The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-15
GRAF I INQUIRY
PROVES TRUTH
OF THE CHARGES
Everett P. Fowler, Known as
the Tarnmany "Bagman,
Indicted by New York
Grand Jury.

NEW YORK, Nov. 14.-Everett +
Fowler, OF Kingston, n, Y, who was
described by John A. Hennessy, graz
investigator for former Governor Sui
ger. as the, Tammany "bagman, roI
contributions from state highway con
tractors, was indicted today on charge
OF extortion. He was accused OK forc
Ing Seneca P. Hull, highway contrac
tor of Cortland, n. Y, and an enrolled
Republican, to give $3.50 as Demo
cratic campaign contribution unde!
threat that the work of Hull 8 S23,30t
state road contract in Cortland county
would not be approved by the state
highway inspectors and that his pay
would be held up
Tho indictment was the first growing
out of the inquiry by District Attor
ney Whitman into the charges OF graz
in the state highway, department m; maae az
by Hennessy during his recent election
campaign against Tammany hall anc
repeated by him MS witness at tht
district nttorney's "John Doe in
auiry. More indictments which may IN
clude conspiracy as well as eItortof
are expected.
Hull told his story to the grand jury
today and produced Documentary evi
dence to support it. This included let
ters from William H. Kelly, Demo
cratic committeeman Of Onondaga
county, inviting him to meet Fowler
In Syracuse; his check for the s25C
made out 10 the order Of Norman E
Mack, chairman Of the Democratic
state committee, and r letter from
Arthur a. Mclean, treasurer OF the
committee, acknowledging the contrlbu
tion "toward the legitimate eKpen
ses" Of the committee in the pending
campaign. The contribution was made
on October 81, 1911, but District Attor
ney Whitman has been unable to fine
a record Of il in Mclean g statement
of tho campaign contributions to the
committee as required by the corrupt
practices act.
Hull told the grand jury be die
not pay any attention to Kelly's frsi
letter inviting him to meet Fowler a!
he did not see why he, Republican
should have any dealings with Demo
cratic committeeman. II was his first
state contract and he did not know
"the game he said. The second let
ter being more insistent, he went t
Syracuse and saw Fowler at the head
quarters of the county committee IL
that city,
tFowler told me- said Hull, "tha
] had a contract for S23, 200 and tina
! was down on the list for $3.50 con
tribution. He said if ] did not com,
across the local inspector would no
pass my work and that my pay woulc
be held mp
Hull explained that contractors were
paid for the work by sections, and tina
payment for one section gave them tn,
capital to proceed with the next one
Under the circumstances, he said, h
felt obliged TO make out the check.
The witness said further that he saw
seven or eight other contractors wait
ing outside the office when he lef
Fowler. Kelly, he said, was not pres
ent at this interview.
The next year, he said, he gave S10t
more and this check be also paid.
wes made out directly to Mclean. anC
like the other could not be found b,
the district attorney on the Democratic
state committees campaign statement
The latter check does no figure, how
ever, in the present indictment.
Gives Color to Story.
In the opinion Of District Attorne,
Whitman, Hull's evidence gives colo
TO the story which Heunessy testifiet
George II. McGuire of Syracuse tol,
him OF an alleged meeting in the OF
fees OF Governor Dix in Albany il
1911 at which Fowler, Norman +
Mack and c. Gordon Reel, then supe,
intendent of highways, were. present
Hcnnessy said Mcclure told him that
was there agreed that Fowler shoul
visit various highway contractor
throughout the state and seek cam
paigu. contributions. This was wha
Hennessy referred to as Hsandbap
ging.'
The evidence. Mr.. Whitman think!
also eorroborates charges made by Nc
Clure in the telegram he sent to Her
messy from Syracuse to the effect thn
Kelly was helping Fowler "hold u
and shake. down. contractors. Thi
was the telegram signed ON" whic
which be confessed to after he ha
been threatened with indictment fo
perjury.
ALBANY. ". Y. Nov. l4-Bot
Governor Glynn and Attorney Geners
Carmody are anxious for the co-operi
tiou of the district attorneys of III
various counties in an effort TO estal
lish the truth or falsity of charges
graft in certain state departments.
District Attorney Hagan of Rocklan
county conferred with roth officials l.
day concerning the indictments per'
ing in that county in connection wit
alleged highway graft, After the col
ference the governor said that the e:
ccutive department and the attorne
generals office stand ready 10 co-ope
ate with the different district alto
noTs.
Attorney General Carmody said thi
the idea OF seeking the cooperation
the district attorneys had the opprov
OF District Attorney Whitman Of Ne
York. Evidence which Whitman mi gl
unearth. the attorney general continue
which might be material but outsiC
his Jurisdiction. would be turned ov
10 the county prosecutors affected
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