The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-26
'DERNOTT LEFT
WHEN TRIAL BEGAN
Admits Employer Left City
Day After Fernald
Case Opened.
NO BRIBES GIVEN,
OVERN DECLARES
Doesn't Know Where Contractor Is,
But Sure He Didn't Seek
to Escape Stand.

That Charles 8IcDermott. the contrac-
tor from whom Fernald IS alleged 10
have said he received $500. left the city
the day following the beginning OF the
investigation BY the Commissioners into
the charges OF favOritism in the giving
Of District contracts, was the testimony
offered by James J. Overn, an engineer
Of The MCDermott- -8IcMuIien Construc-
ton Company today.
On examination. Mr. Overn de-
clined 10 say whether or not he sus-
pected that MCDeTmOtt is evading the
! subpoena issued by the Commissioners
| foI his appearance al the investigation.
Replying 10 q question by Commits
| sioner Aacfarland. AIr. Overu said that
| he Goes not know where McDermott IS
| at present, but that 1t was his under
! STANDING Jhas -ns contractor was in
| Philadelphia yesterday. 10 answer a
| summons as =. witness in q damage suit.
| When did Mr MCDermott leave
| Washington asked M s1acfarIana.
| tnihk he lett " eOnesday. the l5Ln,'
; was the answer
That was the day following the be-
| ginning OF this inquiry"
IL " as, replied the witness
] continuing, the witness SAID AcDer-
mott went 70 Pa.iaGelpnla, and 70 the
EOTII- eIn part OL New ork state where
he tried 10 locate him: later he said.
| ne went 10 Cleveland.
On last FRIDAY ue said he was In
Phna0eignia ana mad personal Ia
ieFFleW with McDcrmCtJ
| The statement has Jeeu made" said
Commissioner mcfarland, that her
nald mas said that ue received S6.yyg
from McDerE1Ou. 1 ask you broadly II
you know OI any such transaction. or
( ' neither McDeruOu gave money 10 any
0ther emplOye OF tie District govern
meTC'
i knew Of no such transactions"
CIOss-Ex4mlnes Witness.
Cross-ezaminIng the witness, AIr.
Douglas said.
You knew when McDermott left that
the charge was pending that he had
paid money to -FernaIdy'
1t did not know OF a formal charge
replied Dir. Overn. 4 knew from the
papers that there had been some such
inumatiCn-"
Did you communicate with NcDer-
mott by letter. telephone or telegraph,
concerning these charges2"
Didn't you regard the charges as
From the shape Of the charges. they
could not be anything but serious" wCs
Did you send him the papers contain
ing The accounts Of the investigation o.
NO"
You are AIcDermott's personal repre-
/ sentative, and yet you say you did not
/ keep MIN informed IS 10 what was going
; on in Washington Were you asleep
all of last week?"
Did Little Sleeping.
I The witness replied that he did no
sleeping in the day time Going into
his visit 70 Philadelphia. the witness
was questioned closely by Attorney
/ Douglas as 20 his conversation with
! McDermOtt regarding the investigation.
Mr. Overn said that the charge con-
, cerning BcDermott was not discussed
! specifically. Though there was q gen
: eraI coavers ltion concerning the inves-
: tigatIon. lfeDermott. he said. told him
that he was going 70 Norfolk on the
! following day. and that Monday he was
: 70 appear in answer 70 a subpoena In
Philadelphia
- The witness said he gave McDermOtI
tile Washington papers containing an
? account Cf the investigation, but they
/, were not read by the contractor at that
time. and that 10 specific remark was
n made by him concerning the hearing
o which the witness could remember.
a ..Don't you know" said AR Douglas
< (and in reminding YOU that you are IN
der oath. 1 am doing only my duty1.
Z, don't YOU know, from your CONVERSE
. ton IN Philadelphia with McDermott.
!, that ne is eyadinE the process issued
= / by the Commissioners Tor ms aIpgIl- 5ll
d snce as a witness in this investlga-
: u do not know that from AIcDer-
. mott" was the reply.
e Refuses to Answer.
q ..,0r from ANYBODY eIsee'' continued
E the attorney
n Your question was whether I knew
I IL from McDermott. Ny reply is that
5 l know it neither from him or from any
= other source" said Mr. Oyera.
d Don't YOU suspect. Mr.. Overn," con-
IA timed Mr.. Douglas, that McDermott is
II evading the subpoena issued by the
s Commissioners
l Il have no TgnJ 20 suspect any ''i-'-7
e Then" said Mr.. Douglas. you de-
cline to state your suspicious. ..--
= decline 70 answer your cues '-oi'7
ar along those lines was the reply
II when Mr.. Overn finished Commission
| er Macfarland said:
- is not too late for AR McDermoIt
y, to apDear This investigation began
1t Nav p Mr.. Overn says Mr. McDer-
al moi left one day later. Ihe CoulInlS-
ne sfonsrs issued the subpoena, OF Whcn
re MIR. NcDermott has had notice, on May
as - when his name was furnished TO the
-, tTt',,,,,lissioners. - II Mr. McDeTmott does
as not appear, the Commissioners VIII take
notice of that fact in their conclusions
Moreover, the entire record OF TINS near
ing il being SEN day by day 10 the
IT9tted States ettorney for the DistTlci
q Of Columbia. anC he will have the entire
= record when We finish
Brennan Is Recalled.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Overn's tes
" tIunony. p J. Brennan was recalled q
< the stand. With the statement that th'
- charges Of corruption against ''ernalt
10 had in the opinions Of himself und hi
" attorneys, been substantiated Mr.. Bren
Mt nan asked that ihe Commissioners an'
&c attorneys cOnhne their questions 20 tn
- charges Of favoIit4s.n.
I should not be maae TO appear,