The Detroit times., 1908-11-24
TEsT|F|Es
GARNER WALKS
WERE FAULTY
CEMENT SHY IN QUANTITY AND
OF POOR QUALITY, SAYS EN-.
olNEER JERoME-HALL AND
MAYOR sPAT.


Jerome was on the stand nearly all OF
Tuesday morning testifying In the libcl
suit Of William Garner against Mayor
Thompson. He told of the condition
Of the Garner walks as he found them.
and his testimony proved q strong
card for the defense.
Mr. Jerome told OF 'examining walks
in different parts Of the city. and In
very few cases did he find them ny
to specifications. he said. In most
cases the cinder .founoauon was four
inches thick, instead OF six. az the
specifications called for. and there
was never more than 3 IA inches of
cement, including the top or wearing
surface. The specifications called for
three inches of stone concrete and
one inch of wearing surface. The
wearing surface In most places. the
former engineer testified. was from
one-half to three-quarters Of an inch
thick, and the cement OF such poor
quality that he could stick pins
through 1t. and did SO number OF
times.
The defense introduced a number OF
photos OF Garner walks taken recent
lily by Detective Sergt. Quackenbush,
OF the corporation counsePs ONCE.
These photos show the walks to be In
bad condition. The photos were OBJ
jected to by Attorney Hall. who said
that there was no evidence to show
that Garner Bros. have ever been ask
ed to make repairs. and for all the
Jury knew the mayor could have
smashed the walks in order to obtain
evidence. The defense endeavored,
with the aid of Mr.. Jerome's evidence.
to get the photos before the jury, but
Mr.. Hall opposed at every opportunity.
A warm fight Is promised over the ad-
mission Of the photos.
Testimony connecting Frank Hib-
bier with the Arm Of Garner Bros. was
given by Charles Hines. former fore.
man employed by the plaintiff. He said
that Mr.. Hibbler hired and discharged
men, and often complained to him
when too much cement was used. He
said the men were more afraid of
Hibbler's opinion than Of Gamers.
Hines told Of using brick bats In the
foundation of several hundred feet OF
walk on the east side. He said the
bricks were sent to the work from
Gamers yard, and were used as Ions
as they lasted.
The finish of Mayor Thompson'a
cross-examination was interesting
chiefly on account of the wordy Ell.
counter between the mayor and At.
torney A. b. Hall.
Hall tried hard to get the mayor to
say what he meant by the word rob
ber." which II Is alleged he applied
TO the plaintiff. but his honor denied
using the word. and side-stepped the
questions like seasoned campaigner.
Now, see here. Mr.. Thompson.
you've got to answer that question
some time. and you may just as well
answer 1t now" Mr.. Hall said.
you can't bluff me-" retorted the
mayor.
Nobody can b!uff you. You're all
right. But II you did use that term
what did you mean by it?"
Here Judge Mandell ruled that the
line Of questioning was not proper,
and Mr.. Hall dropped the inquiry.
An attempt was made to show that
the mayor had used his charges
against Garner for political purposes,
but the mayor said he referred to
them only once. and that was In a
speech In the Sixth ward against Aid.
Field,
The mayor was asked why he car.
ried away the letters recommending
Garner walks, which were presented
TO the committee on streets at the
time Hall represented Garner before
the committee. The mayor replied
that b took them away to see that
Hall was telling the truth.
You have been in public life 1G
years, M. Thompson. and you say
that during that time you gave out
an interview every day. Did you ever
say good word for any man in all
that timer"
Judge Mandell interfered before the
mayor could answer, and excluded the
question.