Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-14
Did Not Know
 John A. Judge
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS Em-
 PLoYEs TESTIFY
BEFORE COMMITTEE
Chief Engineer Porter Says Warren Brothers Received ss75,ooo Worth of Contracts Last Year.

Hartford Conn, Feb. 1s-The sen
 atorial probe into the alleged bribery offer to Senator Hurley of Waterbury I took on new form this afternoon Jus 1 before the hearing closed for the das Senator McDonoughf ordered Howare
 5. Porter, chief engineer in the office of the highway commissioner, to pro-
 duce for the committee tomorrow al 1 contracts, indexes, files. letters to and from and any other matter of corre- 1 spondence relating to contracts whict i the Warren Brothers company of Bos- l ton. pavement contractors have had in the past year with the highway commissioner office and bearing upon 1 any contract pending, or any agree i ments' for future contracts. $375,000 in Contracts Last Year. Senator Hurley in his testimony yes- l terday accused John A. Judge of l Bridgeport with having made offers of l bribes for his vote to be cast against 1 William H. Caldwell, nominated by the governor and whose name on Tues- day was rejected by the senate. MT, Hurley described Judge as travel ling salesman for Warren Brothers company.
 In the course of examination of MT. Porter, who had said he knew all about the contracts entered into by the highway department with con- tractors. it was brought out that War ren Brothers company had received S375,000 worth of contracts the past year, the last individual contra cts hay ing been signed either in November or December. 1912.
 States Attorney Wants Copy of Evil
 dence.
 The committee has signiffed it's in- tention of calling many if not all the employees of the highway coua1nission- er's office and Commissioner MacDon- ald himself will have an opportunity to come before the committee.
 The other development of the day was the request of States Attorney Alcorn of Hartford county for copies of the evidence, and copy also will be available for the prosecuting at torney of Hartford, who, unless a bench warrant was taken out by the former office, would he the first to act in any step looking to criminal pros- ecut1on of any persons involved in the investigation. The committee made no effort effort to ind Judge wao is accused of was that several questions would arise, one of these being whether Judge could claim immunity in whole or in part should he offer himself as ley's charges.
 Hurley Won't Be Recalled.
 While it was thought that the sen ator might add more interesting de- tails to evidence of yesterday none was forthcoming and it is understood
 
 recall him. The new turn taken by the inquiry today was that an inves- tigation in the administration of the highway commissioners office seems pending.
 The hearing lasted an hour and then was adjourned until 11.30 tomorrow morning, when employees of the depart ment will be called. The line of in duiry is expected to do with the rela- tions of Warren Brothers company with the department.
 Department Employees Testify.
 The two witnesses were Clinton c. Nichols. superintendent of repairs, and MT. Porter. the chief engineer MT N1chels' name was mentioned by Sen ator Hurley yesterday. Mir Porter was called as MT. Nichols did not have full knowledge of contracts made in the office, such being out of his juris- d1ct1on. MT. Nichols has been in the office since 1906 and had been super intendent of repairs for three years. He described his duties and said he knew of Warren Brothers company of Boston: It had had some contracts with the department. He did not know definitely how many or when as these contracts did not come under his notice. They were under the en- giHeering- department. He was asked if he went to the senate chamber and spoke to Senator Hurley. MT. Nich- ols said he did. and was invited to tell in his own way about it. He said that early in the session on the day the de- bate was on. in the senate over the joint rules he sat in the gallery. Delivered Message to Hurley for
 Mcdonald.
 At recess he went down and. told Senator Hurley the commissioner wished te see him. The commissioner had told MT. Nichols that if he saw the senator to tell him he, the com missioner, would like to see him The l ar hing rather indistinct which he un- 7ersteed to be- T don't want to see | he commissioner" MT. Nichols could l not recall the date but it was the day | when the joint rules were under de- | pate. MT. Nichols was asked various | questions as to who was near at hand | put he did not remember, the witness | saying it was a trivial matter And passed from his mind. He told the | commissioner what Mir. Hurley had | said some time after his return to | he office.
 Nichols Does Not Know Judge.
 MT. Nichols said he did~ not know dr. Judge. Never saw him so far vas such man. To Senator Isbeu | he witness said he did not recall alking over the present matter in he office. The contracts for work lty, and MT. Porter. the engineer. He r ,new nothing about them. He had net a MT. Crewell, whom he thought epresented Warren Brothers com amy. He thought the man had been n the office within two months. He ould not fix the time.
 To MT. McDOnough MT. Nichols said l is department had no contracts with 1 Warren Brothers company. As to other | apartments witness did not know.
 The witness said to MT. McDonougf hat he had no Knowledge of what MT. TacDonald wanted of Senator Hur- sy.
 :ngineer Porter Does Not Know
 Judge.
 MT. Porter was then ca1Ied He is 8 years of age, a Trinity graduate. vent into the office as an assistant in 9os and is now chief engineer and escribing his duties said that he ,ol1ed after estimates and contracts, nd plans were prepared under his di- ection. He handled the contracts. He new of the Warren Brothers com any. Ralph Warren of the company -as in the office about two months IT d .