Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-17
LEE
TO START SUIT
AGAINST KELLY
$4,000 Damages for Defama-
ton of Character Will Be
Asked.
RESULT OF CLASH AT
MEETING IN CITY HALL
Contractor Called Official a
"crook"-Men Were Former
Business Partners.

Alderman Thomas J. Lee. jr., of the
Sixth ward. today announced that he
has taken preliminary steps toward
the institution of sait for $4,000
damages against James F. Kelly. a
steamheating and plumbing contrac-
tor. The latter yesterday afternoon
openly criticised Mr.. Lee after the
buildings cpmrnittee of the CoInmcn
Council had gone on record as refus-
ing to award contract to Kelly. Mr..
Lee Is chairman OF the committee. He
formerly was a partner Of Kelly in
the. Orange Supply Company
Alderman Lee this forenoon went to
the law Office of George w. Ander-
son, 1t was then decided to have Mr..
Anderson Immediately start suit
against Kelly for defamation Of char
acter. Kelly during his attack on
Lee declared the alderman to be a
crook" and also denounced him in
other strong terms.
Mr.. Kelly. after the committee had
voted not to grant to him the contract
for work at the new city aimshouse
at Ivy Hill, addressed the meeting.
He was lowest bidder. He said he
did not think it fair for Chairman Lee
to hamper him in endeavoring to OBJ
tain work from the city. He said he
had obtained a contract for some work
at the City Hall, but was not able to
carry it through because OF the oppo-
ssition of Lee. He said he would like
"toatell the committee something"
The challenge was Immediately ac-
cepted by Chairman Lee, who defied
Kelly. He urged the contractor to
go ahead and tell all he knew. Kelly
came back with the declaration that
If he told all he knew about Lee the
latter would go to Jail. Les again
challenged the contractor and the
latter answered that Lee was a
crook. There were further reerimi-
nations to which Lee held his tongue.
Mr. Kelly is head of the firm of
James r, Kelly, Inc, which has re-
eeived large contracts for work on
Newark public institutions. He
formerly was connected with Storms
& Co, which firm went into bank
ruptcy.
Previous to this Kelly was partner
with Alderman Lee In the Orange
Supply Company There was a dis-
agreement between them, and as
result there has been a display of
animosity by both Lee and Kelly,
which eliminated in the. clash at the
City Hall yesterday.
High Pressure system.
The almshouse matter which led
to the clash came up on the question
of passing resolution awarding the
contract for the installation Of q high
pressure water system. Alderman
Littleneld said materials were going
up in price.
There's the resolution. All it needs
Is four signatures. Go ahead and
sign it, replied Chairman Lee.
Alderman James P. Rogers said Mr..
Lee had no right to solicit prices from
other firms after competitive bids had
been received and the low bidder as
certained.
Mr.. Lee said the Leader Iron Works
would install high pressure system
for $1,700. He said the Kelly price of
over $4,000 was exorbitant and he
would not sign the resolution.
.T'lI sign it." said Alderman Little
field Alderman Rogers, Democrat,
did likewise. Alderman John McGov-
ern was asked to sign the resolution.
He refused. Alderman William f.
IdaSS Qlu flOt say uOW uS ISit. dbOuL
the contract. He did not sign. This
left only two signatures on the res
olution.
why, you signed that resolution
yourself at the last meeting and then
scratched your name of, !" said Alder
man Littlefield to Chairman Lee.
II know / did, but / didn't know
the nature of the resolution"
-Four signatures are necessary to
bring resolution out of committee
to the council. AS a result the con-
tract could not be awarded to Kelly.