The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-22
Denies That He Offered
Bribe for Crawford
Company.
WANTED AN EQUITY
IN BRENNAN PLANT
Bank Cashier Testifes That Fer
naId Had More Than $4,000
on Deposit

Sidney Bieber was put through a grill
ing exam n'.latiOn today in the hearing
now being conducted by the Commis-
siOners. in the Brennan Construction
Company charges.
1t had been said that Mr.. Bieber had
offered o. II, Perry johnson, secretary
OF the company, $1,000 if the company
would not compete for tie street paw
ing contract
MI Bieber vigorously denied that he
had done any such thing, declaring that
he had offered 10 purchase an equity in
the business for that amount.
Commissioner West and Mr.. Douglas,
counsel for Brennan, took part in the
s-quesuoning of Mr Biebor. and the
attorney tacetiously inquired if john
son had knocked him down when the
offer was made.
Commissioner West wanted 10 know if
Johnson jumped at the offer. Mr.. Bieb-
er denied both questions.
Fernald's Deposits.
From June %. 1901. inclusive. FernaId.
former assistant engineer OF highways,
deposited in the National Capital Bank
the sum of $l6093. 05, was the testimony
offered by Henry H. Mckee, cashier OF
the Institution.
John z. Laskey, attorney for FernaId. /
objected 10 the introduction of this testi-
mOny, citing decisions Of the Supreme |
Court in support OF his objection.
The attorney COntended that the rec
ord Of Fernald's bank account could not
be introduced unless il We're followed by /
evidence 10 show that his deposits were
directly connected with the matter un-
der investigation.
He was overruled by the Commission /
ers.
In response TO questions by Attorney I
Douglas. Mr. Mckee, reading from the /
records of the bank testified as 20 tle I
following deposits by Faruall.
June @, 1884, the date of the opening /
Of his account. $1,000 May IL 1905. $40. I
June 16. 1906, $50; August J. 1865, g 2g); 4
September e, 1875, 500; November l. 1906 /
500; November 10 IgJ5 500. December /
is. 1893. Sl,U2J; December -3. 1895. $1,000. +
Apru i, 1896 500: April j., 1906. 81, 80, +
Nay Z, 1906, $3.50: December n, 1907, /
$780, January 20. lyJs. $3.50.
Fernald's Withdrawals.
The following are the Withdrawals
from the bank during that period. /
Janu--, - 1906, $45g; March >, lg05,
$6.17935; April is, 1896 $346, June ], 1916. /
$3.50. July 6, 1896, S43l.55; December zt-I
1907, S5sl.25.
Reading from amounts paid by the
District to McDermott, os the AIcNuI-
len Construction Company, Attorney
Douglas pointed out TO tue board thar
number of the large deposits made
by Fernald were within a few days OF
the receipt by McDermott of money
a. I..t o. J
contractor from whom Feruald is al
legged TO have said that he received $500. 4
Mr., Mckee was requested by COmmis-
sioner Morrow TO obtain all the further
information possible concerning deposits
by Fernald. The Commissioners an
nounced at this point that all banking
institutions in the District viii be com
municated with for the purpose Of de-
termlning If Fernald held any other ac-
counts.
Payments on House.
f L. Hillyer. representing the Union
Trust Company, t@tihed that the
amounts paid on notes on q deed OF
trust on a house purchased by Fer
nald for $500 showed that the notes
We're paid generally a few days in ad-
vance, and within a day or So of Fer
maids depOsiting a sum in bank
The contract for paving First street, /
which, it is alleged, was given TO the
CRAWFORD Company following a CONVEX
SatIon between Joseph N II. Crawford
and Fernald, was the subject OF the
testimony of d. NJ. Sheehan. of the
Sneehan' Construction Company. Mr.
Sheehan said he was told by Mr.. Fer
maid To have his bid i'm by noon. ana
he was under the impression that n |
was opened "a that time.
The proposal, he said, was sent in a
sealed envelope, marked Proposal for
frrF.
dressed TO Mr.. FeTnald and iuclOsed i'm /.
a larger envelope addressed 10 the Dis
trict Commissioner.
Testimony heretofore has been intro
duCed TO show that the bids We're not
opened until the afternoon. following II
the receipt OF a bid from the Crawford Il
Company. which was not In the office at
u clock.
Sidney Bieber Testifes.
Following the testimony of John c. II
ROcke, formerly an officer Of the Bar
ber Asphalt Company, who said that
he had endeavored at one time TO ar
range a consolidation of business in
terests between the Brennan and Gran
ford companies. but that the deal had
fallen through, Sidney Bieber was call
ed TO tbe stand.
1T has been testified" p" said Commis-
sioner Macfarland, that you approach
ed ., H. Perry Johnson, secretary to
the Brennan Construction COmpauV
with an offer of S35, 900 # that company
would not compete for the contract for
street-paVing work Is that true?"
1T is not said Mr.. Bieber.
state then what your connection
with the Brennan Construction Com
CColtinued on Second Page)
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