New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-16
TELL OF GRESSER FUND.-
Queens Employees Testify to
quitting Up" for Campaign.
"BOYs ALWAYS DID IT"
More Light on 'shake-Down' at
the Trial of Borough Presi-
dent Before Ordway.

The +-;.l If Borough President Gresser
M ouaare on charges of official incompe-
tsrca ard neglect Of duty was resumed yes
+ardsv before Special Commissioner Ord
wav :, Long Island City. The so-caIled
.eRorougb Hall shake-down' was gone into
at length.
Josenb r Nelson. dismissed clerk in the
Rureau of Sewers who had previously tes-
tilted as r. turning over TO Gresser 5000 that
en7nIovas Of the borough had given for his
4C;resser's) campaign, was cross-examined
by C,rassa-,s counsel. Nelson testified that
in a conversation with President Gresser
in relation TO the charges he said he
thought they were prompted by Gressers
noIi+icaI enemies Mr.. Mellen, counsel for
Gresser. tried to show that the real power
back of the charges against Gresser was
the Democratic faction in that borough
dominated by Joseph Cassidy.
as II not a fact Mr.. Nelson inquired
Mr.. MelIen. impressively, that the so
called Cassidy forces of this borough have
been lighting Mr. Gresser ever since he
took Office
Yes. it is" admitted the witness.
It was Louis G. Walters. foreman in the
Sewer Department who gave the first cor
robora1fve evidence concerning the official
"shake-down.' - which it is alleged preceded
the last election. He began his testimony
nv identifying a check for $50. which he
said later he had paid over to Cornelius J.
Burke, then superintendent of sewers IN
the borough. The witness said he went to
Superintendent Burke's office. in the Bor-
ough Hall. before election and asked:
well. what have we got TO do this
year,"
How much have you paid before" was
the alleged reply.
Some OF the men paid SO, and some
didn't pay at ALL the witness said he an
swered
We'll. it will cost you 500 this year" was
the rejoinder. and the witness testined
he then produced the check for $50. which
he turned over TO Burke
on cross examination Walters said that
he had been in the employ of the borough
ever since consolidation. that the boys al
WAYS put up" that he usually paid his as
sessment at the administration political
headquarters and that last election was the
first time the money was paid over in Bor-
ouFh Hall
In answer TO questions put by Commls-
sioner Ordway the witness admitted that
he thought the money vas going toward
Gresser's campaign fund. He said he
talked with other foremen about II. and
thew compared notes on how much each one
put up" In the course of these converse
tons It was given out that the contribution
expected would he little more than
usual"
EDWARD Rooney. a foreman in the High
way Department. who announced that ne
belonged to the, Cassidy wing Of the Democ-
racv and had always voted the straight
Democratic ticket. and hored 10 as long as
he lived told Commissioner Ordway that
he refused 10 contribute to Gressr's cam
pign fund because Gresser was a 'bolter.
and that in consequence he was laid on. ana
secured reinstatement through the courts
because he was veteran fireman
Charles c Y c. Van Dusen, one Of the
auditors from the Controllers office. testi-
fed 10 cutting out an extra charge of
80 292 which had been inserted in the fnai
PAYMENTS due on the rebuilding Of the new
Queens County Courthouse. The contract
price for the interior work on the court
house was sl65.SQO, and when the last
voucher. for 500. was turned in for pay
meut he found II was more than $4,000 in
excess Of the contract price. and finally
cor1peIled the reduction. President Gresser
had signed the vouchers on the architect
certificate.
The hearing will be resumed on Tuesday.