The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-15
TAMMANY BACMAN
IS INDICTED ON AN
EXTORT|ON CHARGE
Is Accused of Forcing Con-
tractor to Contribute to
Campaign Fund Hull
Tells Story

New York, November 1i.-Everett p.
Fowler of Kingston, N. Y, who was de-
scribed by John A. Hennessy, graft in
vestigator for former Governor. Sulzer,
as the Tammany 'bagman,' for contri-
buttons from state highway contractors,
was indicted today on charge of ex-
tortion. He was accused of forcing SEN
eca p. Hull a highway contractor of
lican, TO give $3.50 as a democratic cam
paign contribution, under threat that the
work on Hull's $4,000 state road contract
in Cortland county would not be ap-
proved and that his pay would be held up.
The indictment was the first growing
out of the inquiry by District Attorney
Whitman into the charges of graft in
the state highway department, made by
Hennessy during his recent election cam
paign against Tammany Hall, and repeat
ed by him as a witness at the district
attorneys John Doe inquiry. More in
dictments, which may include conspiracy
as well as extortion, are expected.
Tells Story to Jury
Hull told his story to the grand jury
today and produced documentary evidence
to support it. This included letters from
William II. Kelly, democratic committeo-
man of Onondaga county. inviting him
TO meet Fowler in Syracuse; his check
for the $3.50, made out to the order of
Norman L. Mack, chairman of the demo-
cratic state committee, ana a letter from
Arthur \. Mclean, treasurer of the conf
mittee, acknowledged the contribution
toward the legitimate expenses of tho
committee in the pending campaign. The
contribution was made on October 81
1911, but District Attorney Whitman has
| been unable to find record of it In
McLean's statement of the campaign con-
tributions to the committee as required
by the corrupt practices act.
Hull told the grand jury he did not
pay any attention to Kelly's first letter
inviting him to meet Fowler, as he did
not see why he. a republican, should
have any dealings with democratic COM
mitteeman. 1t was his first state con-
tract and he didn't know the game"
he said.
Second Letter Insistent
The second letter being more insistent,
he went to Syracuse and saw Fowler at
the headquarters of the county commit
tee in that city.
Fowler told me-" said Hull, that I
had a contract for $4,000 and that was
down on the list for q $3.50 contribution
He said If l didn't come across the
| local inspector wouldn't pass my work,
the chief inspector at Albany wouldn't
pass my work and that my pay would
be held up"
Hull iof fnad
paid for the work by sections and that
payment for one section gave them the
capital to proceed with the next sec
tion. Under the circumstances, he said
he felt obliged to make out the check
The witness said further that ne saw
seven or eight other contractors waiting
outside the office when ne left Fowler
Kelly. he said, was net at this inter
view
The next year, he said, he gave sioo
more, and this check he also paid. 1t
was made out directly to McLean, and
like the other, could not be found by the
district attorney on the democratic state
committee campaign statement. The lat
ter check does not figure. however. in
tho present indictment.
Gives Color to Story
In the opinion of District Attorney
Whitman, Hulfs evidence gives color to
the story which Hennessy testified George
H. Mcclure of Syracuse told him of an
alleged meeting in the offices of Governor
Dix in Albany in 1911, at which Fowler
Norman e. Mack and C. Gordon Reel,
then superintendent of highways were
present. Hennessy said Mcclure told him
1t was there agreed that Fowler should
visit the various highway contractors
throughout the state and seek campaign
contributions. This was what Hennessy
referred to as sand bagging."
! The evidence also strongly corroborates,
Mr.. Whitman thinks, the charges made
! by Mcguire in the telegram he sent to
| Hennessy from Syracuse to the effect that
| Kelly was helping Fowler "hold up and
| shake DOWN contractors This was the
telegram signed M" which Mcclure at
first denied sending, but which he con-
fessed to after he had been threatened
with indictment for perjury.
: The district attorney is more strongly
convinced than ever that Mcclure will
make a clean breast of all he knows
when he resumes the stand at the John
! Doe inquiry next "Wednesday