New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-26

Spnerintendent Of Public Works :.
coy5on Reel. former Superintendent OF
u,shways. and Charles f. Foley ms
erst Deputy Superintendent. all Tam
many men. for malfea sance in Office
District Attorney Whitman admlt'eu
last night that the bank accounts OF 'nese
men and those OF Philip F. Donohue' OF
Tsmmany Hall Arthur A. Mclean. Dem
ocratic state Treasurer. Of Newburgh' ana
Everett Fowler. one OF the indicted Tam
many "bagmon." Of Kingston, are under
investigation by him.
Albany Report Anglers Osborne.
Commissioner Osborne had blood in his
eye when ne started upstate yesterday.
He was highly incensed at report that
came down from Albany Saturday night
TO the effect that Attorney General car
mody had interpreted the acts Of Bensel.
Peck. Reel and Foley. based on Bensers
explanation OF last Wednesday. were
within the law.
Their contamination OF 3lS road repair
contracts costing about $4,000 I'm 1872
without tho advertisement of a single bid,
Commissioner Osborne said, was criminal,
and Bensels explanation that he and the
others delegated their Judgment TO their
messenger" Charles f. Foley. ne said,
was gross malfeasance OF Office.
I'm going to read the riot act TO the
Attorney General for this. and I'm going
TO stay IN Albany a month. The first
thing 7 do this week is 10 call on Dis
trict Attorney Alexander. OF Albany. for
the indictment Of these men," ne said.
II don't care who Bensel saws was re-
sponsble the idea that these three com
missioners could get together and in
three hours dispose Of 3lS contracts is
3reposterous, These commissioners dele
stated themselves out of existence-they
might as well have gone 10 Europe and
remained there. ny their neglect they
committed a misdemeanor'
What 90 YOU think Of District Attor-
nev Whitmans efforts TO subpoena the
bank accounts OF Charles f. Murphy and
James +. Gaffney in every bank through
out the state?' he was asked.
4 guess he can go ahead and do it,
can't he? If the courts wont permit it
I'll DO it for him. by lingo" he replied.
District Attorney Whitman said last
night that he would certainly appreciate
any aid that Commissioner Osborne might
lend him along the line Of scrutinizing the
accounts Of Murphy. Gaffney Thomas
Hassett. and also Bonsel Peck, Reel.
Foley ct al
Thinks Bank Accounts Shifted.
The District Attorney, doesn't doubt in
the least that since the courts gave him
the power 10 examine bank accounts or
persons under criminal charge both Muir
ply and Gaffney spirited many Of their
bank deposits TO banks outside the state
and In Canada and Great Britain.
Examination Of the accounts Of Bensel.
Peck. Reel. Foley. etc. is based on al
lesed criminal acts consummated i'm New
York County. II is said that the &C
counts Of several well known consulting
engineers who advised the Board Of
Water Supply when they awarded aque-
duct contracts TO a number Of contractors
whose bids were the highest, will be eX-
smined later IT is said that contracts
we're awarded by the board on the advice
81 these engineers.
District Attorney Whitman isn't deceiv-
fing himself as 10 the amount Of criminal
fly that may be attached to Charles +.
Murphy through the alleged "sandbag-
ging" Of his friend Gaffney. Neither
would he discuss his findings in the eX-
animation Of Hsssetts bank accounts.
Contrary to expectation. Mr. Whitman
will not recall James c. Stewart. the con-
tractor who says Gaffney held him up for
$4,000 to the witness stand until late in
the week. This delay. il is believed is
for the purpose Of giving Stewart ample
time 10 refresh his memory az TO the
identity OF the James Z. Gafney' who,
ne has testified. demanded the money.
Stewart. il is believed will take the
stand in the John Doe inquiry possibly
on Friday and will come through" with
out reservation. II is believed that his
attorneys. George Gordon Battle ana
Senator James \. OGorman. have al
ready taken their client I'm hand and have
instructed him to tell all.
Come Across Threat.
That Gafney went further than merely
10 ask Stewart for the $4,000 as "polt
ical contribution is said TO be the case
lie lflhtSAf IL - 0hlhf NolAiNA WIN IL n
threat I'm the form Of an implication that
II Stewart wanted 10 get his barge canal
contracts through the Canal Board he
better come across with the money
Mr. Whitman's two witnesses. who. 1t
is believed, are ready TO testify that Stew
nrt and Carney were on intimate terms
are not the only witnesses who will play
an important part in the possible indict-
ment Of Gaffney. District Attorney Whit
man has determined 20 subpoena the mem
bers Of the Canal Board 10 tell who called
the special board meeting on December rs,
1912. and what was the purpose Of the
meeting II is said that this was the
meeting which voted 10 hold up Stewards
three contracts. The minutes according
TO Assistant District Attorney Clark, are
missing
in this connection District Attorney
Whitman has heard that fifteen persons
in Albany heard about Governor-elect Sui
zer's telegram TO the board on that date.
asking for postponement Of action on
stewards awards until the members heard
from him, within an hour after the tele-
gram reached its destination Mr. Whit
man has also learned that frantic at
tempts were made during the next few
hours TO reach Charles r. Murphy at Del
monico's and Good Ground for informa-