The New York herald., 1921-04-30
HAGUE DEFENDS
ACTIONS AS MAYOR
Jersey City Executive Calm
Under Quizzing of Mac
kay Counsel.
HIS MEMORY UNFAILING
ScOffs at Charges of Politi-
cal Contributions of P0-
lice Clerk.
. BENTLEY ALSO ON STAND
Insists Committee Is 'Crack-
ing Nuts With a Steam
Roller
BENTLEY ALSO ON STAND

The long expected climax in the
. Mackay legislative investigation into
Hudson county affairs, the taking Of
the witness stand by Mayor Frank
Hague in defence of his administration
! of Jersey City. occurred yesterday
without the display OF fireworks ex-
. pected by both adherents and enemies
of the chief executive. For two hours
the Mayor answered calmly and a,
length all questions put to him by
John A. Bernhard, chief counsel fol
the committee. He lost neither his
temper nor his memory, as some other
witnesses have done.
Campaign Contributions.
One Of the points upon which Mr.
Bernhard laid particular emphasis was
the matter Of campaign contributions
Police Clerk Van Wrinkle has testi-
feld that he contributed by request
$3.50" Mr.. Bernhard sad.
who did he contribute 1t to-" the
Mayor asked with sudden interest, turn
ing inquisitor for the moment.
THE startling point in his testimony
Is that he couldn't remember who he
gave 1t to. except that 1t was an Officer
of the Police Department" Mr.. Bern
hard said
How can you believe him thenT
asked the Mayor He went on to say
that he knew Van Winkle was highly
nervous and sensitive, and said he Inn
agined the police official was referring
TO a contribution made to a campaign
fund the police were raising to aid legiti-
mately the passage Of q pension fund
BILL
The Mayor denied that he had made
use OF City Hospital nerses on city time
when his son was iii with pneumonia.
He paid two nurses $50 week for their
services on their spare time, he said.
He answered many questions concerning
technical matters affecting the Police
Department expressed doubt that a con-
struction company had been giver a
$4,000 street fill job without advertis-
Ing bids, admitted he had a brother-in-
law who was a city detective. denied
using his car for personal business and
asserted that the son Of John D. Prince.
president of the Civil Service. had not
been given a job In violation Of the
civil service law, but had been hired on
n contract. The contract It was stated,
Is missing.
Use OF stolen Cars.
After Mayor Hague left the stand
amid applause from his admirers John
Bentley. Commissioner Of Public Safety.
In charge of the Police and Fire depart
ments, was quizzed. In answer to a
question aimed at the use Of a stolen
car held by the city by Police Clerk
Van Wrinkle for several weeks before he
bought 1t. Mr.. Bentley retorted:
you and l know, as lawyers, that
there isn't a lawyer in the State who
shouldn't be sent to jail for embezzle-
ment."
Mr. Bernhard did not agree with him,
and Mr.. Bentley added remark that
the committee was cracking nuts with
. steam roller"
Inspector Thomas Wolfe OF the Police
Department denied that any policeman
had helped build him a summer home at
Great Kills, Staten Island. Freeholder
Oscar Auf der Heide admitted going on
q trip to Toledo two years ago TO see
the fight" with other Freeholders In two
county automobiles with county chauf-
feurs driving them. He was vague In
his replies to questions concerning why
William +. Clossey Chief of Hudson
Boulevard police, owned the Boulevard
police station and rented II to the county
at $1,000, and said he didn't know much
about why his board had permitted be-
tween $4,000 and $1,000 In repairs TO be
made upon the building.
Freeholder John +. Driscoll admitted
having been upon the Toledo party, and
named Freeholders McCue. Lally and
Heller as other members who saw the
dght.