The evening world., 1911-03-24
Prosecutor Oarven TO Bring
=. Operations of Davis Before
Grand Jury.
BIG DEALS
Claim Against Estate Of Bob
Davis for $4,000 Reveals
Startling Condition.

For forty years millions ~ dollars
v. J.. II IL charged. have been used
by politicians for their personal pnr-
poses. without tho payment ~ Interest.
and from this unique bank. IL - ri.
legged. leaders conducted large reraonsi
operations. Fifteen years OF tho period
which IL under view In a Grand Jury
investigation started by Pierre =. Ca.
vsn. the prosecutor Of pleas. found the
Office o. County Collector under the In
'luence OF the late Robert Davis. head
and front OF tho Democratic organiza
ton Of the county.
The F~reeholders. controlled by tho
Davis Influence. have tho appointing
power. Stephen NJ. Eagan. present,
County Collector. was preceded By
Davis's father-in-law. During all OF
the last fifteen years the Davis hand
was strong In the operations OF the Of
nee.
The exact situation with reference
10 what IL charged 10 have been done
with the funds OF the Once is brs,
snown by two statements. The M
comes from william u. Edwarde. NJ.
torney for the Davis estate: the otner
from the prosecutor Of the plea.
Grand Jury to Probe Loans.
Mr.. Edwards says:
1t has been the custom for forty
Fears for the collector to handle TIA.
funds committed TO his care as he
saw ut. with the only Qualification that
lbs must actually and honestly account
for every cent that came 10 him during
his three terms at the snd OF the term.
Under this custom money was loaned
TO Davis. but II was a perfectly legit.-
mate transaction"
There IL no doubt ~rejoins prosecu-
tor 0arven. that ~ this money was
converted to private uses II was a
criminal act, and I am making n per-
sonal investigation and am preparing
TO subpoena witnesses. | expect to sub
nit the matter to tho Grand Jury In n
few days
Tn" specific matter that called the
condition to public attention was the
Ming by Eagan OF "A claim AGAINST the
Davis estate for $50. 500. which was al
legged to be for money due the collector
on loans. The specific transaction upon
which the investigation hangs centres
about the purchase OF property for the
erection OF n power plant for the new
courthouse In Jersey City.
Power Plant Deal Bold.
In this case a real estate dealer. Will
lam Maxon. negotiated the deal for the
sale OF the property by tho estate Of
the late Representative Mia G. Ne.
Dermott to Robert Davis for n consider
alton OF $4,000. When Davis bought the
property he notified Eagan to pay Max
On the cash. Eagan. II Is alleged. did
this and then Davis sold the property
10 the county FOR $4,000 and received u
oasct for 5000. thus taking $4,000 from
the county funds for his own deal. with.
out any cash Of his own involved IN
the bargain.
Other Democratic politicians beeidei
Davis are alleged TO have enyoye.
similar banking privileges. with tn.
C~os,ector's ofloe as the angel. II hap
pens that tho Prosecutor and Count.
Judge Robert Carey. who 10 aiding 81
tho Investigation, are both Republicans
And the case thus takes on the adde
interest OF politics.
Legislature to Investigate.
h news OF the local investigation 1
Jervey City was supplemented by tn
statement that the Legislature OF Ne,
Jersey was 10 name an investigator
committee for the purpose OF loollu
into the various public offices ana worn
Of Hudson County.
Rich Field for Graft.
Tho magnitude OF the operations Pc,
sible through the Collectors Office
shown nv the official s~tnteme-aa tia
the total collections HNerac - ahou
100000 IA YEAR. and that tho office cii
ried "a constant bank balance OF hetWce
$4,000 ana 100000, so that a favorc
friend, having access to the funds mig
enloy the backing OF 81 ,Oo0.OO0 OF actiy
A UnlQII QllllGQIllI