New-York tribune., 1913-12-31
Attempted ExtOrtion and
Larceny Charges Against
BenSel Aid.
ACTION BASED ON
DOUGLASS STORY
Ex-Secretary to State Engineer
Demanded $4,000 as Price of
"Siphon" Contract, 'Tis Said.

Thomas Hassett, former confidential
secretary 40 State Engineer John A. Ben
sci and onetime secretary to the Board
of Water Supply, was indicted yesterday
afternoon for attempted grand larceny
and attempted extortion from Anthony
G. Douglass. former MAYOR OF Niagara
Falls Douglass testified before the
special grand fury investigating state
highway graft that Hassett demanded
$4,000 as the price Of constructing the
"siphon' tunnel OF the Catskll aqueduct
under the Hudson. from Orange 10
Dutchess county.
Douglass's bid. 81. 1872, ,}22 80 was the lo"
est. The next bid was 81. 49, $50. by James
.. Winston e. 60. r. 4 Gillespie * Co.
the highest bidders. got the contract for
Sl.ti9.020 Douglass told the grand jury
the award was held up by the. Water
Board from May q. 1911. to June 20. 1911,
and in the mean time Hassett came to
him and told him that the board wanted
some sort uf a deal TO pass favoraDly
on his bid.
Hassett. he said. took him down to
Church street cafe and left him there
while he went over to No. l6j Broadway.
where the Water Board had offices. He
said Hassett returned In an hour or %
and told him that he couldn't have the
contract unless he was prepared to hand
over So1J Those fellows upstairs want
the money" Hassett is alleged 10 have
remarked Douglass said he refused TO
come across. and on June - the contract
went to Gillespie
Ilassett has lately returned from Santo
Domingo whore he vas said to have been
disappointed in landing million-dolar
contract through the assistance Of Tim
Othv T. Suilivau. said 20 he a cousin OF
James VI sullivan. Minister TO SaEtp
Domingo. Al any -a.e. Hassett was Oh
the island with James *. Mcclure. *
Mayor of Syracuse. who IL under indct-
ment for soliciting campaign contrfbu-
tons from corporations in 1872
II is said that on his return from SantJ
Domingo fIassett was met in Washington
hy friend. who warned him 10 keep
away from New York state. During a
lull IN District Attorney Whitman's graft
investigation Hassett. IL is said yentursd
back. and was seen In his apartments,
No. - Hamilton Place. but the iuyestiaa-
tion suddenly took an unfavorable turn
which caused him To quit the state The
indi.tu cnt against Hassett was return, d
10 Justice vernon NJ Davis I'm the Su-
picne Court. at i.C O'Clock Yesterday
afternoon. but the Justice thought best
not TO issue a bench warrant until to-
day. although Detectives Leigh and Flood
were ready to serve II
Charles Strauss. chairman of the Water
Board. testified before the grand Jury on
December Is that Hassett was persona
non gratR' TO the board He said II
Douglasss story were true HaSsett at
tempted eXtortion under false pretences.
"Ma,or Gaynor went over the whole
matter OF the siphon contract with the
board and approved letting IL 10 the Gil
lespie company" he said He agreed
with Us that Gillespie Was best fitted 20
do the work and should get the contract,
in spite Of IN" fact that the bid waS
500 00 higher than Douglass s." Com
mssioners Chadwick end Calvin corrobo-
rated Commissioner Strausss TESTIMONY
the following day before the grand jury.
II was pointed out 10 the commits
sioners that Douglass had offered 20 put
W q 500 30 cash bond In addition 10 his
Sunry' surety bond, but Commissioner
Strauss explained that Corporation Coun-
sci Watson had advised that the board