New-York tribune., 1907-05-09
MEMORIES VERY BAD
ROCKS DESTROYED, TOO.
Commissioners Balked by 4hearn
Investigation ILLNESSES.

The familiar old answers Of Don't remember
and Books destroyed" were given yesterday by
,t,,sesez at the investigation of Borough Presi-
sor, Ahearns office by the Commissioners of Ac-
+e Thomas A Tidlngs who admitted on the
s.ord that he learned the carpenJering business
~ William IT, Walker. now superintendent of
b,ndings ana offices in Mr.. Ahearn's Office swore
,bat he did $500 $1,000 of business in
,es hut the volume Of business for the year he
could not remember. His account books for the
,aar 1876 be had destroyed. as he had no use for
then. The evidence brought out the fact that in
1904 1905 and 1906 superintendent Walker gave the
Tfdngs company verbal orders for work amount
ing 10 SIS SO o..
william Il. Starr. civil engineer. was then
sworn. He testified that a man by the name OF
Walker hired the property at No. - Christopher
street from August !, 1901, TO May 1906. He said
that Walker hired the place a carpenters shop.
William O. Ludlow. Il real estate dealer, identi-
fed Z. lease made out to William H. Walker by the
John G. Wendell estate for premises at No 2ls
West 51st street Witness said he did not know
the character Of the business conducted by Walker
on the leased premises.
The job work done by Tidings was one of the
first things taken up
Al the opening Of the session Commissioner
Mitchell called the names Of number of wit
aesses. some Of whom answered while others
did not Among the latter We're James AIcCleary,
Thomas NJ. Blake and Thomas a Tidings. After
their names We're called John w. Browne appeared
and said he represented McCleary. Blake and It'd
ings. He said he did not recognize the authority
of the commissioners examine witnesses in the
employ Of the city.
Commissioner Mitchell told him that the commits
sion aid not gree with him and denied his motion
10 represent his clients.
TIdfngs was then called. He said he was a car
uenter and builder III business for himself He said
he had learned the building business under Will
tam H Walker, the superintendent of buildings
and Offices He succeeded Boise & Lynch he. said
al No. 49 Christopher street. in the carpenter busi
ness. They were starving the time continued
Tdings ''and I told them give me q chance.
which they did and I am almost starving 20
death"
Tdnss said he did know where the firm
bought its lumber and could not recall just when
he began TO be employed by Boise & Lynch He
said that prior starting in his present place of
business at No Al Hudson street he had place
OF business at no. 2lS West Dist street in the
Brothers We're the Of William H Walker.
Superintendent OF public buildings and offices.
He said that II h told BTadstreetS he
employed by - Nalker as manager II mistake.
He said his CHIEF work was making repairs to
public buildings dis work represented Of
from S5s 10 $500 month during 1898. He the
bookkeeper for Boise z Lynch DUt could not recall
the volume OF their business.
He employed. on the average. six lie
instructed produce the books Yesterday after
noon, but protested that he had already lost half
day and wanted until to-day 20 produce them
Mr. Mitchell said ne was sorry % Inconvenience
him, but a. il was a matter OF public Importance
Il could not be helped
He then said that all HIS books I'D TO January !
OF this yeaE had been destroyed as he had no fur
ther use for them