New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-31
Market Man Testifies
He Had to Sacrifice
Bull ing in Sale
Urged by Commissioner
Talnrllany Named
I'm Transfer Deal
O'Malley To Be Heard To-
day; Will Re Asked to
Sign Immunity Waiver

Edwin J. O'Malley, Commissioner
of Markets, was named in the testi-
mony before the Meyer legislative
committee yesterday as having re-
ceived $1,000 from a property sale
forced upon a Washington Market
star Holder.
The deal, according to witnesses,
was put over by the Commissioner
for the New York Telephone Com
pany, which wanted building at
108 Vesey Street, belonging to Her
man F. A. Michel a butter and egg
merchant, with two stands in Wash
ington Market Michel testified he.
reluctantly gave up the building "be
cause he wanted to keep his marke>
stands. The Commissioner had in
sisted he had to have the building
on the ground that "the telephone
company had done many favors for
him. the witness testified.
OMailey Named in Deal
The deal was carried out for Michael
by John B. Hibbard, real estate ap-
praser, who told Of an arrangement
with O'Malley to make the telephone
company pay a little moro money" so
that "a little more commission" could
be charged and O'Malley "get his
share" aibbards commission was
$1,000. CT which he says he gave
O'Ma.ley $500.
Il felt under Obligation, by reason
Of conversation / had had with Mr..
, O'Malley," testified Eibbard. "to take
over three $500 bills after I had re-
ceived $4,000 did it in the dis
charge of what l regarded as an obi
CATION took pains in dealing with
O'Malley to deal with h.m IN way SO
that my clients interests would not be
imperled."
This revelation merely came as
climax Of day filed with scnsa-
tlonal testimony.
Tanmany Aid Gets Cash
John J. Iuger, a former district cap
tam in the 5th Assembly District IN
der the leadership Of Peter j Dooling.
told Of receiving ST. 650 from his en-
ployers, George H. Lewis e. Sons, as
expenses or obtaining the transfer
Of stands for the concern in West
Washington Market The money vas
given to him in portions OF $500, $3.50
and $1,000 for three distinct deals
Luger said he kept all Of the money
for himself except $500 which he de-
clared he gave to the Peter J. Dooling
Democratic Association for the Irish
Relief Fund. He did this. he said, be-
cause Mr.. Dooling had interceded for
nim with MIR. O'Malley in obtaining
the transfer OF the stands.
While Luger insisted he did not give
any of the money to anybody directly
or indirectly as bribe MI Lewis, his
employer, threw some light on the
transaction with testimony to the effect
that Luger did not tell me he was
going to keep it."
Il did not know he was going to keep
IT," added Mr. Lewis. "and did not be-
lleve he was going to keep it."
Failing in his efforts to serve sub
pnna upon James r. Turner. another
Washington Market standholder. al
legged to have paid graft to an Official
or the markets department. Leonard
Nj Wallstein read into the record Tur-
mittee sV OF fH the "s.0g e@islsae soms5as s'n s4
Turner said he pave $500 70 Charles
A. Winters, general inspector for the
DcpartNent o. Markets. as = present"
For his assistance in obtaining permit
for the merchant
$500 PAYMENT Cnaroed
Tnrner +es.;fod tb.+ O,wo,,
iec+ed - orantine es,iou ;,, LA nalley oo-
cause he vas ras;dant @ ef sInus pc
sew. when he learneJ ~. 1s" oe, ,,
have 70 Give IN s5ao ha sa;a .na' ne "ouid
decided to ticht Il ont ;n .'', tla ~ az nIse
But as long "a INV danohta INV eoules;
he said. and as lono as i '5i was SICK.
from $500 to s1.000 to tiah+ ~ou'o !. c9s'
cided I would iust 80 SOON sns na,, u W.: oe
the $500
The committee also went into the
system OF collecting fees from push
cart peddlers in the thirty-nine open-air
mafkats OF the city by so-called market
supervisors who are not regular era
pIoyees OF the city. The supervisors
are permitted to retain all moneys coll
.scted from the Stockholders IN return
Ior keeping the streets and places in