New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-07
John Doe Jury Examines
Deposits of State Off
Gals at Albany.
ONE BOUGHT S15O.000
HOME IN JERSEY
J. J. Mcdonald Testifies He Was
Not Messenger Boy for
Contract go"

Bank accounts or state officials men
who arc known as those higher up
were examined yesterday by the Supreme
Court grand jury in the John Doc IN
vestigation Of highway graft. II is said
the deposits made by these men In me
First National Bank Of Albany were sus-
piciously heavy.
The accounts were produced under SUD-
puna by Hugh J. Arnold. first vice-pres'-
dent OF the bank Mr.. Arnold was the
last witness TO testify. II vas learned
fortnight ago that District Attorney
Whitman had determined 20 ma OUT
whether the officials against whom 'here
is grave implication of grating had put
away savings during their term OF ONCE
commensurate with their 50 larles.
Investigation of the realty holdings OF
one prominent state official showed IL II
said. a $4,000 show place in Ne" jersey
that had been purchased since the man
went into office. Others under Suspicion
were likewise reported to have acquired
property and made bank deposits out ol
proportion to their salaries. The DlsuIct
Attorney will try 10 place his findings III
evidence If the men who are Implicated
are indicted and brought to trial.
Other witnesses before the grand JurT
were Professor W. II. Burr. of Columbia
University. and Alfred Noble OF NO :
East 18th street. both of whom were CON
sulting engineers They told OF the let
ting OF the Hudson "siphon' contract III
June. 1912. to r. a. Gillespie at bid tuiiy
$3.50 900 in advance of that of Anthony u.
Douglass.
Douglasss testimony before the Srahu
Jury last month resulted in the mart
ment Of Thomas Hassett, confidential Se'-
rotary TO "tate Engineer John A Bchsc''
for attempting TO solicit $4,000 from
Douglass as the price of getting the cor
tract from the Board Of Water supply
Douglass refused t. come across. The
grand Jury having inquired why Douglass
did not get the work is now Investigate
ing the awarding of the contract to the
highest bidder
Bids were advertised January |, lul.
on June l j Waldo Smith, chief con-
sulting engineer TO the Water Board
made his report Alfred Noble gave his
findings the same day. Professor Burr
reported three days later. and John j.
Freeman. another engineer, a day later
than Noble. on June Is Freeman made
another report reversing himself. All
but Freeman favored Gillespie, the high
est bidder The contract was awarded
on June 80 Professor Burr, Mr.. Noble
and Mr. Freeman were drawing between
s. 900 and 5000 for their services.
The witnesses. together with John j..
Dillon, general superintendent on the
siphon contract, testified that 7. \. ill
lespie was best fitted t. puld the siphon
as he had done similar work in other
places 1t is said the grand jury wants
10 know whether pressure" was brous hi
to bear or the Water Board TO give tine
work TO Gillespie
EX-Alderman John J. Mcdonald, a
member Of Tammany Hall, waived nm
munity and testified that he Cid not, IS
had been alleged act as messenger 10
James O. Winton. the second highest bid
der on the work, telling Winston to see
Thomas f. McAvoy, Deputy Excise Com
missioner. to talk over means of getting
contract go" Jules Breuchaud, Of Win
stons firm. was TO have testified. lie will
appear tomorrow, when the grand jury
convenes again.