New-York tribune., 1910-10-09
BEGINS PROBE IN QUEENS|
Commissioner OrdWay Gets
Away to Flying Start.
HEARS GRESSER ACCUSED
witness Declares He Shook
Down" Borough Employees
Tor Campaign Expenses.

samuel II. Ordway, appointed by Gov
ernor Hughes to investigate the charges of
sheged incompetency and gross neglect OF
duty filed by committees of taxpayers, who
pe'itioned Tor the removal from office OF
Borough President Gresser of Queens. held
ms nrst hearing in the Queens County
courthouse. Long Island City, yesterday.
While those concerned in both the prose
cCuon and defence looked upon yesterdays
nearing as preliminary to the real work.
commissioner ordway lost no time in ar
ranging the details. and then called to the
s'aho Fatrlck e. Leahy, former Superin-
tenoent Oh Highways of Queens. who was
forced to resign last June when he gave
pail on fve indictments charging him with
grand larceny In connection with contracts.
Charles p Caldwell appeared to prose-
cute the charges fled by himself. William
r. Matthew's and Arthur f. Keating on
behalf of taxpayers association last July.
These charges contain nineteen specifica-
uons, among which are included irregu-
larities in contract work on the highways
and the alleged collection of campaign con-
tributons from employees In the different
borough departments. Charles A. Brodek
represented the Progressive Society of Far
Rockaway, whose charges contain eighteen
specifications. and in many instances are
almost a repetition of the Caldwell charges.
Gresser Appears Worn Down.
Accompanied by his son, Lawrence T.
Gresser. and his secretary. John n. Booth,
Borough President Gresser. showing
marked signs of the inroads made on him
physically by the unceasing warfare which
hoo y 10 nd
ministration since the opening of the year.
was represented by Chase Mellen, of the
firm of Strong G. Mellen. of No. q William
street.
When Mr Mellen asked Commissioner
Ordway to have Mr.. Caldwell and Mr..
Bodek elect on which set of charges Mr..
Gresser was to be tried first the Commits
sioner ruled that where the specifications
in the two sets of charges were similar
tha witness could testify on both at
the one time, but where the specifications
were distinctly different the charges to
which the particular testimony referred
should be stipulated.
After saying that he was a civil engineer
and had held various public offices, Mr..
Leahy told of the rebuilding of the Hoff-
man Boulevard which was mentioned in
both charges as having been done by the
Hicks-Johnson Construction Company, II
being alleged that the work was done so
poorly that shortly after the final pay
ment was made 1t had to be repaired at
the city's expense.
Leahy said that in order TO prove his
charges concerning the condition OF the
road he took President Gresser on a trip
of inspection, and both agreed that it was
the worst piece of work they had ever
seen.
Joseph B. Nelson. former chief clerk of
the Bureau of Sewers, who was dismissed
by Borough President Gresser for alleged
incompetency, said that when Gresser was
a candidate on an independent ticket for
President of the borough he shook down
the employees of the sewer department for
between $50 and 500 This included
check he suid, for inspection fees of
private sewer to which he swore the in
spector had never been assigned. the con-
tractors having been allowed to go ahead
and build the sewer on the plans they had
filed with the department.
Says Gresser Ordered Levy.
He also testified that Gresser instructed
him about collecting campaign funds
which were to be levied on the borough
employees on a basis of per cent of their
yearly salary. He said he made up a
list Of men employed In the Bureau of
Sewers and James II. Johnson, chief engi-
neer in the sewer department, took list
of the men employed in the engineering
corps. He then took one OF the city au-
tomobiles and made a tour of the bor-
ough, leaving with the different fOremen
a list of the men under them and the
amounts they were taxed. He said that
of two men who failed TO pay their as
sessment one was dismissed from the ser
vice on charges following election and the
other was suspended. but was re-instated
as he was a veteran fireman.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Mellen,
the witness admitted that he had been
dismissed from his place on charges
filed by President Gresser. He said he
had had no opportunity to make a de-
fence Nelson also admitted that no one
was present when he and Gresser talked
about the campaign contributions or when
he made over the payments.
At the end of Nelson's testimony the
hearing adjourned to Thursday of next
week and 1t is proposed thereafter to hold
hearings Tuesdays. Thursdays and Satur-
days of each week. 1t IS said that both
sides have about seventy-five witnesses
each to be examined.