New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-29
Evidence Called Complete
Against Bensel, Peck,
Reel and Foley.
OSBORNE FINDS 31S
CROOKED" CONTRACTS
Hennessy Gives Evidence That
Is Expected to Reach Glynn
Officeholders.
II. Telcsranh % Tho rrlhun,

TBS Telegraph 70 The Tnbgnel
Albany. Jan 2s-Iohn \. Bensol State
Engineer: Duncan " Peck. SuperIntend-
ent Of Public Works. &. Gordon Reel. eN-
Superintendent Of Highways. and his
deputy. Charles p. Foley were openly
accused Of conspiracy by James W. Os-
borne ~ the close Of to-day session or
the highways INVESTIGATION in connection
with the payment Of t37 OOo for q road re-
pair contract in Montgomery County Mr.
Osborne intimated that District Attorney
Alexander could not ask for better evi-
dence 10 submit 10 the grand jury.
lie said that the evidence which was
I brought out by John A. Hennessy' 3 en-
g.neer. Joseph G.. Curren. was sufficient
also to indict the contractors, the Mohonk
! Construction Company. OF Montgomery
County. Of which Peter V. Baird was
president Baird was the favored con-
tractor Of the Montgomery County Demo-
cratic Senator Gardner and
/ County Chairman Wempie.
The contract. which was for the resur-
facing Of a strip Of road four miles long,
| originally called for the payment Of S-iV1'
out by private arrangements with the
/ = lEflN AVS 'Vliiil41rlOll AAi' sa-tit tt
creased 10 80 900. The cost Of the work, Il
done according to specification, would
! rave been $1,000. and this allowed FOR
% per cent profit to the contractor.
The contract was not let until october
/ o. 1912. the day when 100000 in contracts
we're awarded by Bensel, Reel, Peck ana
Foley and the work on this road wAich
ran from Sharon Springs to CanaJohaile'
was completed ten days before the con-
tract was awarded. Osborne repeated
Eennessy's charge that there were many
other similar cases among the 3lh con-
tracts awarded on that day.
| While Hennessy's engineer was testify
ing TO these details. Hennessy was before
the grand jury giving testimony tnat'
is expected will lead 10 the indictment OF
some prominent Tammyites, including
some big oficeholders now serving under
Governor Glynn. Commenting on the evl-
Gence regarding the work OF the MonohA
company and the manner IN when the
contract was awarded Osborne said:
Il am going TO send this whole thins 10
the grand jury in Montgomery county
In my opinion. this is clear case OF iar-
ceny. II is Just so much money stolen
from the state. II could not have been
done without a conspiracy being entered
into between the man VINO built the road
and all the parties who approved OF il.
Here we have got before us the actual
stone taken from the road which has no
resemblance. to macadam. II is just one
solid piece OF stone.
81 hope the District Attorney OF that
county will Immediately % steps 10 IN
diet everybody connected win IL. now
this is another example. ahd We heep oi'
getting examples OF the same type ana
| / could go on sitting here forever sup
nose and multiply the examples WheIe
the contractor is the boss Of the house
and he is so because in this particular IN
stance the contractor, Peter y. bal.u o.
! contributed s., 500 to local Democratic
organization and $1,000 TO the state or
"This contract is one Of those, II
l may use such strong language. 3lS dam
: nable contracts that were entered INTO py
/ Foley. involving 100000. and which were
ratified by the commission.
e 1T is evident that there was political
coterie i'm Montgomery GO lnty, consisting
, of q man by the name Of Gardner, this
man Baird Joseph Murphy, Of Troy, ana
Mr. Wemple, who was the county cnalr-
7 man. and it seems that the maintenance
work i'm Montgomery County was treated
!. as sort OF patronage for the politicians
OF that county and divided up between
r Wemple and the Mohonk Construction
D Company.
n Every Contract Crooked"
81 say this for the benefit OF the Dis
trict Attorney OF Albany County, that
every one of the Sls contracts that have
S been called to my attention has been
r more or less crooked. or the roads have
0 Daniel l.. Mott. the road contractor OF
n Utica. who testified before District Attor
, ney Whitman i'm New York, told how
Everett +. Fowler In 1911 had invited him
Y 10 contribute to the campaign fund and
S that he refused. The payment on road
e contracts, which he finished in November.
;. 1911. was then held up until the following
T. June.
e Mr.. Mott said he was asked over the
o telephone IN 1905 by W. J. Corners. for
y mer Democratic state Chairman, TO go
a 10 New York to talk over the matter OF a
$ campaign contribution
: He talked over the telephone and said
L his party expected to win that year and
e he wanted TO see me in relation to future
I contracts. ] went down and met the
n man. | said the matter didn't interest
a me. and gave no contribution"
s Mott testified that although he had re-
ccived notice from n. *. Fuller. secretary
r OF the Highways Department. that his
d bid on a repair contract had been ap-
r. proved and he was told to commence
work. the contract was held up for som'
" reason he did not understand. In tbs
mean time he received this telegram froil
Charles +. Murphy, ir.. nephew of the
n leader OF Tammany Hall:
IF you wire me at the Hotel Hampton
Albany, VIII execute and file cont act NJ
.Oe2 awarded to YOU
Mr. Mott said ne made no answer L
the telegram. Mr. Osborne said that th'
= only construction he could put on th'
, telegram was that Murphy meant that h
" would execute the contractors bend. be
ing a bond man.
% SAY WHITMAN Is CHOSEN
, A1looo1, Pop0rtc Accort ActiO,