South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-15
THREATENED To HOLD
UP CONTRACTORS PAY
Seneca P. Hull Appears Before
Grand Jury in John Doe In
veStigatiOn-MCGuire is Ex-
peCted to Confess.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-Everett P.
Fowler of Kingston, n. Y. who was
described by John A. Hennessy, graft
investigator for former Gov. Sulzer,
as the Tammany "bagman" for con-
tributions from state highway con-
tractors, was indicted Friday on
charge of extortion. He was accused
Of forcing Seneca'P. Hull, highway
contractor of Cortland, n. Y. and an
enrolled republican to give $3.50 as a
democratic campaign contribution
under threat that the work on Hull's
S23,500 state road contract in Cort-
land county would not be approved by
the state highway inspectors. and that
his pay would be held up.
The indictment was the first grow
ing out of the inquiry by Dist Atty.
Whitman into the charges of graft In
the state highway department made
by Hennessy during his recent election
campaign against Tammany hall and
repeated by him as witness at the
district attorneys John Doe inquiry
More indictments which may include
conspiracy as well as eXtortion are ex-
pected.
Jury Hears Story.
Hull told his story to the grand jury
Friday and produced documentary
evidence to support it. This included
letters from William II. Kelly, demo-
cratic committeeman of Onondaga
county. inviting him to meet Fowler
in Syracuse; his check for the $3.50
made out to the order of Norman E.
Mack, chairman of the democratic
state committee, and a letter from
Arthur A. Mclean. treasurer of the
committee, acknowledging the contri-
button toward the legitimate ex-
penses" of the committee in the pend
ing campaign. The contribution was
made on Oct 81, 1911, but Dist. Atty.
Whitman has been unable to find a
record of it in McLeans statement of
the campaign contributions 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 let
ter inviting him to meet Fowler as
he did not see. why he. a republican,
should have any dealings with a dem
Ocratic committeeman. 1t was his
first state contract and he didn't know
the game" Ire said. The second
letter being more insistent. he went To
Syracuse and saw Fowler at the head
quarters Of the county committee in
that city.
Was Down On List.
Fowler told me-" said Hull, that
| had a contract for $4,000, and that
l was down on the list for a $3.50 con-
tribution. 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 explained that contractors
were paid for the work by sections,
and that payment for one section
gave them the capital to proceed with
the next one. Under the circum-
stances, he said. he felt obliged to
make out the check.
The witness said further that he
saw seven or eight other contractors
waiting outside the office when ne
left Fowler Kelly he said, was not
present at this interview
The next year, he said. he gave
500 more and this check he also pro-
duced. Ii was made out directly to
Mclean and like the other could not
be found by the district attorney.
Whiteman Is Pleased
In the opinion of District Attorney
Whitman, Hulls evidence gives color
TO the story which Hennessy testified.
George II. Mcclure of Syracuse told
him of an alleged meeting in the Of
flee of Gov. Dix in Albany in 1911.
at which Fowler, NOrmen Z. Ma,
and G. Gordon Reel. then superinten-
dent of highways were present.
The district attorney is now more
|strongly than ever convinced that Nc
Guire will make a clean breast of all
he knows when he resumes the stand
at the John Doe inquiry next Wednes-
day