New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-17
CHARGE OF PERJURY
FEARED BY KENNEDY
His Case Likened to That
of q. II. Mcclure, Who
Tainted on Stand.
WAS TO BE USED TO
REACH BIG POLITICIAN
Whitman's Graft inquiry Post
poncd Because Of State
Treasurer's Suicide.

District Attorney Whitman graft in
ou'ry was halted Yesterday 10y the sui
eide OF John j. Kennedy. state Treasurer.
in Buffalo or sunday The John Doe
hearing al which Kennedy was to have
been the principal witness was post
poucd until FRIDAY
Kennedy s. friends around the Criminal
Courts Yesterday insisted that worry over
the ordeal OF tcstifying publicly caused
q temporary mental arrangement. Others
said il was fear that drove the state
Treasurer 10 cut his throat Mr Whit
man. beyond saying that Konnedys death
had PIT stop TO further investigation
Of charges Of fsyortism TO certain bond
Ing companies refused 10 comment fur
Their.
Rumors Of an impending charge Of per-
jury that would have been brought
against Kennedy had he refused yester-
day 10 alter his testimony given before
the grand jury two weeks ago were
heard IL was said that the District At
torney held documentary proof Of the
fals.ty Of the State Treasurer's testimony
regarding the activities Of Charles +.
Murphy, jr. nephew Of Charles r. Muir
phy' Of Tammany Hall. and George II.
Mcclure in the same bonding COMPANY
Which Kennedy represented before he
took Office. When he appeared before the
Grand jury on January q. Kennedy tes-
tined that he had turned over his bond
ms and insurance business 10 his son.
II was said that Kennedy's counsel had
communicated last week with Whitman
representative and had learned the situa-
ton that confronted his client. Kennedy
would have been asked 10 explain why
about 80 per cent Of the banks named as
repositories OF state funds were bonded
by the United States Fidelity and Guar
anty Company. or Baltimore Of which
he had been the Representative Charles
F. Murphy, j.. and George II. Mcclure
represented the company by means OF a
working agreement. IT was said.
The most pertinent inquiry which Mr..
Whitman would have forced on the State
Treasurer was whether 4 New York
politician, whose name has been a by
word in the graft investigation. desig-
mated, through relative the banks
which should get the state deposits II
is said that such dictation might have
been given in a legal way. because this
politician holds no public Office.
BY means Of Kennedy's testimony on
this matter. it is said Mr. Whitman
would have been able 10 get at the man
higher up and possibly reach a promi-
nent state official, who II is said pro-
viGed counsel for Thomas J. Hassett. the
indicted former confidential agent OF John
A. Bensel. State Engineer.
The mental perturbation OF Kennedy in
the face Of a dilemma like this was par
alleled at the outset Of the graft investl
cation by George II. Mcguire, who on
his first appearance at the John Doe in
quiry swore that he knew nothing about
the famous M" telegram 4 John a.
Hennessy. District Attorney Whitman at
once obtained documentary evidence that
made MEG ire a perjurer Mcclure broke
down on the stand and had 10 be excused.
He retired 10 his hotel in the care of
counsel. II was afterward alleged that
Mcclure made an attempt 70 take his If
before ne finally decided TO make a clean
breast Of his completely in the bonding
business.
Ii is believed that the State Treasurer
was unwilling TO incrimnate his friends
by clearing himself OF a charge Of perjury
and decided that self-destruction was the
only solution. District Attorney Whitman