New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-28
Friends Of Supreme Court JUS
tiCe Predict an Emphatic An
sWer to Connolly Charges
DENY BREAK WITH MURPHY
Tammany Boss Has Nothing
to Say, Except That His
Name Appears in Most
Everything

made against him by his former friend
and client, John A. Connolly. to pass
without specific and emphatic answer, il
was learned yesterday. Not only will the
Justice reply To the allegations" of Con-
molly that he mulcted the latters concern,
the Victor Heating Company. for 50 per
cent of the profits on city contracts said
To have been obtained through COhalan's
political influence before he was elected
10 the bench but he also may take some
definite action against Connolly and prob
ably will court a public investigation Of
the whole matter, it was declared.
Justice Cohalan did not discuss his
plans in this respect yesterday. He main
tanned his attitude of not commenting
upon the Connolly story beyond what he
said i'm a statement issued the first day
the alleged charges were published. Some
of his close friends, however were good
authority for the contemplated answer
and action in regard to the Connolly
statements.
Justice Cohalan would take care of his
end of the matter at what he regarded
the proper time but he did not intend TO
be drawn into any controversy at present
they said. II is believed he viii issue
a comprehensive statement. from the Co
halan point of view. before he sails Tor
Europe on June ..
Why He Quit as Murphy Adviser.
Justice Cohalan's friends were quick
Yesterday to deny that there had been
amy "ureak" between him and Charles
T. Murphy. The suggestion made that
Murphy and Cohalan had fallen out be-
cause the former legal adviser OF the
Tammany Hall chieftain had been super
>eded bv Chairman Mccall of the Pub
lie Service Commission was discredited
bv Tammany leaders. 1t was said MI.
Cohalan withdrew as the active political
and legal adviser of Murphy when he en-
tered upon his duties on the bench. but
only through a sense Of the added re-
sponsibility OF his new post and not be
cause Of any differences with Murphy.
Mr. Murphy spent his customary two
hours at Tammany Hall yesterday. and
when seen there declined to comment in
any detail on the attack upon Justice
Cohalan. When asked if he had anything
10 say about the Connolly statements,
he replied:
Nothing to say. It's between them.
Your name was mentioned in the
statements" it was suggested.
"Oh. my name appears in most every
thing" responded Murphy with smile.
When told of the report that the Con-
molly disclosures followed a break be-
tween him and Justice Cohalan the Tam
many boss quickly asked If Justice Coha-
Ian had said that and when told that Mr..
Cohalan had made no such statement ne
shrugged his shoulders and only repeated
that ne had nothing to say on the subject.
Alfred 3. Cruikshank. the lawyer who
represented Connolly in the 5000 note
transaction. which Connolly alleged he
gave to Mr. Cohalan in April, 1911. in the
expectation OF obtaining a political post
through Cohalan told a Tribune reporter
Yesterday how he came to write "a letter
to Connolly on Monday night, explaining
in a measure the reported discrepancy
between the lawyers published statement
that he knew Of no other than a business
consideration for the note and letter
which Cruikshank wrote to Connolly tell
ing OF his visit to Justice Cohalan to
solicit a political berth for his client.
Connollys Visit to Cruikshank.
man" came TO his Office on Monday night,
and Connolly insisted that he be more eX-
plicit regarding the circumstances sur
rounding the making Of the note. Mr.
CruikShank explained, he said, while he
had no personal knowledge Of anything
but a business consideration running with
the note a. the time, he was willing 10 an
sWer further questions from his former
client If Connolly would put his request
in writing Connolly thereupon wrote the
letter Incorporating his understanding in
regard to the note and Mr. Crukshank
dictated his reply, both Of which were
published in a morning newspaper yes
terday.
While the lawyers letter did not differ
materially from his previous statement,
he specifically asked Connolly, he said,
A. he considered the correspondence
private or II he would object 10 the let
ters being made public. Connolly told
him. he said that he considered the
letters" a private matter and did not
wish them given out
Patrick j. McNulty, the real estate
dealer. who headed tie committee Of six
that called upon Charles f. Murphy at
his home March s. 1909. and complained
Of Cohalans treatment Of Connolly I'm
exacting tribute from the Victor Heating
Company for city contracts. as Connolly
alleges in his statement. told in detail
Yesterday Of the committees visit 10
Nfurphv and of other interviews he and
his friends had with Murphy on behalf
of Connolly. Murphy received the com
mittee coolly. according to McNulty. and
holly declared that 1t was only an Irish
row" and he didn't want TO mix in ii"
AS a result Of the intercession Of his
friends. however. and Of other pressure
brought 10 bear on Murphy in regard TO
Connolly's alleged difficulty with Cohalan
Mummy was Modified 10 the extent Of
putting IT right up TO Dan. so Con-
molly stated Murphy afterward told him.
with the result that Cohalan ultimately
paid back the 1910 that Connolly alleged
he had collected from him on 50 per
cent basis of the profits Of the city con-
tracts Of the heating company obtained
through Cohalan's political influence.
In his published statement yesterday
Connolly referred to many conferences
and much correspondence between his
LAWYER and Mr.. Cohalan about the re-
payment Of the $3.50. II is evident Mr..
Cobalan maintained throughout all these
alleged negotiations that he did not owe
Connolly the money. but finally paid 1t
10 Connolly's lawyer in cash. after suit