New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-01
Instrument Taken by Him in
Retraction of Charges Made
by Contractor When Lat
ter Asked Forgive
ness, He Asserts.
EARNED SUM BY SERVICES
Cites Commitment of Author of Aeon
sations to Asylum and Refers to
His Efforts as Lawyer, Then
Without Political Infu-
ence, to Aid Client.

Justice Daniel 7. Cohalan replied in
detail last night to the charges made
against him by his former friend and
client, John A. Connolly. The state
ment, consisting OF more than three
thousand words, was evidently care
fully prepared by Justice Cohalan. II
covered every detail OF Connolly's
charges. and is in substance a general
denial OF Connolly's statements. II wa.
sent to the newspaper offices by mes
senger.
After summing up the Connolly
charges and denying them as "abso-
lutely false" with the facts distorted
and falsifled," Justice Cohalan declared
he had lately learned that Connolly
was at one time an inmate Of an in
sane asylum" Later in the statement
he referred TO the asylum as at Pough-
| leepsie.
! John A. Connolly answered Justice
| Cohalan's statement last night. He
contended that Cohalan had admitted
In substance all the facts he had stated
about their relations. Connolly re-
ferred 10 Cohalan's comment on his
mental condition as "an ungracious
reference TO the condition of his health
some thirty-one years ago." He ad-
mtted that he had been i'm "a hospital"
at one time, and explained the circum-
stances surrounding that experience.
Justice Cohalan frequently refers to
,Connollys noticeable "eccentricitles" in
his dealings with him throughout the
statement, and declared that while he
did not know Of his record of insanity
he did know his changeful humors.
his recurrent fits of malice" The
papers on which Connolly was COM
mitted to the asylum referred TO him
as suffering from "hallucinations, de-
lusions, incoherence, great and cause
less mental excitement and violence"
Justice Cohalsn stated.
No Pay for Job"
Referring 10 the original Charge" as
published in The World" that he took
Connolly's note in consideration OF a
4
the Justice stated that this charge was
an absolute falsehood. He took the
note merely as an admission on Con-
nolly's part that the statements he had
made among Cohalan's friends. and the
suit he had started to recover S3,9f0,
which ne had contended represented 81
per cent OF tho profits Of his concern
which Cohalan had demanded as his
share for obtaining Connolly city con-
tracts, were in no sense true, Justice
Cohalan said.
The statement brands Connolly's
charge that he had Engagement with
Cohalan 10 give him % per cent of The
profits of the Victor Heating Company
on all city contracts obtained through
Cohalans political influence in 1901.
1905 and 1906. as "the fabric OF dis
ordered mind Justice Cohalan de-
clared that he had no political influ-
ence at that time. and that he acted
for him in obtaining contracts. SOLELY
as an attorney and as a friend
The $3.94O represented counsel fees
for work done. which a lawyer was
entitled TO be duly paid for. under any
professional standard, however strict.
and my charges were not excessive"
the justice stated
Referring TO the return Of the SO, $40
to Connolly after the latter had threat
ened suit, Justice Cohalan declared
that It was not true that he returned
the payments to avoid a personal
scandal.
II gave back to him the money he
had paid TO me-" said Justice Cohalan
cor what he said was the amount OF it,
because / did not choose TO permit my
self. through precisely such malicious
use as is now being made OF a news
paper. TO become storm centre OF
political campaign in which l was not
a candidate. but TO the possible hurt of
my party and its candidates"
Note of No Real Value.
In regard to the return of the 1900
to Connolly's lawyer, Justice Cohalan
says the dema..- came from Mr.. War
| rem, Connollys lawyer. at the begin
ming Of new municipal campaign"
He explained to Connolly's lawyer that
the note was Of no pecuniary value, and
that he had taken it and the eccom-
panying estoppel affidavit merely as a
concrete admission by Connolly that
his statements Of 1909 were false. He
intimated again that he finally re-
turned the note TO avoid the possibility
Of harm coming to his party in the mu-
nicipal campaign.
| At the time the note and affidavit
were delivered to him at his Office, No
2 Rector street, April 5, 1911, he had no
intention or expectancy of receiving
judicial appointment. Justice Cohalan
declared.
Toward the end Of his statement the
| Justice took occasion to deny the In