The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-23
MAY ARREST MAN
OHARA SAYS TRIED.
TO PURCHASE VOTE
.---~-----
Councilman Names Alleged Bride
0fferer in Statement to
STAR.
CONTRACTOR
OFFERED HIM $3.50
Wanted Suburban Water COM
pany to Get North Arlington
Contract, Is Charge.

An arrest at any m may be
made in connection with the alleged
attempted bribery charges made by
Councilman Edward O'Hara, of North
Arlington. Acting Prosecutor John r.
Mackay, of Bergen county, said at
Hackensack today that he was waiting
for a statement which O'Hara has made.
O'Hara claims he was offered $3.50 by
a Kearny contractor to vote to give the
North Arlington water contract to the
Suburban Water Company In preference
to the Jersey City bid, which was much
lower. o'Hara said. today that he had
not yet heard from Mackay.
O'Hara's Statement.
Councilman O'Hara dictated a COM
plete statement of the alleged transac-
tlon to the STAR. which he afterward
signed in the presence of W witnesses.
1t is as follows:
Last Monday afternoon a Kearny
contractor came to my blacksmith
shop at IS Herbert street, Newark,
and said: II have been in a certain
office all day ~transacting business
WdS ttQucSltul 10 see you ana
two other councilmen. There is $3.50
= in it for each of you to vote for the
Suburban water people"
/ said, "Mr. - am very sorry
you came to me- with such a propo-
sition."
He said. Don't gel hot, and
think this thing over"
He said, You will have to pound
.----
$3.50"
said, 81 am well aware of 1t. and
it is darn hard work, 70
He said: II am going to leave you
now and see the other two. You
think the thing over I bid him
good-day. That same evening I
went up IN the hill at Kearny ave-
nue. and Belleville turnpike and met
him again. accidentally. I went
ovcr to him and talked to him about
one thing or the other, aid then /
asked him: How is this money to
be paid?" He said: "The money is
to be paid to me. Then I am to
meet you Councilmen and we are to
go out for a hi of a good time.
and then each one gets his handed
to him." / said: How is it IL I
Gail get THESE OCH6T oOunC1lmen 10
vote for it without money?, He
said: "Tll tell you, O'Hara: there
is 1000 to be divided, $3.50 to each
Councilman and $3.50 for myself for
my trouble. YOU work them and
then Well divide up" AT that time
a car came and / got on.
"Its All OFF,
met him at I o'clock Wednesday
morning as 1 was going to work.
He said. How are things?" 1
said: Its all. OFF,"
The Kearny contractor. referred to by
Councilman ,O'Hara was seen at his
home and told of the charges made by
the Councilman. He said:
Maybe O'Hara will know more
about this before long. I've known
Beall, of the water company, fifteen
years. Yes, I met O'Hara Wednesday
morning and had a talk with him, but
it was entirely personal. Years ago I
figured on a job for Beall, but nothing
came of it. I also figured on laying
pipes for the Staten Island job in which
the Suburban company Is interested,
but l have not yet heard from It,"
The contractor was asked:
How about the charges made against
you by Councilman O'Hara to the effect
that you tried to bride hlm?" He said
Il will neither deny nor affirm it."
North Arlington has just had q water
supply system installed and is endeav-
oring to make a contract. The Jersey
City company offers water at the rate
of $50 per 1000 900 gallons. while the
Suburban company asks ss2.5o for the
same amount