The Washington herald., 1908-05-14
TO PROBE FOR GUILT
Commissioners Determined
to Sift Charges of Graft.
GRAND JURY TO SEE EVIDENCE
Reports of Hearing 10 Be Submitted
to District Attorney Baker-AttOr-
ney for Brennan Has Not Yet
Named Witnesses Required for In
quiry Into Statement Made.

Maj, Jay J. Morrow. Engineer Commits
sioner, yesterday decided il there is SUM-
cient evidence OF graft in the engineer
/ department, he is willing to cooperate
with the District attorney. and do all
| IN his power TO uncover such corruption.
All stenographic reports Of the evidence
presented at Tuesdays hearing on the
charges preferred by P. J. Brennan will
be forwarded to District attorney Baker.
Commissioner Morrow states that, Il.
after the investigation now in progress,
the District attorney considers the charges
Of sufficient Importance. he will present
them to the grand jury.
Corruption 10 BE Sought ont.
II corruption exists in the engineer de-
partment. as was suggested by Mr..
Brennan's attorneys yesterday" said
Maj. Morrow. the Commissioners are
anxious to have proof OF its existence.
Mr.. Brennan will be given every op-
portunity TO present any evidence he may
have. The Commissioners will summon
any witnesses desired by him"
At o'clock yesterday afternoon. when
business closed at the District office, the
Commissioners had not received the
names of the witnesses whom the counsel
for the Brennan Construction Company.
G. /. Baker. stated. at the hearing on
Tuesday, should be sobpoenaed.
II was left TO Mr.. Brennan's attorney
to name the witnesses he wanted sub
poenaed in connection with the charges
against Mr.. Fernald, formerly assistant
engineer OF highways. who was required
TO resign by the Commissioners. Mr..
Baker had not submitted the names Of
the desired witnesses to the Commission
ers last evening.
Question Excites Further Inquiry.
The desired witnesses are those who
may in any way clear up the situation
produced by the question that Maj. Nor
row put to Mr.. Brennan. namely:
DO you remember on one occasion, ="
asked Mai Morrow. telling me OF
rather mysterious visit paid one evening
either at your house by Fernald or at his
house by you Il don't remember) In which
you told me Fernald had told you that
he and other men in the engineer depart
ment were in the habit OF receiving IA
vors or taking money from eoRtractorsg'
This question Mr.. Brennan refused TO
answer until he had the proper witnesses !
10 substantiate his word. Immediately
Charles A. Douglas, counsel for Brennan,
asked that the case be continued IN order
that the proper witnesses might be sum-
moned. The case was adjourned over un-
I'll tomorrow at the request OF Mr. Doug
las, who had several out-of-town cases to
argue before a court yesterday and to-
day.
Air. MRcfarIand's Views.
In speaking of the matter, Commits
sioner Macfarland said:
Tie Commissioners win. Of course. 60 to the bot
tom Ct the whole matter. ineluding whatever may
be testified CT suggested By these witnesses. and
viii subpoena them as soon their names are fur
uished, as we stated az the hearing On Tuesday.
Il docs not seem to be understood that the nresti.
cation Of this matter was APPOINTED by the Com
missionsTs Of their own volition and not al the
reques- of anybody, and that they have announced
repeatedly that they pTopose 10 get all the facts
and do justice 70 everybody concerned.
They viii summon anybody who is supposed to
know anything On the subject II any criminal acts,
whether they be bribery or perjury. or any other
develop they viii send 70 the United States DIS
Tict attorney the evidence which IS being taken
in shorthand. - that the matter may be presented
to the grand jury. The purpose Of the Commits
sioneTS 70 get all the facts and 10 punish any
one whom the facts showed To be guilty.
We will also consider the entirely different cues
tion raised hy the request Of the Brennan Con-
struction Company that Il should be given work
ordered to be done by the Crawford Paving Com
pany, aud its charge Of fayoTitism in connection
Herewith.
! an informed that Mr. Fernald who has been
Ill, and 50 not able 10 be at the hearing yes-
tsTday IS sufficiently recovered so that he can b
present at the next session. which was deferred 20
meet the convenience Of Charles A. Douglas com
sci for the Brennan Construction Company who
had engagements in court.