The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-01

Eleven checKS were placeu III eVl- dence this morning, two issued De- cember 20, 1897 for $1,028.00; three issued November 16, 1897, for $1,- 473.00 and six issued December 20, 1895 for a total of $5,24000, mak- ing a grand total of $7,741.00.
 The payments made under date of December 20, 1887, were entered on the warrants payable register under date of December q, 1887. The sheet was approved by the board of finance five days before that date, Decem- Der 16. .........
 Purcell told the court that the December q payments, according to the warrants payable register were made to Purdie, as charged to "an appropriation for auditing in the controllers office"
 Vouchers and bill heads from the Underwriters Investigation Bureau, dated December Il and December 18 were submitted in connection with the December 21 payments.
 In Olsen's Name
 Alcorn stunned the crowded court room when he referred to three can celled checks issued November 16, 1887, for. a total of $1,47300, saying he would show that they were de- posted in an account carried in Ol- sens naNe." ."......--
 When defense counsel, including John H. Cassidy and Harold Ash worth objected, Judge Inglis issued his usual reminder to the jury that they should not regard any state ments made by state and defense counsel during arguments.
 The checks were signed by Martin J. Dunn, acting controller and were issued without numbers, according to Purcell. . ..-.
 One of the interesting accounts of payments made to Purdie as read to the jury contained payments for August, September, October and November 1895. For the four months, he received $867.50 salary each month, in addition to $790.0O for travel and expense" and $98OOO for rental and equipment" The total of the account. shown by six dupli- cate checks issued December 20, 1885, was $5,24O00.
 "Dictaphones"?
 The equipment" was apparently "dictaphones" and other items for investigation purposes, which vari- ous individuals have claimed Purdie, or Conway used during his work here. ,-..>
 Following his testimony along that line, Purcell said he knew of no other available records to show pay ments to Purdie.
 Who is Charles s. O'Connor,," asked Alcorn of Purcell.
 The witness identified him as the corporation counsel, and one of the defendants. Asked how long he had been corporation counsel, Purcell replied lat least eight years" O'Con- nor has held his post in the legal department of the city since 1924.
 Purcell supplied the information that O'Connor is on salary of $6,000 from the city and that the salary is fixed by law.
 Names Staff
 Questioned about the assistants who worked with O'Connor, Purcell said that the assistant corporation counsel is Timothy s. Sullivan, who receives a salary of $4,000; Claims Attorney Vincent A. Sucully, who receives $2,500; and another attor- ney in the office not paid on a Sal- ary basis. He apparently referred to Attorney Edward Mcdonald.
 Has O'Conn0r received money in addition to his salary7" asked the The reply was "yes."
 Do you know if he had a petty cash account?" Again the answer was in the affirmative.
 The witness explained that the petty cash account was an item ad- by the city at the beginning of the year, subject to reimburse ment during the year by check or voucher. Purcell hesitated when ask ed: Did he account for the cash"
 He finally replied: "He would sub- init a request for reimbursement periodically-showing the total sum disbursed-in connection with litiga- tion."
 Purcell said that he also remem- bered payments made to OConnor aside from his salary and aside from the petty cash account. T re- member the payments but not the amounts" he explained.
 Two canceleld checks, payable to OConnor, one for the petty cash account were admitted in evidence.
 Number of Rooms
 Meanwhile, the prosecutor uues- toned Purcell at length concern ing the proximity of the corpora ton counsePs office to the office of Mayor Hayes. Purcell said that the ofhces of the officials adjoined and that the office of the controller Is on the first floor in the city hall.
 How many rooms did he have?" he was asked.
 "What difference would it make if he had a thousand rooms?" de- manded AttorDgy Cassidy.
 In a low voice, hardly audible, AL corn replied, T agree to that" At torney Thomas F. McDonough loud- ly demanded that the remark be stricken from the record, but Judge Inglis could see no harm in it.
 Purcell finally replied that the counsel's office has three rooms. one of which is connected with Q room used by Mayor Hayes