New-York tribune., 1921-10-11
Sewer Contract Testimony
by Previous Witnesses.
Says Borough President
of Queens, Is Junk"
Discrepancy Barred
In Campaign Bill
Meyer Probers Told of
Dummy Construction
Firm, Dealing With City,
Used TO Pay Race Bet

oSVU kO n 0N Mace Dct
Maurice Z. Connolly, Borough
President of Queens, received an op-
portunity yesterday from the Meyer
Investigating committee to reply to
the testimony of various witnesses
respecting alleged irregularities in
the letting Of contracts in the bor-
ough and the activities of John NJ.
Phillips, referred to as the '|unof-
iicial head of the Sewer Department.
IN Queens Mr.. Connolly took full
advantage of the opportunity and
occupied the stand for more than
two hours.
He characterized all the evidence
that had been placed before the CONF
mittee as "junl," denied that Phillips
had any influence whatever in his
office, and said that he was never or
friendly terms with Phillips.
Connolly Defends Conduct
The witness made a general de-
fense of his conduct of the borough's
affairs and charged that somebody
IN the committee had conspired with
Denis O'Leary, his Democratic OPP
ponent in the primaries, and worked
with him in the campaign" in giving
out certain evidence that had come
into the committees possession. He
heatedly denied that Phillips was his
"bagman" when question on the
point was put to him by Elon r.
Brown, chief counsel to the COM
mittee
Mr. Connolly. however, did not carry
off the honors of The day, several othe,
witnesses having recited stories relat-
ing to the affairs of the borough that
wero as sensational as any that pre-
ceded Among these was the testimony
Of Mr. Connolly's father-in-law, James
II. Connel VINO denied that he con-
tributed 81 800 to Mr. Connollys cam
paien fund in 1913, as set forth IN the
statement OF campaign expenses b.
Connolly's campaign committee. OF
which Joseph B. Moylan was treasurer,
Mr Connell. however. referred to q
silt OF $4,000 in the form Il note
which ne SAID he indorsed at the So
licitatlon OF two friends Herbert Har-
Ncy, ex-Sherlf Of the borough and
Richard Gill. another res ident Of the
IL, ii 4, T..
own to this note. and when the money
on the note was obtained by Harvey
rom BANK he gave it, together with
his $500, 10 Mr.. Connolly broths.,
John d. Connolly, for use in the csm-
Dalgn. ms $500 could rot be f0uuu
by Mr. Conneil in the statement of Mr.
Conno4-y's campaign expenses
Dummy Company Alleged
Evidence Of the manipulation of Il
dummy contracting company, known
as the Holding Realty Company, once
headed by Doc Matthews, was offered
by George d. Frcnz. who told Of having
been "rung IN" on contract Dy Doc
Matthews as payment for a racing be,
which the Doc" had failed 10 MAKE
good. Frenz said he won 5000 on tho
race ard That Matthews gave over t.
him the contract for some city wora
or which there was still owing about
So, 500 as payment. Frenz said he never
did contracting work and didn't know
anything about it. He added tha. h.
had been unable to collect this S5.s0o
from the Comptroller, although the
work had somehow been completed.
The storv of Edward Fitzpatrick, 4
contractor. whom the committee had
been unable to get on the stand yes
tercaE was brought cut from his testi-
mony before 4 subcommittee of the
committee which Samuel A. Berger, as
Soclate counsel, read into the record.
Fitzpatrick related how when he ap-
peared a. Borough Hall one day to BID
on grading contract he was met By
Phillips, who asked him not 10 bid On
the job. We want this job" Fitz-
patrick reports Phillips as saying 1T
IS 4 little picnic for Doe meaning Dec
Matthews). This Is Docs party" or
something 10 that effect. and that he
wanted Doc to get d little PIN
money Fitzpatrick said he withdrew
because he felt thar his bid would be
thrown out anyhow
Joseph K. Sigretto. the Queens con-
tractor who already had figured in tho
evidence through his testimony TO the
effect that he had to give Phillips
200 az the latter's demand for use.
as ne said Phillips told him. for Con-
nolly's campaign fund" recanted SOME
testimony which ne had furnished e.
Subcommittee some time ago Accord
ing to this story as read into tha
record by Mr.. Berger. Sigretto said he
was told to keep out Of Queens by
Mr. Connolly. and that Il he didn't get
out Connolly would fan h:m and fan
him good" When Sigretto. according
to this testimony. insisted that Con-
molly couldn't harm him, the latter Is
reported to have said, II can and viii"
Sigretto yesterday recanted this and
SAID he didn't recall telling this story
to the Subcommittee.
Meier Steinbrirk. who had been re-
,ained early this year 10 investigate
city contracts for the Board OF Esti-
mate aud Apportionment. testified that
Arthur VI. King, one of Ex-Governor
Whitman's aids during the iatter's in
vestipation of Queens affairs. was the
person last known to him to have been
in possession of two checks which the
committee has been seeking
The checks were said TO have been
given to Doc" Matthews by tha
O'Rourke Construction Company FOR
preaching the gospel of concrete
blocks TO the deaf. dumb an1 blind