Evening journal., 1922-11-28
DEMAND MADE FOR
COZMlNZSSION,SHOOKSWlEARS

o or Wilmington representative 70
= the Davis plant.
When Mr. Finger objected TO on
2 of Mr.. Harman's questions. MI
z Harman stated that IL was his pur
pose to show that there was no con
spiracy or graft. but that the none,
was for work performed. The cour
overruled Mr.. Fingers objection
,, Hook admitted that Howard
Frsntz had taken steps to gain tn
interest of other cities in the Davi
plant. He said that no sum o
commission had been agreed upon
though, for this work. This was ir
answer to Mr. Hsrman's question
AS to whether Frantz was not to re-
ceive a commission of ten per cent
for his work in the interest of the
Davis type OF incinerator.
Hook said that the $500 COM
mission was not ten per cent
comm ission, but an amount set by
Howard as necessary to FIX" Coun-
cilmen. Howard told him. the wit
ness said, that he was close 70
Councilman McManus and that Mr..
McManus had the Republicans lined
up. but that one or two Democrats
were needed.
At one point Mr.. Finger charged
that Mr.. Harman was brow beat
/ ing" Hook in his cross examination.
| The court raped for order and the
witness was allowed to proceed with
his testimony as 10 a conversation
with Mr.. Harman in which the wit
ness denied that Harman had sug-
gested that he CHook) give an order
for $4,000 on the city and denied
that he (Hook) had said that "he
did not want to know anything about
It," Hook said that he did say that
the city know all about it,"
The conversation in which these
statements were alleged to have
been made took place between Mr..
Harman and Hook last August.
In explanation of his failure TO
write Howard repudiating the agree
ment until a month after he had
signed the paper, Hook said he did
not see his father until late in De-
cember. The agreement was signed
about December 3 and the letter re-
pudbating the alleged deal" was
written by Hook January 4.
Hook identified a letter. dated
January 5, written by him to How
ard Frantz. Mr.. Finger. agreed TO
the admission Of the letter in eV-
dence.
The letter apparently ignored the |
fact that on the previous day he /
had written a letter repudiating the !
agreement. He asked in the letter |
for report on the feeling of the |
authorities as TO the Davis incinera-
tor at Trenton. n. Y, after it had |
been investigated.
A later letter. also contended by /
Mr.. Harman as being written in the /
spirit of ignoring the reputation,
was said by Hook to relate purely TO
on contracts secured
from other cities.
II was on January that Mr..
Hook took the Wilmington delega-
ton to view the plant at Trenton,
Hook said. He went to New York
later that day.
In letter of January %. sent by
Hook to Frantz Mr.. Harman con-
tended that the reputation OF the
agreement was ignored. Hook tes-
tined that then Howard was work.
ing on A purely commission basis.
FranH was 10 get a lgitimate COM
mission on all contracts in which he
had an interest in obtaining for the
Davis company.
other letters written by Hook to
Frantz subsequent TO Janu-
ary 4. in which Mr. Harmsn felt
there was a showing of overlooking
of the reputation, were introduced
oy the attorney.
Hook, had been intimated, was
sailed as witness for the state 10
testify against his two co-defendants
yesterday afternoon. When he as
,ended the witness stand, his coun-
iel. David ]. Reinhardt, informed |
he court that his client desired TO I
,hange his plea from not guilty TO a
,lea Of nole' contendere. This |
,hange Of plea was satisfactory TO
State and the Court ordered It en- !
cred. {
A plea OF nolo contendere. Mr..
Seinhardt contended, has the same ]
fleet as a plea Of guilty and Deputy |
Attorney General Finger agreed that '
he two pleas were equivalent {
After the change Of pea had been g
made, Hook proceeded with testi- I
nony involving both DR.. and Howard {
Z Frantz. He had related many of .
lis alleged dealings with the two be- ;
ore court adjourned at o'clock.
lie was in the midst OF his testimony !
7hen adjournment was taken. a
Witnesses testifying for the State / r
esterday afternoon were Charles L
|. Grantland secretary OF the. In r
Accident Board; City Engi- :
eer Harry l.. Maier, City Council 7
ian Arthur johnson, Miss Mildred :
Jane, a stenographer in the Office I,
Z the Board of Health: DIR. Charles
T. Handy. president OF the Health !.
oard; A. w. Stein. OF Philadelphia, =
handwriting expert, and Hook.
The story told by Hook yester
ay afternoon was substantially as :"
blows. ., q
He came to. Wilmington and be- n
lme acquainted with Howard r. n
rantz about November IA or Is Of q
st year in response 10 a letter writ Il
n him by the former Health Board II
cretary. Frantz told him that the i
ty authorities seemed pleased with W
Ie efficiency of the Davis garbage IL
irning plant at Trenton. y. j., and al
ere considering purchasing a like al
ant and that they desired TO know di
Ie details OF it. The former secre- F.
ry also told him of the inefficiency ss
the Nye plant that the city had re
,ent $4,000 on.
A I-~,,4.