The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-13
TOLD TO GET BOND
FROM MURPHY, JR.
Contractor Swears This Hint
Came Direct From state
Officials.
"ROTTEN WORK" APPROVED
superintendent Admits That
liz Depended on Tam
many FOremen.

John ". Flynn, a highway contractor
OF Waterford, n. y. testified yesterday
in the John Doe proceedings to the re-
ccipt OF letters and circulars urging him
to have his bonding business done through
Charles l.. Murphy. Jr.. nephew or the
Tammany leader, and James X. Mcclure
of Syracuse. Other witnesses had testi-
fed TO being solicited but Flynn pointed
his testimony with the assertion that the
solicitation came to him through the
literature Of the State Highways Depart
ment
He explained ia ii. that he reee ved le,-
tiers from James X. Mcclure and from
Mr. Murphy. He said he had not saved
any OF them. but AZ ne recalled them they
gave INN the impression that 1t would be
TO his advantage 10 do business with
these nen. lie described the letters az
''veiied letters
'"rhcn.' he continued, "iI the lltega-
ture that received from the Highway b
Department there came circulars advis-
ing me OF the fac, that McGuire and Muir
ply We're in The bonding business and
that ] could 60 business advantageously
with them. The literature was such as
iH OF use TO contractors, records OF bids
on certain contracts ard Of lettings.
had done business with william Austen
ana dldn'. see any reason why | should
change. J neve! lad any trouble as n
result of paying no attention to Mcclure
and Murphy
James X. Mcclure IS 4 partner OF hi.
brother. George II. Mcclure. in the bond E
ing business. Edward :. Mcclure and
Charles N. Moisture are also members OF
the firm. They represent the United
States Fidelity and Guarantee Company.
tsts Donation nrecOrded.
Flynn also testified that on October
-. 1911. he sent "A check for $3.50 to Nor
man y. Mack AS a contribution 10 tn.
Democratic, state committee lie said
that John L. consalus directed him as 10
sending the check II was c,shed In New
York and was never recorded ~ a con-
tribution. Flynn said he was not solicited,
for the contribution but gave Il because
he was disguised with the way Col Roose
Welt had attacked his friend Vice Presi
dent James $. sherman AT the Saratoga
convention in 1910
IL. said he didn't want to contribute the
next year, but was afraid OF being singled
II he did not. and consequently when Con
salus cam. to him and asked him TO con
tribute he sent check for 800 to State
Chairman ';eorg. VI. Palmer.
Esler Sherwood Of Monsey. Rociland
county. who was superintendent of main
t-nance and repairs and provisional SUI
perintendent OF construction in the High
ways Department from November /.
1911. To May 10, 1913. testified that in
his latter position he had about 500 miles
OF road repairs. involving an expenditure
of s3.50o,coo under his supervision and
that he was tn. only man In the depart
ment who went over that work to ap-
prove IT,
He said 1t WAS OF course physica,
imposslbility for him to give this job
adequate attention, that he was In fact
employed most OF the time in Albany
and that he was dependent upon local
torcmen for his information
And how did thes. local foremen get
their jobs" asked chief Magistrate Nc
Adoo
They Were appointed OH the recon-
alendation of the chairmcn OF the Demo
cratic county committees
And YOU were not prov ided with
watchmen TO Sc. that they were per
forming their duties properly"
NO. sir"