New-York tribune., 1921-10-07
One Witness Says He Gave
$48,O 900 to Ex-Under
Sheriff TO Speed Pay
ments by Comptroller
Gospel of Concrete
Spread for $500
Connolly Campaign Fund
Mentionedin i'm Testimony
Before Meyer Inquiry


the Meyer investigating COMMITTEES
yesterday to having given up ap-
proximately $56,500 in connection
with their acquisition of city con-
tracts for work in the Borough of
Queens. The stories these con-
tractors told relating to the circum-
stances under which the money was
turned over were the most amusing
and elaborate that have been heard
so far by the committee.
John F. O'Rourke, president of the
O'Rourlse Engineering Construction
Company, told an amazing tale OF
how he hit upon a William F. Mat
thews. otherwise known as Doc
Matthews, "to preach the gospel Of
corcrete blocks to the blind, deaf.
dumb and those devoid Of feeling
the engineers and other Of
dciaIs in Queens" Mr.. O'Rourke
wanted concrete blocks specified in
an S876,0O0 sewer contract which the
borough was about to let.
Matthews's Policy Wins
Il was evidenced by the testimony
that Doc Matthews's treatment was
Mr.. O'Rourke saying he yot
the contract and gave the "Doc" $500.
considering his services "important ir
bringing about situation in which tbs
concrete blocks were specified for use
in the $4,000 sewer contract"
Joseph L. Sigretto, another contrae-
tor, said he gave $4,000 to John NJ
Queens, within the last Two years sole
from the Comptroller for city work'
He turned this money over to Phillips
he said, under ar arrangement whereby
as partner" was to get
per cent Of all money Sigfetto obtained
from the city.
In connection with tho transfer OF
100000 sewer contract, Sigretto said
be gave $4,000 TO Phillips. which the
latter declared he was going to put
into the campaign fund of Maurice Con-
molly, Borough President of Queens"
He begged the committee not 10 believe
this, however, because he thought Phil
lips was liar"
There was additional evidence tend
ing TO show that $4,000 OF the $500
given to doc" Matthews also had gone
to Phillips.
Connoilys Campaign Drive
Nj Connolly was seated in the hear
Ing chamber when mis- name was
brought into the proceedings, and IN
began bombarding the COM
mittee with heated denials and cam
paign speeches. He was promptly
squelched By Chief Counsel Elon r.
Brown, VINO insisted that the Queens
boro President withhold his campaign
speeches until some evidence had been
placed upon the record.
The presentation of the sewer evi-
dence was preceded by the replies o.
States Senator Charles c. Lockwood
and former State Senator Charles +
Murphy. Of Brooklyn, to the charges o.
Police Inspector John r. Dwyer relating
70 the alleged connection Of the two
Erst-named persons with the passage
Of the detective bin.
Senator Lockwood related how he IA.
troduced bili making the rank OF de-
tectives permanent and then blocked
it ir committee because Of the opposi-
LaOn OF IIe pdlfoiHeH ana iISOleHdIILS
and former Commissioner Arthur
Woods. Enright supported the bill, he
said. lie denied he ever received
cent in connection with the subject, or
that ne had ever solicited any money
from any one in connection with the
matter
Ar- MufphE said ne backed the Lock-
Wooh DiH OF 1917. ne denled' however,
that ne ever received or expected a
ceht In associa'lon "ith the passage o.
the oetecllVe meas ufe- ana that he
even refused an lnVitation to the Lieu
tenants olnner, wnicn ne sald ne was
unanie TO attend inspector D"yer IN
s,l3a : nas ateo thas Alr. MnEpny mad received
so,ooo Ior ms efforts IL connection
VII" '"1s Dill
Phiiiips's Status Defined
The status Of Philips, the alleged
recipient Of most Of the money which
the contractors testified yesterday ta
having given up. Was fully detailed b.
al ~