The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-07
M'KENNA UNSCATHED
DURING THIRD SESSION
OF PROBE INTO OFFICE
Vouchers Produced 10 Prove All Checks
Challenged by Complainant -Investiga-
ton Continues This Evening

Three hours more of futile effort
to fasten Incompetence, dishonesty
and maladministration upon City En-
gineer Maurice F. McKenna made the
| third session of the quintet of inves-
tigators at the Council chamber, City
Hail. last evening, drag slowly by, to
the satisfaction of McKenna's adher-
ents and the discomfort of those who
seek to discredit him.
1t was the same old story-facts
that on their face appear plausible
and damaging to ENTHUSIASTICALLY
explained, either by the records of the
Common Council Or a few pointed
queries of McKenna's counsel.
Most of the session of last night
was devoted to finances. In passing
McKenna's brother was asked if he
hadn't filched a sink out Of the Gel
lar of the city hall and taken it to
his home. These and other bizarre
developments were all that kept the
throng of auditors in the council
chamber, for aside from tits of coun-
sci, which became more frequent as
the lawyers, losing their patience in
the tiresome routine of moving and
checkmating. gave vent to display Of
their feelings.
One fact has been strikingly dem
| onstrated-the splendid shape of the
city engineers office records. Up to
the moment there has not been
brought into question single finan-
cial matter for which the city engineer
has not at almost a moments notice
produced vouchers, cancelled checks,
| and the like. Attorney j. b. Klein,
counsel for McKenna, sits between
McKenna and his first assistant VIII
liam D. Murray, and rarely has to
delay to present the documentary re-
G.-A - @%A a. 70 CT
McKenna the stigma Of, Or manipula-
| ton Of accounts. s
| Across the table from McKenna's
group sit, Attorney Stiles Judson and
Denis r. Mulvihill who pause every
| few moments for a whispered consul
tation, preparing bombshell after
| bombshell that misses fire as it falls
| in the enemy's camp.
Nearly a score of witnesses were
/: called last night. Two or three were
| not on hand. Nan Reilly, a former
stenographer of the office could not
be located by Sheriff Mara, who is
| serving the summonses. He told the
committee, at Mr.. Judson's request,
what effort he had made to locate
her.
He said he had sought through the
city at places where she had form
| erly resided and had telephoned to
New Milford where her parents live,
but hadn't received any answer to
his efforts at telephone communica-
! ton. He promised to make still
| further effort to have Miss Reilly
here tonight, when the hearing will be
| resumed
Did you go to the city engineers
| Officer" asked Judson.
| YES" replied Mara.
| Attorney Klein interrupted.
do you know where she ISL" he
asked the city engineer.
mo" replied McKenna.
| "I've never heard of Miss Reilly
said Klein. ST wish I knew where
she was. If I did I'd have her here.
The hearing closed with the direct
testimony of Reuben d. Azhdarian,
who was called to prove the charge
that McKenna coerced loans from en-
ployes. Azhdarian was reluctant to
tell Of how he came to loan McKen-
ma money. Somewhat handicapped by
unfamiliarity with English he pro-
ceeded cautiously, giving his answers
much thought. He said he loaned Nc
Kenna SIS and on another occasion
$50. But he begged the committee to
excuse him from going into the cir
cumstances of the loan. ST had some
| trouble" said he.
"I think it is a personal matter,
it concerns no one. I hesitate to
speak of it before all these people,
| In unmeasured terms he declared
there was no coercion about the
| transaction, that he had been paid
4 back in full, and that he had no
knowledge Of any scheme to force
him to, agree to the loan before con-
sent was given to carry him, while
| i'll upon the payroll.
The witness was not taken into
hand by cross Examiner Klein, last
| night. 1t was after IL o'clock when
| the direct testimony was completed,
| and Klein said he was not ready to
cross examine. Klein urged upon the
committee again the Importance Of
\ causing the various charges to be
| made specific that there might not
| be needless delay.
! The hearing will be resumed to-
! night at o'clock
| Miss Edwards who was on the stand
| when the former hearing adjourned,
| was taken in hand by Cross-Examiner
! Klein at the opening of the hearing
Miss Edwards told of copying records
| Of the city clerks office, at the former
hearing. She said under cross-exam-
| ination she was employed by Miss
| Tietjens
Klein asked her about her pay She
| couldn't recall much about that fea-
ture of the work. She was employed
| in the city engineers office first, as a
substitute stenographer, then by Miss
Tietjiens in connection with the city
| clerk records.
She was shown a check for s22.75.
drawn by L. ]. Gill, which she couldn't
remember. But 1 got the money!
she said.
Miss Tietjiens, the next witness. was
asked whether she had authorized
McKenna to cash her checks She
| said not. Then a check was intro
duced payable to her, endorsed by Mr.
|