Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-22
FEATURE AT THE HEARING
Take Further Steps in "Favoritism
Investigation.
TO SUBPOENA BANK CASHIERS
Sidney Bieber Denies Assertion by
Secretary Of the Brennan Con-
struction Company.

ant engineer of highways. who resigned
about a month ago by request of the
Commissioners. deposited more than s16
On0 in the National Capital Bank of
Washington between June % 1904. and
January 20, zoos. was testified at the
session today of the investigation of
charges of favoritism on the part of the
District engineer department in awarding
contracts
The figures We're furnished by Henry II.
Mckee. cashier of the bank mentioned.
who placed in evidence the books of the
institution showing deposits " Fernald.
Being unable to say whether or not the
deposits were made in the form of checks
and TO arrive at conclusion as to the
character of the deposits the Commits
sioners will call on the cashier of every
bank in the city TO furnish any informa-
ton they may have relating to the de-
posts.
Sidney Bieber. alleged by .. II. Perry
johnson. secretary of the Brennan COM
pany, 10 have offered him $4,000 if the
Brennan company would hold aloof from
submitting bids for asphalt work last
year. was a witness and said the allu-
sion TO him is untrue. He added that
he never made such an offer, but that he
pha. plant of the Brennan company and
to take up a $40 900 mortgage that he I'M
derstood was outstanding. He said he
was representing no one but himself. In
answer 20 a question from Attorney Doug
las he said his intention was to embark
in the asphalt business.
Explains Fernald's Bank Account.
Henry H. Mckee. cashier of the Ma
tional Capital Bank of Washington. IN
which institution Fernald has had an ac-
count since 1304, was the first witness AT
the session this morning. His testimony
consisted chiefly of reading from tran
script sheets of the deposit books show
ing the deposits made by Fernald. These
deposits dated from June ~. 1904, to jan
uary -, 1acs. inclusive. During the time
Fernald made total deposits of Sl6.o93oo.
and on May 1 this year he had balance
of S2s5.
In compliance with A request by Attor-
ney Douglas of counsel for Brennan. Mr..
Mckee read the individual deposits MADE
by Fernald during the time mentioned, as
follows:
June -. 'O4 $1,000: May Il, '0o. $500:
June is, 'O5. 1910; August l. 'Oo. $50;
September s. o5. S7c0; November l. o..
5000: November Il. % $500: December Is:
o., 81. o2O; December %. '0o. $1,000: April
IL 90 500; April -. 'O6, Sl.3OO. May :,
81, 500; December "a, 'O7, $50. and jan
uary 20. os $3.50.
Character Of Deposits.
Mr.. Mckee was unable to furnish the
Commissioners with any idea of the ma
ture character of the deposits. other
than the date of deposit and the amount.
The Commissioners were exceptionally
anxious to know whether the deposits
were made by checks. and. II so.
by whom the checks were drawn. and in
order to ascertain this information Com
missioner Mcfarland. upon the sugges-
ton of Commissioner Morrow. stated that
the Commissioners will send letters to
the cashiers of the various local banks
asking for any information in connection
with checks that might have bearing
upon Fernald'S finances. and IT this IN
formation is not forthcoming voluntarily
the Commissioners will subpoena every
bank cashier in the city to testify be-
fore the board.
This information is vitality important"
Mr.. Mcfarland said.
Before Mr.. Mckee left the stand Com
smissioner Morrow asked him whether or
not any large deposits were made by
Fernald some time near April ] og this
year. at which time the award of the
contract for paving 1st street was made
. which award. II is alleged. was made
by Fernald TO favor Crawford Mr.. Nc
kee replied that none had been made.
Payment of Amount of Trust
After learning from Commissioner Nor
row of contract awarded Charles Nc
Dermott of the McDermott-M cMulen
Construction Company. July 1. 1904 At
torney Douglas asked the witness if any
large deposits were made by Fernald
around that period. The sheets showed
that June ~ Fernald deposited xlWsl
Commissioner Morrow said that award
was decided three or four days before 1t
was formally made.
Edward l.. Hillyer. assistant secretary
OF the Union Trust Company, the next
witness. produced records of his COM
pany showing the transactions in connec-
tion with a deed of trust made by Fer
maid on his 9TH street property. The trust
was for $1,000. and was taken Nav l.
1903 to run for three years The entire
amount. with per cent interest was
shown to have been paid in full by Fer
maid Februry ! of this year. although all
the notes were not due until February of
next year The records also showed that
December "A. 1907 Fernald paid five quar-
terly notes at one time The first of these
five notes was not due until February !,
'sJs, and the last February 4, 1893.
As to Dumping Earth on Plaza.
Francis s. Carmody. a general con-
tractor. the next witness. said he did ex-
cavating work and dumped earth in the
plaza. but that he never expected the Dis
trict to pay him for the earth Charles
Stewart. q contractor who did the ex
eavating al the House office building
jointly with Brennan. testified several
days ago that he was under the impress
sion that the District would pay for the
dumping OF earth in the plaza
Mr.. Carmody also testified that he had
peen acquainted with Fernald for fifteen
years and always has known him 10 no
straishtforward and honest He said a
S1raishter or falrer man than C. NJ.
George Blair, timekeeper for the
Drew-Sheehan Company at the time rho
proposals for the paving of 1st street
were submitted. the next witness stated
that he handed the Drew Sheehan nro
posals To Fernald in person at 11.45
o clock I'm. a certain DAY. He fold Fer
maid he would wait for the openinp of
the bids. 10 which Fernald replied that
the bids were Informal and would not be
opened within two or three hours and
probably not for two or three DAYS
ID. NJ Sheehan of the Drew -Shaebap
company testified that two DAYS before
submitting the bids for the ST street
work Fernald told him that the bids would
be formally opened nj the noon hour the
date specified. John r. joyce a contractor
who was with him during this converse
ton, corroborated the testimony
Mr.. Bieber and Attorney Douglas.
When Mr. Bieber was called he gave
the Commissioners his version of The
SIS 900 offer made the Brennan COMPANY
He said there was persistent rumor
about a year ago that the Brennan COM
pany was going to the wall and that the