The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-28
Wired Daniel L. Mott of Utica
10 See Him on Highway Con-
tract That Had Been Held Up.
OSBORNE NEARS TRAIL,
First Believed. Mistake Had
Been Made, but Later Sees
Link to Official "Pull."
By Samuel NJ. Wuiianss,

By Samuel NJ. WNlianss,
stsH cssrsssssAsst q The Hvsaias Wsssl
ALBANY, Jan. 2S.-Ths name OF
Charles r. Murphy jr.. nephew OF
the Tammany leader. was brought
into the Osborne graft investigation
to-day in connection with road con-
tractors bonds. Murphy IL an in.
surance broker at No. 70 william
street. New York. and agent for
bonding companies. He has been &C.
tive in getting business from stats
contractors.
Daniel L. Mott OF Utica secured q
)67, 900 road contract last summer "a
lowest bidder in q public letting. He
was Immediately solicited by bonding
agents. among them Murphy. who
wrote several soliciting letters OF Q
legitimate business form.
But for some reason Mott did not
receive his contract from the High.
ways Department. There were three
weeks delay. On Aug. Is. 1918. Mott
received this telegram from New
York:
III you wire mo at Hotel Hampton.
Albany. will execute and file contract
1902 awarded to you. (Signed.)
= CHARLES F. MURPHY JR."
Mr.. Mott did not take his bonds
from Murphy and nothing resulted
from the telegram. Investigator o.
borne made dilissnt inquiry into what
Murphy meant by Offering to execute
and file the contract. what connec.
ton or authority had Murphy with
the Highway Department to put
through this delayed contract 7" asked
Osborne.
Tho witness did not know. secre.
tary Fuller OF the Highways Depart.
ment volunteered 70 throw some light
on the subject.
oAVe CONTRACT WAS HELD W
~ INVESTIGATORS.
He explained that the contract HAD
been held up temporarily In thu
Comptroller's once by sficiency in.
vestigators. who were busy at tina,
time. and not by the Highways De.
partment or outside influence. A. 70,
Murphy's telegram. Secretary Fuller
was at . loss to understand II. Muir.
ply. he said. never Visited the depart.
ment on this or any other contract
and had not Influenced or delayed It II
any manner. After much discussion
Investigator Osborne said:
while the text of this telegram Il
certainly open to strong differences
that Murphy could influence this de-
layed contract, yet I am inclined I,
regard II a. Q careless use Of words
II we insert the word bond In tn,
telegram It might clear the atmos
phsre. I think In fairness We nigh
read the message this way: viii OK
ecute and ale bond on contract
Secretary Fuller Of the Highwa!
Department agreed with this view
and the subject was dropped.
Contractor Mott said no had NO
given up political contributions. al
though often solicited. He had beeI
invited TO attend "Basman" Fowler
conferences at Syracuse, but declined
He threw light on an even sarlie
attempted hold.up Of contractors.
TN 1904" said Mr.. Mott II va,
called ON the telephone BY . Demo
cratic leader Of Buffalo ana invits1
70 attend . conference In New York
went there and met the charmin,
Democratic state Committeeman. MI
Connors. who said the Democrat
party was out 70 win the election
and II they did they expected 70 max
road work more lucrative.
II said wasn't interested and 70
mainsd only . few minutes. Tier
were q number OF other contractor
there at the time"
OSBORNE GEES LIGHT: THINKS
NE HAS STRUCK TRAIL.
Thinking over the meaning OF tn
Murphy telegram during recess.
revelation suddenly flashed ON In
vestisator Osborne that put . nsv
phase ON the whole case. Tho bond
ing combines game was not works
In the Highways Department. bu
through the state Comptroller's once
II was there that Motifs contract wa
held up. not II the Highways Depsr
ment.
Secretary Fuller had testified tina
his once was only waiting for tn
return OF the contract from the Comp
troilsr % II could b sent to Con
tractor Mott and the work started
Mr.. Osborne ordered Mott recalled TO
"a eT00lA