress, and / rep
resent the majority of the property own
ers on the street.
Tack It on Your Bid
He also said: "Mt. Werdln, there are
many little things that can be over
looked and the matter of my commission
could easily be saved in the amount OF
cement used in a job like that; besides.
you can tack 1t on to your bid and the
property owners will have to pay 1t.
I then said that l did not have time
to spend longer on the subject and would
have nothing to do with it. and he then
became angry and pulled out paper
from his pocket as he was leaving ana
said: II have contracts with the othei
two companies and I will cause you all
kinds of trouble from start to, finish II
YOU get that contract" and / responded
by telling him Ito go to it as soon as
he desired" and he left my office very
much enraged. and the incident was
closed. so far as 1 was concerned, until
the following communication from him:
Contract Void"
November A. 1907.
'western Paving Company, Fay Build
ing, City.
"Gentlemen: You are hereby notified
that a majority of the property owners
on Jefferson street, between Main ana
Key West streets, for the paving OF
which YOU hold contract, signed May 10,
1907. said work to begin within ten days
thereafter. or October q, 1907, consider
that Won have violated the time provision
in said contract, since no person living
on said street or interested in said work
has been able to detect the beginning OF
any work or any work done, either actual,
physical or technical.
'Said' property owners therefore COLI
slider said contract void, and you are
herebv notified that If your company Is
permitted to proceed with salo Worh vi.
der said contract, said property owners
vii file a majority protest after COM
pletion, for the purpose of resisting pay
ment of any or all moneys claimed unoer
RALPH SULLIVAN
"A property owner on Jefferson street
in above mentioned territory and repre-
sentative of other owners.
"P. S. A copy of the above protest
has been filed WITH tIlo podiu " Pu-
works of the city of Los Angeles, Cai:
"o'"S "R. s."
Dramatic Interview
On last Saturday, November 8, 1907,
between 4 and o'clock phoned TO Mr
Sullivan and asked him to call at the
office of the Western Paving company
and he said he would do so Immediately
7 told him / would like to see him.
Tt was 4:50 p m. when Mr.. SulilvaI'
arrived and substantially the following
conversation occurred between Mr.. sui
livan and myself:
Werdin-Hello, Sullivan.
sullivan-Hello, Werdin.
Werdin-Sullivan, what seems to be the
Suilivan-You ought to know-you
turned me down the last time was mere
to see you. -. ~
werdin-Well, I might have been iit-
t,e hasty the last time saw you.
suIlivan-I should say you was nave
been Iaving for you and did not think
7 would get YOU so soon, but now have
cauohr YOU with your breeches down;
This is a cold -blooded proposition win me.
Werdln-well, Mr.. Sullivan, what is your
nronosition? Cat the same time handlns
him cigar). .Gx :
Sullivan-I want an agreement 1or a
commission of 5 per cent on the contract
price for the improvement OF Jenersoh
street. 4h;,,,,