The New York herald., 1921-02-19
CRAIG MADE CHARGES
Favoritism in Awards of
100000 in Contracts
Meets With Denial.
PIPE AGENTS AeCUSERS
Hearings Delayed for Man
Who Drove Stolen AYtomo-
bile Here From Jersey.

For the first time since Charles ).
Whitman and a Grand Jury began
their city graft investigation, more
than a month ago, Mr.. Whitman ala
not go yesterday to his temporary
Office in the Criminal Courts Building.
The puzzle of his whereabouts was
solved last night when it was learned
that he spent a good part of the day
at the home OF Maurice Connolly
President of Queens Borough, in
Corona
The visit had to do with sewer con-
tracts in Queens, which have been un-
der Investigation by Comptroller Craig
the Board of Estimate and Mr.. Whit
man. In the early stages of the in
quiry Mr.. Craig held up 100000 worth
OF contracts because, he said. of "sus-
pected irregularities involving vir-
tually the entire administration of
Queens" Mr. Connolly accused Mr..
Craig of talking loosely and asked for
o Grand Jury investigation.
Mr. Connolly has been laid up for
many weeks by Inflammation OF the
spinal nerves, and. although recovering.
is not yet allowed to walk. Yesterday s
meeting was arranged by a mutual
friend Of Messrs. Connolly and Whit
man. The Ex-Governor was accom-
panied by one of his assistants, Arthur
NJ. King. who has been concentrating on
the question OF city contracts The ses-
sion lasted more than three hours.
Pnpers Support Connolly.
Mr.. Connolly. it is understood. gave
the. whole history of the sewer contracts
and turned over papers supporting his
version and calculated to clear him of
any possible suspicion. 1t was reported
last night that in the course of his die
tated statements other members Of the
Board of Estimate were mentioned.
This Mr. Connolly denied.
s'I have not discussed any member or
members of the Board of Estimate with
Mr.. Whitman or anybody else at any
time" he said. He would not admit
that the visit had taken place, but said:
"As to any visit that Mr.. Whitman may
have made at my home, 1 refer you to
Mr. Whitman"
,Favoritism in the letting of contracts
has been the basis OF the charges re-
lating to the Queens contracts Agents
of various kinds of sewer pipe have ac-
cUsed one another and public officers
Before the Board of Estimate on
Wednesday James Rice. engineer in
charge of Queens construction. testified
that, Instead of showing partiality, Mr..
Connolly really had broken a monopoly.
Mr.. Rice was complimented by Mayor
Hylan.
O'BrIen's Case Postponed.
Thomas O'Brien, arrested last week
and held on a charge of bringing a
stolen aut 7.nobile here from New Jersey,
was taken to the Washington Heights
Court yeste. day for a hearing. His
counsel, Alexander Karlin, contended
that there was no case against him and
that Frederick J. Groehl. representing
Mr.. Whitman. was keeping Brien In
jail merely TO pump him.
That" said Mr.. Groehl. SIS far from
being the case. 1 know that this man
has stolen at least fifty automobiles and
he has made an affidavit duplicating
several members Of the automobile squad
of the Police Department"
The hearing was adjourned until to-
morrow and O'Srien was taken back TO
the Harlem prison. as he has not yet
obtained a bondsman for the amount OF
his bail $40 00O which was continued.