Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-20
MORROW
AS INVESTIGATOR
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
sioner as to his investigation OF this mat
ter prior to its having been taken up by
| the board of Commissioners. WITHIN.
| should say. twenty-four hours. certainty
| within thirty-six hours OF the CONCLUSION
| of the hearing asked for by Mr.. Smith
of the Beau Construction Company. II
| was brought to my attention by Commls'
! sioner West that graver charges had been
made against Mr.. Fernald. l turned over
to Capt. Markham Immediately minute
| investigation Of this matter. ana the next
morning a conference was held in my Of
| flee between Mr.. Brennan. Mr. Fernald
| Mr. Hunt. Capt Markham and myself
On that date no facts were brought TO our
attention beyond the fact that MI FER
Maid had received 81 600 from Mr.. VAIN
wright under circumstances which have
related to the board of Commissioners
| in my motion calling for the resignation
of Mr. Fernald. 1t was also brought to
our attention at that time that Mr. Fer
an iron beam and small quantity OF
| broken stone from two different con-
| tractors in the District
| Nothing was stated at that conference
about any conversation In which the
| word "cLinchy" was used: nothing was
stated at that conference about a note
of $500. and 1t was found very difficult
TO get Mr.. Brennan side tracked from the
charges of favoritism which had been
| made by him as to the award of this
lieve-it may have been two days later.
but l believe the next day-it was
brought TO our attention that Mr.. Fer
nald had borrowed $500 from Mr.. Bren-
nan. This was looked into and found to
be correct. Mr.. Brennan. however.
stated that he had absolutely no belief
at any time that Mr.. Fernald had not
intended to repay him that $500. On the
first interview with Mr.. Brennan the
| latter had made the statement that he be-
| lieved Mr. Fernald to be absolutely hon
est: that Mr.. Fernald was more a fool
than knave.
Use of Expression "Chinchy."
| Possibly two days after this Mr.. Da-
Wis, Mr.. johnson and Mr. Brennan, in
company with Mr.. Church, also Of that
company. visited my office. Capt Mark
ham was present at the interview II
was on that occasion further information
was invited as to the use of the express
sion chinchy,' and. as 1 stated yesterday
LOT period of an hour or an hour and
half 1t was the earnest effort of both
myself and Capt. Markham to obtain
from these three members of the firm as
to whether or not they believed the use
OF this expression 'chinchy' on Mr. Fer
n fal part to mean that he was looking
/
| Il could not get Mr.. johnson to make
that expression of opinion; / could no,
get Mr.. Davis to make that expression
OF opinion. When asked whether or no,
they mad formed an opinion they stated
that they had. but both absolutely de-
ciined to express it.. Mr.. Brennan did
give it as his opinion. while stating al
that time that the expression had never
peen used to him by Mr.. Fernah Mr.
Johnson had heard 1t used by Mr.. Fer
Maid, and SO had Mr. Davis. Both OF
them were absolutely certain in their
| own knowledge that the expression had
not Deem used In any other place than a
large public place. and had not been used
of other public officials might have heard
! the expression. If they had been at ali
desirous of doing so.
As to Putting Up Money.
| AT this interview no facts were brough,
to our attention to indicate that Mr. Fer
maid had ever used the expression You
! Will have to put up the money or you
won't get the work. It was stated a,
that interview that he had stated, we
| change the grades before breakfast bu,
| that ne had used any such expression as
| you won't get work unless you put ur
money was not brought to our attention
| Mi Brennan at this interview told me
mat ne had gotten this information from
| a
considerably prior to his previous inter.
! view with me. and found it difficult to ex
plain how. in the light Of the fact tina,
ne mad formed the opinion that Mr.. Fer
MAID was after graft he could sx-
plain to me his statement at the previous
| nearing that he had considered Mr. Fer.
| maid absolutely honest and at that time
Tor the first time. he qualified 1t by stating
that he believed Mr.. Fernald to be honest
| according to his lights
| 'Durine that IN e 500.
extremely difficult to get Messrs Brennan.
DAVIS and johnson away from the desire
! 10 orlne che whole matter up in connec-
tion with the award of the contract OF
apou. year ago that evidently was the
| thihs winch was uppermost in their minds
After Mr.. Fernald's resignat ton was ac-
cepted, on my motion, at period possibly
ten days later. Mr.. Brennan. at a con-
ference In my ofiice. made the statement
that Mr. Fernald had told him that he
mad received this gift of money referred
to. at the same time stating to him: You
fellows are too chinchy. You won't get
any work unless you put up the money
Capt. Markham at that time called atten-
ton to the fact that this was the first
time Mr.. Brennan ever made the state
men to either Of us that a statement using
the expression 'chinchy' had been mad.
| to him by Mr.. Fernald and it was also
the first time any of us had been informed
that Mr. Ferpald had used such express
sions as You won't get work unless you
put up money.
Il am simply inviting the attention OF
the board to these details. as showing the
evolution in Mr.. Brennan's mind as to the
meaning Of Mr. Fernald in using the ex-
preston. You fellows are too chinchy.'
| Seeks the Absolute Facts.
I'm regard to the examination Of wit
| nesses. wherein 1 have been criticised
l want to state that I have been COM
plete in my cross examination of these
witnesses because / am satisfied that
the attorney for Mr.. Brennan is pos
sibly misinformed as to some facts. pos
sibly misunderstands some of the facts
| and without intending any defense OF
| Mr.. Fernald. without. possibly. intend
| ing any defense of the engineer depart
ment. except to defend it against unjust
criticism. | want to get before the
board of Commissioners the absolute
| facts in every case. to prevent any
statements of witnesses before this
board from being misunderstood by the
| board of Commissioners throug.. lack
| of direct application in the questioning
| of those witnesses. and I think a num-
Der of facts which would not otherwise
| come out have come out by reason Of
some Of the questions which have been
| asked by myself and Capt. Markham.
| Il want to state that the conversations
! of Mr.. Bradley's and those specific
| charges of Overwhelmingly. that the
expression 'chinchy' had been used to him
| and the statement. You won't get any
| brought to my attention after the separa-
| ton of Mr.. Fernald from the engineer de-
partment The conversations with Mr..
| Bradley were brought to my attention
| after the ordering of this investigation by
| the board of Commissioners.
Il =