New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
c. ]. SULLIVAN ON STAND
Friend Of "Big Tim Tells CT
Bridge Building and "Hunches."
SAYS BID "WAS A GUESS
Explains Why He Wants $500,
600 of Profits from Black
wells Island Structure.

Cornelius J. Sullivan, friend Of Senator
Timothy n Sullivan and MEMBER OF '"0
came political clan, was witness yeste'-
cav IN the Supreme Court in the action ne
has brought against the Ryan-Parker Coli-
structlon Company for a share OF tne pronts
which he says the company maze out vi
the contract for the building of the Black
wells Island Bridge. Sullivan says tnd'
these profits we're about 100000 and he
seeks 10 collect $4,000
Patrick J. Ryan, president Of the com
rany. who was formerly policeman in
youngstown. Ohio. declares that the con-
Germ lost about $4,000 on the contract
ON the cross-examin1tion by Herbert {,
Smyth for the defendants Sullivan told OF
enhsting the moral support Of Big Tim
Sullivan in his connection with the COM
panv. but he insisted that this support was
not Of A political character. The plaintit
said that neither he nor Ryan knew any
thing about building bridges and that their
lid Of E6.4930Oo was Just a guess sullivan
said Ryan knew all about ''jocHeying con
tract and the intricacies Of the game Mr..
Smvth wanted to know What game and
the witness replied, TO put in a bid all
you can and still he low"
Just case Of blindmsns buff said
Mr.. Smyth Your idea was to get all you
could and let the taxpayer pay for it
Mr.. Smyth then wanted 10 know just
what Sullivan gave to the enterprise that
was worth nearly a million dollars, If 1t
Was not political influence Sullivan
answered that Ryan was good at that
himself and could protect himself in any
- lie added
that RYAN did not put in a "a button more
oapitar than he did, and it has not yet
been shown that Sullivan put in cent.
Guess Bank Took a Chance
4. 10 the filing Of q $4,000 certified check
BY the construction company with the old
for security, Sullivan said:
"T guess that Mr.. Oriental Bank Prosi-
dent took a long shot
He told about his introducing Ryan to
Senator sullivan at the clubrooms Of the
Timothy d. sullivan Association, at No.
no7 Roverv. Ryan wanted to know how the
Plaintiff stood with Big Tim" Sullivan
said RYAN was a good poker player but
did not know anything about building a
bridge. In answer to a question as TO how
much he knew about bridge building Sulli-
van dISNtl'A'
"Not q tbing-no more than Ryan What
vc knew was how to get a contract 10
huild a bridge. and in that helped
The witness said that when he presented
pvan IN the Bowery statesman he said TO
Senator Sullivan:
"He wants 10 know. Senator, how far YOU
will go IN backing me TO get this pridge
contract" The Senator said: "1'll 20 Just
fTvI1
thed. Ryan remarked: That's good
enough for me-
so far as ! know" said the witness,
that Is the extent to which the Senator
entered the agreement. He never had an
other thing to do with It,
Mr.. smyth wanted to know whether Sui
ljvan had mentioned the name OF Thomas
+. RYAN to his associate. Ryan, and the
witness said he had not. He also denied
that he had spoken of his connections lead
ing TO the Guggenheims and his ability TO
get materials cheaper.
mo Estirats-Just a Guess
Going into the making Of the bid, Mr..
smyth asked:
How did you assist in estimating the
amount for which the Ryan-Parker Com
There was no estimate" said Sullivan,
lust guess. Mr.. Ryan could not make
an estimate on bridge IN lifetime-and
neither could I. We don't know anything
about building bridges"
We'll. tell US about the guess Mr..
smyth urged
The bid that was not allowed was for
s7anO. 600" said Sullivan. we agreed that
the figure would he shaded on the next
bid-but how much? That was up TO us
If we could guess how low the Pennsyl-
vanis would bid the next time we were
safe. il we could not. the thing was dead
on US. Now Mr.. Ryan said, let's make
II $4,000. they won't 20 that low but
ssid Wait minute. If they drop below
the even 100000 they may go to the next
convenient stopping polnt-say, six and a
half Let's shade six and half little
let's say Ss,4S5Ooo'"
Sullivan said their engineer then did some
figuring and turned out bid for SS.493O 600.
The plaintiff said that it was his idea to
stay under the S65O0,0O0 mark that was
adopted. Mr.. smyth suggested that the
witness had sort of hunch" 20 stay
under S. 5OOOo0. Sullivan replied:
"Hunch? Not in bridge building or bust
ness. lunches in poker and horses and
faro bank, yes; but in bridge building and
business. mo- Sullivan then tapped his
head and said: up here in bridge build
ing and business"
GETS $22,5O0 IN DAMAGES