The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-19
BENSEL'S AID MUST
ENTER PLEA TO-DAY
Fails in Fight to Escape Trial
on Charge Of Attempted
"Sandbagging."
SILENCE SPURS WHITMAN
District Attorney Calls Asso-
ciates Of State Engineer
as Witnesses.

Thomas Hassett former secretary OF
the Board of Water Supply and more re-
Gently the confidential agent of State
Engineer John A. Bensel. must plead
guilty or not guilty to-day to the charge
that he attempted by false pretences to
a contractor Of Niagara Falls. who failed
10 get an aqueduct contract despite the
fact that his was the lowest bid.
Justice Vernon NJ Davis denied yes
terday q motion to quash the indictment
against Hassett on the ground that the
Grand Jury was illegally In session and
that the voting was irregular.
Should Hassett plead not guilty Dis
trict Attorney whitman will rush the
case TO trial. He believes that Hassett
In his own defence could tell many things
that would be OF value In the graft hunt
His name has been mentioned frequently
by witnesses before the Grand Jury and
In the John Doe proceedings
Had State Engineer Bensel consented
to waive immunity when called AZ a
Grand Jury witness on Tuesday he would
have been asked about his relations with
Hassett Information having been brought
to Mr.. Whitman that Hassetrs counsel
was selected for him
John X. Macarthur. one of the wit
nesses subp9naed for the GrNd Jury
to-day. was an unsuccessful bidder for
the contract on which Douglass was the
lowest bidder and which went eventually
TO the T. A. Gillespie Company, the third
lowest bidder.
State Engineer Bensei's refusal to
waive immunity az Grand Jury witness
has strengthened the belief Of District At
torney Whitman that he IL on the right
track In his efforts to learn what be-
came OF s+i.25o that was paid for an
aaueduct contract by Patterson a Co. Of
Pittsburg in March. 1903.
William +. Bradley. Henry Steers. John
H. Macarthur and John j. Hart have been
subppnaed for to-day's Grand Jury ses-
sion. Mr.. Bradley and Mr.. steers have
had intimate business relations with Mr.
Bensel. The District Attorney hopes they
will be able TO tell some OF the things
he expected TO get from the State En-
gineer. Harry Wheeler. an engineer for
and a stockholder In Henry Steers. Inc.
has also been subp1naed
George l.. Lewis, Sing Sing convict
now in the Tombs, intimated recently, dur
ing his examination in connection with
Blackwelrs Island matters, that he knew
something about the letting OF aqueduct
contracts He was formerly. the vice.
president of Pennsylvania company that
came into New York looking for work.
He sent word TO Mr.. Whitman that he
could say who he was told To see II he
wanted to get contracts. Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys Edwards and Embree will
investigate his story this morning.
The John Doe inquiry will be resumed
Tomorrow. Former Governor Sulxer. who
was to have been witness. sent word
last night that he would be unable to
appear.
Charles F. Murphy said yesterday that
h. had no comment TO make on the sui
eide OF State Treasurer John J. Kennedy.
He denied that his influence or that OF
the Democratic State organization had
been exerted In the designation OF banks
to receive deposits Of State money.