Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-10-05
F|ssELL CALLED
To EXPLAIN BIG
RAISE IN BIDS
Newarker Admits $4,000 In
crease in Figures for Hack
ensack Court House.

William H.. Fissell, of IS North sixth
street, this city, has been called upon
to explain before the committee ap-
pointed by the Assembly to probe into
the charges of alleged graft in connee-
ton with the building of the Bergen
County Court House, in Hackensack,
why he raised his bid $40, 900 over the
figures submitted in the typewriter
pages.
When the bid was submitted to the
building committee the typewriter fig
ures In nineteen instances had been
crossed out and figures In ink inserted.
II raised the figures myself" said
Mr.. Fisseli at his home today. THE
BIDS were compiled In my office In New
York the day before they were to be
presented. / brought them home with
me to look them over, The following
morning I went to Hackensack by troll
ley car. l had an hour and a half to
spare and on h a went over the
bids. l saw that In many instances
we had bid too low. For this reason J.
crossed out the typewriter figures al
Inserted what / thought a just estim
II. Ink above them. That Is all til
Is to IT,
Mr.. Fissell was asked If he ting
81, 500,0 900 was too much for the
Bergen county court house. Hd
that he was not in a position To
He said that his bid was sui
two years ago, and that he
recollect If 1t called for the entir
o. not.
Before the Assembly the pro
said that he had noted the chat
that he remembered that WI
Ellis, clerk OF the Court-Houv
mittee, had commented upon
the time they were read. Mr., "a
called before the committee.
that the changes had been mad
the bids reached him.
Counselor Wall, who represe1
Assembly committee, tried to
Fissell to give some reason for
ing the figures at the last momd
asked II 1t was not after Mr.
had interviews with several hs
after reaching Hackensaok he
raised the bids. Mr.. Fissell sd mat
he could not remember why hd Hised
the bids, unless he considered tho low.
He emphatically denied that any Unfit
ence had been brought to bear on him
in the matter.
Prosecutor Wright was on the stand
today In Hackensack to explain why
he had put in a bill for $12,315 in con-
nection with the erection of the Court
House. He said that these claims were
for legal services covering a period of
several months, and the expense he
was put to in bringing condemnation
proceedings for the new building. Mr..
Wright Is a partner of former State
Senator Wakelee in law. Counselor
Worl, who dia the questioning for the
committee, produced checks made out
to Mi. Wright. The latter said that
these checks had been deposited in the
name of the firm.
did Mr.. Wakelee get any part of
the money!" Prosecutor Wright was
asked.
81 do not know he replied.
What liz the amount of salary you
receive from the county, was asked.
II decline to answer he answered
IT don't object to the question, but ]
dc not think II has n bearing on
this investigation. The work vas moi
that of the prosecutor, and / simply
charged what / thought my services
were worth"
Other checks were produced showing
payments had been made to County
Engineer Earle. His assistant, George
Belcher, explained that these checks
were given for extra work. John But
Ter and John Carson, Of the Brady Con-
struction Company, which vas in
charge Of tine work. were summoned
but failed to appear.
The hearing is being continued this
afternoon. When the committee adj
journs tonight the investigation will
be postponed until October 16.