Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-07
Jersey City's Three.miIlion-doI-
Lar Court House Furnishings
= in Lump Contract"
EX.ATTORNEY- GENERAL
M'CARTER ELECTS LAUGHS
Architect, on Stand, Loses His
Memory, Together With a
Number of Contracts.
EFron . star Correspondent ]

JGhO-IA C1L1 feD. line ftuubUn
County Court House probe before Su-
preme Court Justice SwayEe would
have Jagged today but for the versatil-
ity and originality of the inquisitortal
attorney, former Attorney-General
Robert McCarter. His happy faculty
for relieving monotony by witticisms
and incidentally getting at the root OF
evil, If 1t exists, caused even the sober
Justice to smile. The seriousness OF
the expenditure OF more than $3,0o0.00C
was a tride as compared with the
amusement that the spectators got
from the inquiry as to the $114.000 that
was spent on furnishings, such as
mural paintings, rugs and cuspidors.
"Win you tell us, Mr.. Roberts. why
you punched the contracts" Mr.. NC
Carter asked of Architect Hugh Rob
erts when the investigation was re-
sumed today
THAT amount included $4,000 for
paintings" replied Mr.. Roberts.
How do you reconcile the awarding
of a contract to an artist to do such
an inartistic thing as to buy cuspidors
and rugs?"
Says That Was Economic Way.
After the laughter sub3ided the
architect replied that the grouping OF
the contracts was the most economical
way. The witness was asked to produce
the contracts of the Art Matal Com
pany, of jamestown, N. z, and John
Gill & Son. The firms had furnished
the metal work and the furniture for
the county clerks office and the five
court-rooms. Witness said that he dsd
not have the contracts.
isn't II strange that they have 30
nysteriously disappearedf" suggested
Mr.. MoCarter.
Mr. Roberts admitted that 1t was.
When the architect failed to remem
ber a few other things. Mr.. McCarte
rather sarcastically remarked:
Mr. Roberts, for a man who re
ceived $133,000 and then some more, and
was supposed to be on the Job all th'
time, it does seem strange that you re-
member SO little"
Mr. Roberts then tried to explain
more fully the method used In award
ing the contracts.
The announcement that one Of the
probers committees important wit
nesses had arrived was Mr.. McCarter's
cue to take the architect off the stand
William ]. Maxon, of the real estate
firm of Wells & Maxon. of Jersey City
was then called.
Says He Got $4,000 Option.
Maxon was questioned by Judge
Charles L. Carrick, head of the citizens
committee that asked for the investl-
CATION. He testified that he had re-
ceived an option for the site of the
power house from Allan L. McDermott,
the late congressman. The option was
for $4,000. He further swore that he
sold the property to the county for
$26,o0o He testified that after paying
the $4,000 he got another, separate
check for SS,000 The county collector
had given him the check, he swore.
why did you get that .heck?" asked
Judge Carrick.
1T don't know"
What did you do with it?"
at asked a man who is dead what
TO do with 1t and he told me to cash
IT and give him the money. I did 1t
and about a year later he gave me
81, 500 for my commissions in the trans
action
Who was that man?" asked Judge
Carrick
Robert Davis replied the witness
after Judge Swayze had told him that
he must answer.
Commissioner William e. Smith re-
turned today from his Western trip and
will be called upon to testify this after
noon. Following the Maxon testimony
the architect was further quizzed by
Mr.. McCarter.
Maxon recalled, testified that the
1t1v, Il 0Vaaft
a member of the building commission,
and John J. Mulvaney, lawyer for the
commission.
How about the Waldron and O'Brien
property on the Pavonia side of the
court house site2" asked Judge Carrick.
1T understand you tried to get an op-
tion of that property and failed. DID
you get a commission for your efforts?"
Twas to get $400. az per cent. Of the
purchase price. Smith gave me check
for $4S3. / gave him back $4OO and kept
the sS3 for myself"
"Why did you give that $400 to
Smith?"-
Because Smith said he and Alex
ander J. Clements and another mem
Der of the commission should get it."
When Judge Carrick finished his ex-
animation of the witness Maxon was
cross-examined by J. Merritt Lane,
counsel for the building commission.
Were you ever convicted of n
crime?" began the questioner.
mo, SIR" replied Maxon.
"Do you mean that?" continued Mr..
Merritt.
"well, 1 pleaded non vult to tech
nical charge of embezzlement short
time ago"
aren't Mr.. Davis and Mr.. MeDer-
mott, whom you both mention, dead?"
Yes"
That's all7"
At this point, Mr.. McCastey, counsel
Cor the probers. Jumped up and said
to the witness:
..sh,ith ~ not dead is he?
As fhe witI.ess started to make a re-
mly there was buzz of excitement
tu.on = tina lawyers OF the caHEnt2zior,s