New-York tribune., 1910-09-07
PERJURY CHARGES AIRED
Witness Contradicts 0'NeIl les
timony in Skene Case.
| TRIAL NEARING THE END
Jerome Expected to Finish De-
fence Soon, and Jury May
Retire To- morrow.

|. Albany. Sept. 6.-SupFene court JuSIce
Randall j. lie Joeuf. of Albany. TO-DAY
heard testimony on the application of VIII
/ lam T Jerome, chief counsel for FredeTich
Skene. former State Engineer, who Is on
trial on charges of grand larceny IN CoH-
nectior with the sward Of good roads con-
tracts. for the arrest Of Charles n Nell
who was confidential assistant to Shene'
on a charge of perjury Two witnesses
were examined in connection with testl-
rnonv given by o Neil. who was the main
witness for the prosecution. regarding the
cashins of a state check for $3.50. payable
to the order of the Clinton Beckwith En-
gineering and Contracting Company OF
later IN the week
O'Neil s1vore in substance that the chech
was, cashed on his recommendation oy
Robert P. Murphy, proprietor of the Ho'el
Albany. in New York. on the night OF
March Is. 1908. and the proceeds turned over
10 Frederick l. Lewis. a member of the
Clinton BeCkwith Company. in order TO
enable Lewis to pay for sloa nlidnighe
supper in, which o. Neil participated
Lewis and Murphy were called to TESTIFY
by Mr.. Jerome. Lewis insists that ne
never was in the Hotel Albany and that
Albany on January s. in the presence OF
Dennis Monahsn. another member ot the
5rul and he never saw it again
Murphy SAYS he cashef the check for
ONeiI and gave him the money in the
presence of a third party, but he would
not say that Lewis was the man or tf1at
he was ever in his hotel
Mr. Jerome purposes 10 call Nonahan,
Who Is engaged in good roads construc-
ton work in the Adirondacks, with view
of correbora ting Lewiss statement tnat
he gave the check TO O'Neil in Albany two
months before il was cashed.
Every precaution is being taken by Jus
tice LIE BPuf go ttat the proceedings be-
fore him do not reach the ears of the
Skene Jury.
The state completed its case against
Skene today. Mr. Jerome is TO open for
the dccg- . tomorrow. and expects TO fin
ish - tisa- the case may go to the jury
on Tin gs''-s.-
Victo. =. Watson. of New York, a news
paper man. who investigated the charges
against Saene, was asked by Ny. Jerome
how he secured possession of Skene's pri-
vate checks. and he replied: I understood
that Skene was frequently drunk in his
office and left them lying around. anu
some one politely lifted them" He told
Mr.. Jerome that Thomas Costello a friend
of O'Neil. was paid $3.50 or 5000 for assist
ing him in developing the Skene story.
Thomas +. Powers. Of Troy, a lawyer.
and John H Gleason, Troy good roads
contractor. testified relative to the dis
counting of the s., 900 note Of the Russell
he gave the money to O'Neil. He did not
know Skene.
Woman Trea surer on Stand.
Mrs. Emily n Plack, of New York. secre-
tary-treasurer of the Russell Contracting
Company to which was awarded the good
roads contract in Nassau County which is
the basis OF the grand larceny charge
against Skene. it being alleged the bid
raised 81. 90. was called as a witness.
She testified that the original proposal Of
the company. as prepared and tabulated by
herself and John b Russell. president of
the company. was for S6t 133, and that a
certified check for s3,05S, or about ) per
cent OF the total amount of the bid. was
made out by herself The state is contend
ing that the original bid was s61, ,S57, and not
S70,357. for which a contract was made with
Per cent of the stock of the Russell COM
terests of the company
The state tried TO introduce four checks
ageregating s., 800 made payable to cash
by the Russell Contracting Company In
presenting the case to the jury Deputy At
torney General Brong said he would en-
neavor to show that this money was turned
over in monthly payments to Skene by the
The checks were excluded on
MI Jerorne's objection, as the witness could !
rot say for what purpose they were used
John J. Allen. formerly a clerk in the
State Engineers Department. ended his
testimony. He said that he was suspended /
by Skene because of his devotion" TO the |
former State Engineer. He denied that
Charles Fl. Omen, the main witness for
the people, had ever lent him money. He
admitted that he and OfNefl furnished in |
formation against Skene to a newspaper. !
Are you an informer?" asked Mr.. Je-
rome
NO, sir replied the witness with some
heat. Il am not an inforner and never {
was an informer. l an Irishman.'
Allen said he called Skene's attention 10 /
what he believed was crooked work in |
the eastern division office of the depart /
ment and that he threatened TO make II
public.