New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-01

10 him the sort OF information about his
methods and facilities for doing work
that should be laid before officials and
business men. personally introduced him
TO such persons as ! knew in public and
private life who had work OF the kind
that Connollys firm was competent 10
do. and submitted 10 them such aTgu-
ments a. the facts seemed to justify.
II advised him about and aided him in
getting between $4,000 and $4,000 worth
of business. as recall it, and that repre-
scented q large amount OF work on my
part In addition TO that, | was advising
him about his business affairs generally
and about all the difficulties and disputes
in which his eccentric nature involved
him. lie seemed TO have much trouble
during the progress OF his work with
those with whom he had bushes rela-
lions. and | had TO spend much time in
advising him in respect OF his various
controversies. in adjusting his differences
and in arranging his affairs.
During that time ! was scarcely known
10 the leaders of the Democratic party.
I had neither political position nor power,
and such success as my efforts on Con-
nolly's behalf obtained was due not TO
influence. but TO industry. At various
times during the years 1904 1895 and 1906
and i'm varying sums, he paid me about
$500 for my services.
whether, in fact, the total sum that
Connolly paid me for my services equalled
81 per cent Of his net profits from mu-
nicipal contracts, or any other percent
age. is something that l never had the
slightest means of knowing. This l do
know-that all the work ! did for him
was work which a lawyer was entitled
TO be duly paid for, under any profess
sional standard however strict, and my
charges were not excessive. Connolly was
a man OF no means whatever The only
source of revenue out Of which he could
possibly pay a lawyer, doctor or grocer
was the money he received by way OF
profits from his business. and his business
was that Of a contractor, so that what |
or any other creditor received from him
necessarily came out Of such profits.
Says Demands Began in 1906.
The work l did for him ended, think,
early i'm 1896. after which period | could
no longer afford TO devote the time and
energy which his business and other
troubles seemed constantly to demand.
Now, in the fall Of 1906 at the state
convention | did attain come position In
Democratic councils. Thereafter that po-
siton became more prominent, and In the
course Of two or three years Connolly be
gan to make demands on me. First he
asked. then he demanded. and finally he
threatened. and In 1909, at time when
the fortunes OF the party seemed TO be at
issue, when a difficult mayoralty cam
paign was impending Connolly brought
suit against me for the amount OF the
fees that he had paid in 1904, 1895 and
part of 1906
II knew he was a weird man. IN the
language Of his committal TO the Pough-
keepsie asylum. ne had 'hallucinations'
great and causeless; mental excitement
and violence | did not then know that
he had been so committed, but did know
that his mind was queer.
II held no public place and had no
thought Of one; still, ! did not want the
malicious. alterations Of Connolly to be-
come a factor In a political campaign to
the injury of the party. making me a
pivot of a mayoralty campaign 10 which
I had no other relation than that Of
party adviser -Four thousand dollars