New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-20
Title Searchers in Ulster
County to Face the
Grand Jury.
DOZEN LAWYERS
HERE TO TESTIFY
Bensers Ex-Aid. Hassett. Demurs
to Charges of Attempted Ex.
tortion and Theft.

How the taxpayers' money Vas Wasteo
on the Catskill aqueduct condemnation
nroceedines will be taken Up AZ The john
Doe hearing this afternoon. Accoioifs
10 information in the District Attorney
hands. the searching OF titles I'm the con
demnation was farmed out 10 lawyers al
along the aaueduct by one firm in eacn Oh
the large cities along the line
These lawyers. who have been suopp-
naed. will be asked to-day what WORK
they did and what they were paid, ana
also II they had 10 pay to get the WORK.
and II 80. whom. They will be asked also
whether they got their money, and II not,
who did,.
The inquiry covers 1908 and 1909, and the
place Is Ulster County. The Aqueduct
Commission act laid down the law for the
condemnation proceedings. which were IN
the hands Of an Assistant Corporation
Counsel for New York. Special counsel
were retained 10 employ lawyers along
the line
According to Assistant District Attorney
Edwards the firm in Ulster County In
1909 was Fowler a. Van Buren,. OF Kings
ton. Everett Fowler. who is now under
indictment, and Judge Augustus h van
Buren, composed the firm.
About dozen young lawyers OF that
section will come with their records 10
testify. IL Is said they were paid so
much a name for their work. The ale
CATION is that there was an immense
amount of duplication Of work and A
waste of state money amounting TO more
than 10000
Since Mayor McClellan's administration
the farming out Of title searching, II is
said. has been pretty evenly divided be-
tween Republicans and Democrats. II Is
apparent, therefore, that District Attor-
ney Whitman will find material In this
phase of the graft hunt TO substantiate
his claim that he is conducting non
partisan investigation.
Witnesses before the grand jury yes
terday were William Bradley. OF the
Bradley Construction Company; Henry
Steers, OF Henry Steers, Inc: John r.
Macarthur. Of Macarthur Brothers. and
William g. Sloan. chief engineer Of the
firm. Some of the witnesses were ques-
toned regarding the reported payment OF
$50 600 BY Harry B. Hanger. OF Virginia. 10
James +. Gaffney, friend OF Charles F.
Murphy. for expert advice" The grand
jury will continue its sessions Tuesday.
Thomas Hassett. former confidential
adviser 10 State Engineer John A. Bensel
contrary to expectations, did not plead
yesterday before Justice Davis to an m
dictment charging attempted grand lar
ceny and attempted extortion. Through
his counsel, Thomas Glleran, he demurred
to the indictment on the ground that the
true bill did not charge crime and that
the signature OF District Attorney Whit
man was lacking.
IL was said that overtures were being
made by Delaney Nicoll TO District At
torney Whitman TO obtain a suspended
sentence if Hassett would plead guilty
Mr. Whitman would not deny that he had
Hassett. but he discaimed any knowledge
Of actual overtures to a settlement. John
ID. Lindsay, Delaney Nicolrs partner.
emphatically denied that either MIR. Nicoll
or himself had seen the District Attorney
After entering his demurrer yesterday,
Mr. Gilleran tried hard to get a week 10
prepare arguments. Justice Davis said
one day was ample. The demurrer will be
argued this morning.
Thomas Hassett, through his attorney
Thomas Gilleran, said last night that it
was unfair and vicious" TO have 1t in
ferred that any one acting for him ever
intimated that there was anything to con-
fess or that any overtures were made for
a contest On