The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-22

Harley Tripp On Stand
 First questions propounded to Commissioner Tripp by the states brought answers that he ! has lived in Waterbury since 1903, and that he has been treasurer of i the Colonial Trust Go. since 1895. 1 Commissioner Tripp stated that he was appointed to the board of finance by the mayor in 1882, and that it was personal appointment.
 His testimony was to the effect I that the board always met in the same place, on the second floor of city hall, in an office adjacent to the mayors office.
 1 Eleven On Board
 There eleven members of the board now, he said, but there were only nine prior to 1897. The nine he named, on request of Alcorn ! were: Mayor Hayes, Controller Lea i ry, Charles B. Jackson, John H GosS, Charles A. Babin, Major w Judge, Peter Griffin and John D. Thoms.
 Meetings were always held at about 4 p. m., he said. Asked if he attended regularly, he answered T tried to-" When pressed for a more specific answer he replied that he was regular attendant. Missed Few Meetings He said that he missed very few meetings.
 Mayor Hayes and Controller Leary were also constantly in at- tendance, the commissioner testified and Thomas P. Kelly was at almost every meeting, although he was not a member of the board.
 { Warrants payable sheets were presented to the board for sigma lures at the meeting, he said. l City Operations
 Much of the testimony given by Commissioner Tripp, on cross-exam- nation concerned the financial oper- ations of the city, particularly dur. ing the years 1932-33-34, the dark est days of the depression.
 Attorney Peck asked the question You know don't you that the city of Waterbury went through the depression without defaulting an in debtedness?" The answer was "yes.
 Concerning the signatures on tht warrants payable sheets, Attorney Slade asked, "The signatures on tho warrants payable sheets were placed on as formality by the board-ir effect-weren't they?" -s
 Just Formality
 T think that's what it boils dowr to-" was the reply.
 Commissioner Tripp testified thai the board of finance. Republican and Democrat members. alike had praised Controller Leary for his suc- cess in getting money rapidly to meet the city's obligations.
 You thought MT. Leary did well in getting money quickly?" asked Attorney Peck.
 T thought he did fine" was the blunt reply of the witness.
 Dramatics of AlcOrn
 In most dramatic fashion, Attor- ney Alcorn called the finance con- missioner down from the witness stand to the counsel table, to ex- plain the seating plan of the com- sioners at a meeting of the finance board.
 Tripp hesitated, stating that he could do just as well from the witt ness stand, but Alicorn insisted that he do as bid. He pointed to place which would represent the position of Mayor Hayes, indicating that Controller Leary sat at his left and City Clerk John F. Fitzmaurice on his right. Thomas P. Kelly sat away from the table, near a window, he said, in reply to a question.
 Nice Job, MT. Alc0rn
 While the dramatic proceedings were in progress, Attorney Me- Donough protested. You're doing a very nice job of testifying, MT. AL corn," he said loudly.
 Alcorn objected to the statement and asked that future interruptions be addressed to the court. McDon- ough's objections were overruled.
 Commissioner Tripp said that the warrants payable sheets were brought to the finance meeting, and handed to Commissioner Griffin then passed face down to Commis- sionerS Judge, Jackson, Goss, Tripp Thoms and Babin, seated in that or. der about the table.
 Attention Never Called
 Commissioner Tripp stated that his attention was never called, by anyone, to the certificates on tht back of warrants payable sheets He testified that he believed tht appropriation for city audits Wal $2,500 per year. He also testified that he never knew John s. John ston or John G. Purdie, two of tho defendants. It was also his testi mony that he did not know of any work they had done for the city.
 When Special Prosecutor Alcorr concluded direct examination of tht witness, he was taken for cross. examination by Attorney James D c. Murray, counsel for Mayor Hayes ell testified that he, John H. Cos. and Major w. Judge were Re. publican members of the board O. finance. MT. Goss, he said, is presi. dent of the Scovill Mfg. Co.,, one o1 teh largest industrial plants in New England employing 14,000 personl during the World War. MT. Judge he said, is an official of tht American Brass Company. Praises Colleagues
 MT. Tripp said that he has thu highest regard for the integrity c. MT. Goss and MT. Judge and added that he "has always tried to "s l man of integrity, honesty ane truth"
 It was estimated by the witnes.