New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-02
Contractor Says He Was
Held Up by Bensel's
Secretary.
WAS PROPOSED IN
ENGINEERS OFFICE
Money Was Handed Over to
Thomas Hassett in His Home
in This City.

Evidence of Sl.50o hold-up, not
campaign graft. but simple "sandbag
ging." in which one $1,000 bill and one
$500 bill were passed in New York
County, was adduccd Yesterday before
> Chief Magistrate McAdoo in the John
| Doe inquiry.
Madison Il. Aldrich, Of PouGhkeepsie.
president OF the Bridgeport Construc-
! ton Company and yice-presdcnt of
! the General Construction Company,
which was taken over 10y the first
named concern. testified that he was
| forced To pay the 81 800 10 Thomas
! Hassett on Sunday, March 81. l9l2, 10
! get from the State Highway Depart
mcnt the final payment of SlI"O due
! his company for work on road from
Livingston to Hudson. which had been
completed in November. 1911.
J Hassett. who was then secretary to-
! state Engineer John y. Bensel. is now
/ i'm Santo Domingo. AldriCh charged
! that John +. Cousaulus. of Troy, ais"
n contractor was the intermediary
, through which the meeting with Has
! sett was arranged
Held Up in the Hall.
The hold-up was first broached to
him. Aldrich said in the hall just out
! side the state Engineers Office. where
| Hassett took him when nc called at
that office TO see Hassctt on the ap-
pointmcnt made by Consauus.
Charles Il. Foley then first deputy
in tho Highway Department. was men
toned by Hassctt. Aldrch sworc. as
the man who thought Aldrich ought 10
nav 10 per cent of the amount he
wanted to collect and most Of Al
drich's road work had been repair or
maintenance. Of which Foley had on
tire charge.
The S11.0oo final payment which
Aldrich had been unable to obtain hy
four months continued effort was
made. Aldrich testified. Immediately
after he agreed 10 give Sl,5oo 20 Has
sett.
The total amount % The Livingston
Hudson road contract. held by the Con
craI Construction COMPANY Aldrl,h
testified. was about $1,000, and 90
November 1911. when tho road vas
finished. there was SlIoD sim due
from the state Highway Department
Aldrich made q formal demand In
December. 1911. for the money, and ~
January. February and March. ~,
ne made repeated demands upon e..
Gordon Reel Superintendent OF High
ways. and upon Charles Il. Foley, ilfst
deputy. In fact, D." said. he kept put
ting the matter mp 10 them every week.
Aldrich testified that In March, aftar
an unsuccessful attempt 10 get his
money. he returned TO his office i1
Poughkcepsie. AS soon as ne reached
his Office his stcnographor told him That
Albany wanted him ON the telephone.
John r.. Cousaulus. Of Troy. contra '-
tor. with an office in state street, Al
bany. was on the wire when he called,
and wanted 10 know II Aldrlch could
come right back 10 Albany. Aldrlch
said he could and returned on the next
train, meeting Consaulus, Thomas Has
sett and James Neville, one Of the
secretaries in the state Engineers Of
fee. at keelers that night.
we had dinner together, and after
some talk Consauius asked me 10 spend
the night with him, which | did SAID
Aldrich. At his home that same night
he said that would he able TO get tEat
final payment on my contract il |
would see Mr.. Tassett and arrange it
with him in the morning.
Aldrich said he met Hassctt the next
morning in the State Engineers office
and Hassctt took him out in the hall
way to whisper this in his ear:
"We've got to have something on this
lob Mr Foley thinks We ought TO
have 10 per cent on the final payment"
District Attorney whitman who was
examining Aldrich, made the witness
emphasize by repetition that the met
ing with Hassett began in the office OF
the state Engineer and proceeded TO It's
conclusion in the hallway just outside
that office.
Decided He Must Pay.
what did YOU say 10 that? Whit
man asked then.
81 told him ! thought that vas
'crowding the mourners, ~ Aldrich I"-
ulied. but / needed the money at mat
time and / had 10 think quickly.
heard of that kind Of thing before but
II v,as the first time | was mp against
!, ~ L nnnIlN sain that 81 .nW MOuIh