The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-09
BRAY TELLS HIS
SIDE OF STORY IN
COUNCIL PROBE
Investigation Begins and Alder
man Relates Incidents of
Phone Conversation.
OTHER WITNESSES
ARE ALSO HEARD
Committee Finally Adjourns, but
investigation Will Be Con-
tinued Friday.


vited investigation began last nigh
with a long rehearsal of his own stor.
and included h testimony of a few
other witnesses. The hearing by tn
special Common Council committee will
be continued Friday night.
Those subpoenaed today for the con
tinuance of the hearing are: Alderman
Joseph A. Wright, William E. Tuite
Peter j. O'Toole, Alderman Elmei
Mount, former Freebooter Amos Pierce
Document Clerk James A.. Taylor
Alderman Oliver M. Cairns, Alderman
James Shape, Police Captain Michae
Long, Fifth Precinct; Charles B
Schneider, treasurer w. H. Shurtl
Company; George E. Mausert, proprie,
tor of the Hotel Broad.
After a preliminary argument ovel
the advisability Of retaining q lawyer
to guide them in the investigation
which resulted in a tentative decision
on the part of City Counsel James r
Nugent, Alderman Bray and the com
mittee members not to engage counse
for the present, the investigators dis
posed quickly of p~reliminaries and
Bray was sworn.
The Bray incident occurred on Ma,
4. City Counsel Nugent that day ad'
vlsed the Common Council printing anc
stationery committee to reject all bid
for the years contract, on the GROUND
that the proposals before the commit
tee were unbalanced. Prior to the com
nittee meeting there was a rumol
about the City Hall to the effect thai
that majority would vote to override
the city counsers opinion and give the
contract to the w. H. Shurts Company
the lowest bidder.
Wright Telephoned Bray.
In a telephone conversation with
Alderman Bray. Alderman Joseph A
Wright, without divulging his identity,
arranged to meet Bray at the Hotel
Broad and limiting. he will testify, that
there would be 500 in it If Bray would
vote to TURF down the city counsers
opinion. Wright, with the city counsel
and some newspaper men, were in the
Broad Hotel hen Bray entered that
evening. The conversation on that
occasion between the city counsel and
Bray formed the basis Of the present
lnVeStlgatlng cOmmlLtee.
City Clerk James F. Connolly pro-
duced certified copies Of all the records
involved in the case. and Alderman
Charles H. Gaffney, as chairman,
opened the inquisition.
Bray Tells His story.
Chairman G~affeney and Alderman
Congelton told Bray after he had beer
sworn to explain to the committee why
he had asked for an investigation. He
said:
THE reason why I asked for an in
vestigation is that on some date during
the past month I was called to the
telephone and asked If I would meet a
party down in Broad street"
Alderman Sinnott-What vas the
name of this party?
Bray-He gave nc name; he just
telephoned he wanted to meet me.
told him 1t vas impossible because
was going on an inspection with the
construction and alterations committee
and from there to Overlook, and thai
l was going to have supper at the
Greisenheim. After supper I expected
to go to the City Hall and would gel
there very late. He spoke of a certain
number on Broad street. 1 don't re-
member the name of the place. I know
I once met Mr.. Nugent there. I says
us there where Mr.. Nugent and all the
politicians usually hang out?" He said
1--WE won't go there, then; this is pri-
vate business; let's meet at the Hote
Broad, He said there was going to be
a meeting of the printing and station
cry committee and asked me If I was
going to attend. He says: "Can you
meet me at S?' I said: mo; I an
gcing to be out of the city and won't
be back until 9 or $780,"
1T went on the inspection and to
OVERLOOK and then to the Greisen-
helm, had supper and met Alderman
Mount, Police Captain Long and some
others who were at the next table to
me. They TOOK me down in their auto.
I stopped at the Hotel Broad and
rushed in, had a glass of seltzer and a
cigar, then 1 went to the City Hall.
Alderman Mount, who was downstairs,
said somebody wanted me on the tele-
phone. / went to the phone and who
ever it was asked what the committee
did with Nugent's opinion about the
bids for the printing and stationery
contracts. l said: I don't know; I
wasn't at the meeting He asked If 1
Wouldn't stop at the Hotel Broad, and
I said thai 1 generally do.
II left the City Hall and stopped al
the Hotel Broad. Alderman Shape was
beside me at the bar when some one
came and pulled my coat sleeve. II
was Mr.. Nugent. He said: Can l see
YOU a minute?' l said. Sure He said,
what did you come for, the hundred !,
I said No He said, Didn't you ar
range to come here and meet a party
and get sl00?' / said. No; some one
called me up. III I made no date. and
no hundr+d was mentioned
Gaffeney-What time was the first
telephone call?
Bray-Between 10 n II o'clock in
the morning. The voice was so low
could scarcely near the man who tried
TO call me. / could hardly understand
him. You see, my phone isn't con-
nected with the main n at the fac
tory. where / work, n / have a lot of
trouble with 1t. I can't hardly hear
people.
Gaffeney-What date was this?
BRAY didn't know, but, after consulta-
ton, settled it as May 4.