The New York herald., 1922-11-16
bus INQUIRY REVIVES
BLACK DIAMOND CASE
G. E. Turner, Hylan's Asso-
ciate in Motor Co., Admits
Using Influence
SOUGHT APPRECIATION
Shearn Says He Will Show
Politicians Realty Deals on
Richmond Routes.

When the Transit Commission yes
terday resumed it's bus investigation
Clarence j. Shearn. special counsel,
stirred memories of the scandal in
volving the Black Diamond Automo-
bile Company. One Of the two princi-
pal witnesses was Charles E. Turner
of Jamaica, who now has an Office at
$50 Broadway. This is how Mr.. Shearn
described the witness when his name
first occurred in testimony:
This Mr.. Turner, it will appear, was
formerly the vice-president and gen.
eral manager Of the famous Black Dia-
mond Automobile Company. You recol-
lect that the exposure of that company
led to libel suit brought by the Mayor
the result of which was that, as / rec
ollect it. the Mayor paid $4,000 for
permission to discontinue 1t. So the
Mayors interest in motor vehicles has
persisted through great many years" :"
Offered Assistance.
Mr. Shearn's first witness was Roland
R. Conklin of Huntington, a bus oper-
ator. One of his interests is the Amer
lean Motor Bus Corporation, a concern
manufacturing motor buses, with a cap
italization of 100000. Its primary pur-
pose. he said. was to build high class
buses of a type which could be properly
operated in such cities as New York.
AS president also of the New York
Motor Bus Company Inc. Mr.. Conklin
undertook in 1914. during Mayor Nit
chel's administration, to obtain a fran
chise for citywide bus operation in this
city.
The project received favorable re-
port from the finance committee of the
Board Of Estimate. but before 1t could
be further advanced the Hylan admins
.tration succeeded that of Mayor Mitchell.
Mr.. Conklin was anxious to renew
his efforts for a franchise and 1t was
within from thirty to sixty days after
Mayor Hylan's Inauguration. he testified.
that Charles +. Turner. until then a
stranger to him. came to see him.
Did he say to you or indicate to you
how he could be useful TO you in getting
franchise p" asked Mr.. Shearn.
"well,' replied Mr.. Conklin, 'he stated
that he was well acquainted with the
Mayor and was in touch with the new
administration and he believed that
through this acquaintance he might be
able to forward the franchise which had
been SO long tagging"
Turner Admits Helping.
Mr.. Turner who followed Mr. Conklin
in the witness chair corroborated much
that the latter had said. Mr.. Turner.
who described himself az promoter of
oil and other enterprises, said he had
known Mayor Hylan intimately for
twenty years or more. and had visited
him In his home and In the City Hall.
connected with the Black Diamond
Automobile Company he had rented as
the headquarters Of that concern a part
of the law office of Mr.. Hylan, who
was then the attorney for the Black
Diamond Company.
Mr.. Turner denied repeatedly that he
and Conklin had entered into any agree
ment for the witnesses compensation for
the use of his influence with the Mayor.
but he freely admitted that he had done
his best with the Mayor to get the
franchise approved.
He said he expected appreciation.
but he denied all knowledge OF what
form that appreciation might be expected
to take--probably II would be stock II
he had helped to get the franchise and
also TO float the corporation financially.
Mr.. Conklin when asked with whom he
had been talking admitted that since his
preliminary examination. on November
1, he had talked with Mayor Hylan.
Before Mr.. Turner was excused the in
qulsltor had ELECTED from him the ad-
mission that he (the witness) was the
man who had brought 10 the attention
of Commissioner Whalen Charles Berg's
booklet on trackless trolleys and that he
had done so at the request Of friend
of Berg, Frederick = Davidson, n real
estate man. Turning TO Commissioner
Hardness Mr.. Shearn said
Before we, get through we shall have
evidence here that certain real estate
transactions have taken place since the
advent OF tho trackless trolley on Staten
Island which will be connected with cer-
tain politicians"
The investigation will be continued
this morning at 10 40 o'clock.