New-York tribune., 1907-05-11
EXAMINE EAGAN'S BOOKS
PRODUCED RELUCTANTLY
Ahearn Investigators Find Lumber
Dealers Memory Poor.

Most of the investigation yesterday into the ad-
ministration of Borough President Ahearn was de-
voted to examination of the books of John
Eagan lumber dealer of No. 500 West cath street,
and of the affairs of William II. Walker, Superin-
tendent OF Public Buildings and Offices. Mr..
Easan who spent most of the day on the stand,
was reluctant TO produce his books, protesting that
they were needed badly in his own office, and he
betrayed certain lack of memory concerning some
Of the entries and what some of the investigators
thought to he erasures IN the entries.
Mr.. Eagan testified that he had sold lumber 10
Thomas A. Tydng, a carpenter who had worked
for the Department of Public Buildings and Offices.
commissioner Mitchell asked for the subpGnaed
books which contained the entries for these trans
actions. Mr.. Eagan said he had been too busy to
produce them He ordered TO have them at the
hearing by 2:3O o'clock
Recess then taken, during which Superin-
tendent Walker issued a statement in which he
said he had been informed that the Commissioners
Of Accounts intended to show by testimony that
bis earnings and his deposits did not agree. He
said that If such testimony permitted to go
unchallenged it would grossly misrepresent the
true state of affairs
My three sons he said. "are in the lumber
business, and it has been my custom to make all
of the deposits for them, which amounted a
| much larger sum than my salary superintendent.
| make regular deposits of the proceeds of their
business and sign all checks for them which may
be necessary These young men never have done
a dollars worth of business with the city"
All o& Mr. Eagan's books containing entries re-
lating to transactions with Tyding and with Boyce
N Lynch were turned TO Mr.. Scudder Mr..
Eagan testified that his business with these firms
never was more than 800 or 500 a month. He had
smaller dealings with Walker Brothers, and some
times was paid by check. His recollection of the
character of these checks and the banks which
they We're drawn faulty nor it better re-
garding checks from Tyding. He admitted that in
one instance lumber for Tyding delivered TO
the establishment OF Walker Brothers and not on
the job, He also testified that bill for lumber
purchased by Tyding was sent TO No. 81 Christie
pher street, the premises, according to previous
testimony. being leased by William H. Walker.
commissioner Mitchell read then a long list OF
items charged 10 the city by vouchers on the
Finance Department, but which did not appear on
Eagans books being sold TO Tydng.
To expedite proceedings. Commissioner Mitchell
asked Mr.. Eagan to leave his books with the com
mission for examination by the expert accountants.
Ihe lumoerman would not agree TO this, but prom
books would be granted at his office. That did not
suit the commissioners so Mr.. Eagan said he was
supper money were promised him
lie was then asked about what appeared 10 be
books. He closely scrutinzed the entries and said
that the apparent eTasures were where some moist
Doesn't It look like new ink?'' asked Commits
Il don't know I can't say"
Where have these books been since yesterday
The difference in color of writing on the same
paper he explained by saying that different colored
inks were used in his office One entry IN an index
book showed the name Of r. A. Tydng written
over that OF the Commercial Twine Company with
a pencil note underneath. Travers Brothers Com
pany- Mr.. Eagan said that the Commercial Twine
Company had been succeeded by the Travers
Brothers Company, and he had made the pencil
note for his hookkeeper. who afterward had writ
ten IN the name OF Tydng. but for what purpose
he did not know
Mr.. Tyding was then asked TO read the items in
his books charging material TO Boyce x TydnE
and to 7. A Tyding 20 show that there dis
CrepanCy between the amount of lumber sold 70
the city by Mr.. Tyding and that charged to him
by Mr.. Eagan. who was the only one from whom
he purchased lumber for the city. previously
testified 10 by Mr.. Tyding The bills seemed "a
show that only about one-tenth much pur-
chased from Eagan by Tyding the latter charged
the CITY.
The process Of reading these Items became 90
monotonous that Commissioner Mitchell agreed "a
allow Mr.. Eagan to take his books back 20 his
place Of business and to send steuographer With
Mr.. Scudder 20 have a transcript taken OF the re-
mainder OF the items to-day.