Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-15
A. B. Nc DoWeII Gives
Startling Testimony in
ExpIainingT
HOW MONEY WAS GIVEN

That Bernard NJ. Cannon received
S25,0 900 from the w. J. Donnell Lum-
Der Company in order that he would
use his influence to see that the firm
got a fair price for the property, was
the gist of the evidence given yes
terdav afternoon by Alonzo 3. Nc
Dowell, president Of the Donnell
company and Thomas j. Evans,
treasurer of the company, at the
legislative investigation into the pur-
chase of the Donnell property for
the bridge approach by the ousted
highway commission.
The statement by Mr.. Mcdowell
caused a hush to fall over the room
and everybody leaned forward in or.
der not to miss a word OF what wa:
! being said. The statement concern.
ing Mr.. Cannon was only brough'
out after careful questioning OF Mr.
! Mcdowell by Attorney Genera
( Thomas f. McCran.
At the beginning Of the afternoon
session yesterday Walter F. White
more was the first witness. Mr..
Whittemore was one of the former
highway commissioners and testified
about the same as Commissioner
Paddock did at the morning session.
He held that the sale of the bridge
property had been left TO Commits
sioner Burton as he was the resi-
dent commissioner.
Mr.. Mcdowell president of the
Donnell Company was then called TO
the stand. At this point, Mr., Eng
lish, attorney for the Donnell COM
pany, requested permission to rep
resent his client at the hearing. Mr..
McCran pointed out, however, that
as the hearing is an investigation and
not a trial. Mr.. English could not
ask questions or advise his client in
answering. The c omittee so ruled.
In answer to questions, Mr.. Nc
Dowell said he became president Of
the w. J. Donnell Lumber Company
last October and that W. J. Donnell
had been president up to that time.
He testified that the Donnell CON-
pany had purchased the property
from the National Fireproofng COM
panv for SS7, 200. although there had
been some added expense TO the
property. He also admitted. in ans
wer to questions, that the Jefferson
street site Of the company is the
principal business place.
Mr.. McCran then requested Mr..
Mcdowell to turn to pages in his
books showing entries in connection
with the purchase II the property,
From these books was ascertained
the various dates on which deposits
had been made on the property when
it was purchased, money spent on
soundings. sums going TO lawyers for
services in making searches, rebuild
ing of the docks. surveying, erection
of a fence, grading and for apprai-
sails. The item of a~ppraisals showed
that Fraser Brothers and the Perth
Amboy Trust Company had receiv-
ed 800 each for making their ap-
praisals for the Donnell company.
Mr.. Mcdowell declared hat the
S230,000 was received in June and
the deed delivered on June %. A
this point an entry appeared in the
ledger for 5000 dated August %
This entry referred to a like entry
in the journal, and upon looking this
entry up for Mr.. MeCran. Mr.. Nc
Doweil found that it was to apply
against a note of T J. Evans, which
had been advanced by the W. J
Donnell Lumber Company.
Turning to the next item Of S19.-
1853, Mr.. Mcdowell said that this
amount was part Of the commission
paid for the selling Of the property
There also appeared a list of bonds
in the sale of the property located
in Smith street and the Fox Hill,
road. On November 3. there appear
ed $4,000 on a note of A. NJ. Met
zendorf which had been endorsed by
j. n. Wester. This note Mr.. Nc
Dowell testified had to do with the
I purchase of some property known
as the lower yard. and went to the
real estate account as a whole.
Following the minute examination
Of the books. MIR. McCran referred