New-York tribune., 1921-10-07

firm, he said. as partnership. He said
nc put In his time, ability and money
against nothing of Phillips's, bat the
latter was TO do all the outside work,
constituting the facilitating of money
payments from the Comptroller's office
due for work done for the Borough of
queens, for which he was to get 3 per
cent Of all payments. Sigretto's testi-
monv here in answer to questions read
as follows:
Q.-Mr. Philips had some other oc-
eupation, didn't he, besides being your
associate? A.-That could not tell
Q.-pont you know that he was the
agent for some pipe company or rep
lcsentativc of pipe company? Al
believe he was
Q.-iou know he was. don't you?
You know he WAS the agent of the
Lock Joint Pipe Company? A-Yes,
CIR other contracts
Q-Finally the time came when YOU
cot this contract for the construction
OF the sewer in Fifty-frst Street.
Queens. You had some dealings with
MI Phillips with regard to this con-
tract, did you not? A.-Yes, that is
the last contract we had in dealing
with him.
Q.--Will YOU state what it is con-
corning this contract that you took up
with Mr.. Phillips? A-Well, was or
Gerec TO go ahead with the work. to
start the work, by President Connolly.
and / told him ! could not start the
work at the present time because !
vas engaged on government contracts,
TO build UP part of Camp Mills. He in
sisted that I must start or he would
notify the bonding company to call the
Job abandoned.
So | asked Mr.. Phillips and another
party, who was Purcell. if they could
sell this contract for me, because |
could not start it, because | am too
busy with the government contracts
50 they found a party, MIR. John Green.
he said he would take the contract.
and ! was glad to give it to him for
nothing. II he had wanted it, He made
an offer on the contract of around
$4,000. I don't remember offhand
what the exact price was He bought
the contract for around S2O0OO
Q.-From you? A.--Yes.
Previous Replies Recalled
Q.--Just going back for a moment
Nr. Sigretto. You recall that YOU were
examined before sub committee Of
this committee at 3S Park Row, on
May 20. do you not? And you recall
my asking you certain number Of
questions? A.-Yes, sir.
took Phillips in for was to get the
payments through as his contribution,
afainst your plant, money and ability
That is right, isn't it? A.-And he
was to get per cent.
Q.-Why did you have to take Phil
lips in to get your payments through
Who is Phillips? Al didn't know
who he was at that time, but | know
what he is to-day. | don't want to do
any business with him.
Q,.-Now, then, Mr.. Purcell and Mr..
Green, did they not? A.--Yes, sir.
Q.-It is John j. Green. isn't it?
A.-That is right--John Green
Q.-What arrangement was made
between you and Mr.. Green for the
transferring of that contract from
you to Mr.. Green? A.--He would pay
$4,000 down on the signing of the
contract and the balance of per cent
on the total contract. He bought the
contract for around s20,00OZ$21 900
or $4,000; | don't remember which.
Q.-You mean the payments as they
came from the Comptroller's Office?
A.--Ies, sir.
Anxious 10 Make Deal
O. What was to be done with this
$4,000? Al did not care who got
it as long as l got rid Of the contract
Q.-What did you expect to have done
with the $4,000? Al expected to
keep it, If could keep it.
Q.-Tha. is exactly what I mean.
What happened to the $4,000? Al
turned it over to Mr.. Phillips for sell
ing the contract.
Q.-How much of it did you turn
over to Mr.. Phillips? Al turned
over the full amount, $4,000, and he
gave NE $1,000 to pay the bond
Q.-lsn't it fact, Mr.. Sigretto, that
Mr. Purcell was the person that brought
you to Mr. Green, that he brought you
and Green together? Isn't that the
fact? Ale was. 1t was both of
them. Il remember right.
Q.--l show you this check, dated
September :, 1915, to the order of Jo-
seph L. Sigretto & Co., for $4,000,
signed by john J. Green, and ask you
# the Endorsement on the reserve side
Of that is yours! A-That is my sig
lips.
Q.-And do you know what Mr.. Phil
lips did with it? Al couldn't tell
You that.
Q.-Didn't Mr. Phillips tell YOU what
he was going to do with this money A.
He SAID something, but didn't pay
no attention. l don't remember ex-
actly. He said so many things; didn't
care what he said and | didn't believe
him.
Q.-Referring to the same check, at
page TO- you were asked this question.
O. an not testifying. You put on
the record what he told You he did with
that $4,000" And you answered, ac-
cording to this record: "He said he wes
going to pat that money in the Con-
molly campaign. Q.-Who is Connolly?
A.-Maucice Connolly. Q.-Borou2h
President Of Queens? A-Yes. @
So that in order that we may have
the records clear. Phillips told you that
he had to have that $4,000 for Con-
nolly's campaign, is that right? A.
That is what he said" DO you recall
testifying to that effect? Al believe
he said that, bat | wouldn't believe
him under oath. He did say that. !
don't believe it was true; no, sir. |
wouldn't believe him under oath.
Veracity Called Into Question
Senator Robinson You do not be-
lieve anything he said, do you?
The witness-No, sir wouldn't, be
Cause he is Il notorious liar.
Senator Robinson-He is a useful
liarf
he witness-Yes. sir.
Here the examination was resumed
&c folfouo.