The New York herald., 1921-10-07

~Sifpany iiau was ihtcftNtcu III many
contracts. Sigretto purchased cement
pipe from the company.
what happened to the $4,000 you
got from Creem?" Samuel Berger. asso-
ciate counsel. asked.
Il turned 1t over to Phillips for selling
the contract; ! did not care what hap
pened to the s25.000 as long as / got
rid OF the contract" sigretto said. The
witness identified check for that
amount
did Phillips tell you what he was
going TO do or what he did with the
check?"
''He told me lot OF things l didn't
pay much attention to, because didn't
believe him anyway
when you were before subcom-
mittee of this committee did you testify
that Phillips said he was going to put
$4,000 into, the Connolly campaign
fund.-"
HE did say that"
did you believe that was true?" AS
semblyman Block asked.
II wouldn't believe him under oath"
the witness said. He is a notorious
liar"
But a very useful liar?" Senator
Robinson asked. The witness grinned
and answered. "Yes."
why did you take Phillips into part
nership with you?" Mr.. Berger asked.
AS lookout for my finances on the
outside; II there was an estimate due
from the department to go TO 1t and see
payments from the Comptroller"
How much did you pay him Tor that
service?"
Five per cent on contracts"
what would that be In dollars while
be was your partner"
"Oh, around $1,000 or $4S, 000."
So you paid Phillips $4,000 for get
ting through payments 10 which you
were entitled?"
r"Yes; lot OF people are entitled TO
money they never get. know con-
tractors who have not got their money
for ten months and are willing to pay as
much as 1 did to get mine from the
city,"
IueTe unally was u DTcdk DeIWeer
Slgretto and Phillips because the witness
said they could not get along together
and there was trouble over payments
and I'VE got tied up on everything"
Then you got out of Queens
Yes; didn't want any more business
there. / could do better elsewhere and
j wanted TO get rid of Phillips."
Phillips Had Invisible Power.
did you ever have any talks with
Borough President Connolly about con-
tracts or payments?"
ssNo."
"How long did It take Phillips to earn
his s4s.ooo?"
About two years"
Lewis Walters, formerly employed In
the Bureau of Sewers In Queens and
now In the Finance Department, testi-
ned regarding Phillips's strange position
In Queens politics Ee said:
Phillips did not have an official posi-
ton but he came into the offices fre-
quently and talked to the men. He
directed the men around as though he
were an official He seemed to have
lot of power, and when the men wanted
TO get salary raises they went to see
Jack TO get them. When he gave an
order and II was not carried out some
ofiIcial would come around later and give
the order. He had free access to the
biueprints and drawings that were made
up before the contracts were bid on.
He seemed to be interested in any con-
ira ct that contained lock Joint pipe"
Mr. O'Rourke amused the audience by
his testimony concerning the ACTIVITIES
of DOC" Matthews. The witness is
president OF the O'Rourke Engineering
Construction Company and has handled
some OF the city's biggest contracts in
the last twenty-five years. He described
a trip to Detroit with Albert Decker
and Frederick Seeley. employees in the
Bureau OF Sewers In Queens. 10 Inspect
q big tunnel being built with concrete
block Mr.. O'Rourke was trying TO con-
vince the officials that was the best
and cheapest type OF construction. Mr.
6celey saw great merit in concrete block
after inspecting the Detroit works.
Leonard walisteln. of counsel. asked:
DO you know William +. Matthews
IN Queens. popularly known as Doc
Matthew'S"
Yes"
"Is he a doctor or physician
81 imagine he is; don't think he Is
a doctor Of divinity
"He does not act as II he were?"
"Well. don't know. they don't be-
have themselves always the same"
You cannot tell now. times have
changed" Elon r. Brown. senior counsel.
commented.
did you pay Mr.. Matthews any
money"
Yes"
How much money!"
"sS.5o0. 1 sent him two checks.''
What were the anounts?"
zone for $4,000 and the other for
$4,000"
do you remember the dates OF the
checks?'
Some timo in October. November or
December. 1920"
why did you employ Doc Matthews
IN this particular mattery'
BECAUSE he looked a very likely per-
son 10 help me. He was intelligent.
stands we'll, seemed to know everybody
that was Interested in getting these
blocks introduced
"Who suggested to you the advisable
ity OF retaining Doc Matthews?"
Myself"
Did Not Bother About Politics.
did you know anything OF his con-
neCf Inns rOlitiraily ~ ~ barxxiapo