New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-26
McCANN'S GRAVE CHARGES.
HE SAYS THAT CROKER AND GRANT TRIED
TO RUIN HIS BUSINESS.
DECLARING THAT AFTER BEING fIhOlTD
FROM THE Mt. ST VINCENT RESTAURANT
THEY CoNsPIRED TO GET REvENGE-THE
u.vop nrv1rs THE WHOLE STORY.

MAYOR DENIES THE WHOlE Sl'iNi'
Patrick McCann who has been the lessee Of the
Mount St. Vincent restaurant. and VINO IS eHpc'ru
to testify before the Fassctt comm''ec uuH' ~
garding the affairs Of the Park Board WIS SUN SV
terdav nv Tribune reporter at the Astor House.
Mr. Mccain is a brotherin-law Of Richard Croker ana
IL was through his influence that he OBTAINED inc
lease five years ago. The lease expired on sep''per
! of last year. and Mr.. McCann's applcauo" ior
renewal was refused by the Park board
Mr. Mccain appeared TO be somewhat cNcted anu
oryous lie said that he wished to explain certain
things in relation to his management of the road
house and the influences which had been at work
against him almost from the first lie appeared at
first to be rather unwilling to make full s'a'cneh.
Of his relations with Grant and Croker part OF
This affair he said, would involve the names oil
women and IL was his earnest wish not 70 harm IN
anv way the family of his brothcrn law, MI croker
MY purpose said Mr.. Mccain. sis to SHOW the
nature of the influence al work In the matter oil noN
ing the st. vincent Hotel want to tell VINO 'he
men are that stand behind Park commissioners houcn
and This is point which the lh'eS'iSduins
committee should make clear. for every man VINO mas
ever enjoyed the hospitality Of TINS mouse wants |"
know why he is TO be deprived OF IL IN 'ne l"'"'v,
II the committee will go back far enough tneN WI"
find that Dick Croker and Mayor Grant were lorherN
constant visitors to the Mount st. Vincent lhey h"o
ALWAYS in their trail crowd of toughlooNng ''i]ens'
ard 6nal,v Croker and Grant were ordered from tut
place They departed. and they s"ore REVENGE ="
Landlord McCann and now they thlR tnei "''' ~
come Through the Park Board they propose 10 'ea'
down one Of the most ENJOYABLE resorts Ill lno wy "
order 70 ruin rival. This policy has been pursue"
Gov tour wears These two men even refused to make
alterations in the building which would have ehaoiod
me 10 increase the ciys percentage to large cAo'
and the want of repairs every part OF ''e prop"
has almost resulted in the ruin OF the place ~ "
little better now than abandoned house i"o wa,
in which they crawled out OF the 'o''.i'"C
the Edison Electric Light Company ana uleo "
force me 10 bear all the expense for light anu "oa'
I never got would interest the pubic 90
81 tool, nossession Of the house on October ~
49,, 7 took the lease from Cornelius Conlhin- Inc
lease YVES made ont in Mr.. Conhhs ha"o' ouV W.,
snppcscd TO have been held by croker paw
600 for the leases 900 in cash. $4,000 creui'e'
IN Mr. Croker on account Of an Indebtedness 10 "'
and the balance by paying mortgage Oh ff"oo ",
the place, incurred by my predecessors "'""' 'IN
Croker were in the habit of visiting the mouse No'H
frequently. and sometimes ordered eNPehS'o nm"
Gov their friends These dinners were always orde'e'
o. croher,s name. and against him made out thc
hsu. but I snpposcd it was the credit OF 'ne
Tammany crowd ,.,
well | should say about SLOW nav NV
received a cent from any Of these inr"'
ID this include wine y ,,
4vo. but have charged for the supplies winch
frequently sent to Cookers house. al'hous" "' '''
fine did not cNpcc; payment for them. -
Did Won expect to be paid for those dinners
~ certainly did. There no agreement maui
nv which the dinners were 70 De supPno"
co>. although dare say that the idea OF these
men" 49,, , and
Tho first trouble haS~1ath any Of the crowd ana
,,icb led to nv ordering them away from the mouse
came IN few month, after Grant was clc''ou 0"''''
was informed. On the very best au'horiN' "'"'
was carrying stories about my private "n'''' "
frocr and Others These stories were entirely l"'e'
bod ham trf a n
for friends and they told with a view to Hl"'c
my credit There were other stories about private
r,.,t4r, which Will not 90 into. but which were ell
tiicly false.
one day Grant came to the house to Use the teic-
phouc had heard II these stories ONLY inc Jay Uo
fore When he had finished his business went 10
b,n and calmly told him that did not wish to have
ANYTHING more & with him. lie asked why ana
.aid that a man VINO carried false stories to lnluc
others, and who meddled in other peoples ianN
affairs was not the sort Of man wanted To asNVcia'"
with or to allow to pa;ronize my house. lie olu ho'
ATTEMPT 10 deny the charges. but went away III rage
TN 10 that time had never had any trouble with
nv b~oiherin-law Croker had stood by him in times
of need had helped to support his family. and had
contributed his election expenses and general cam
paicn funds. Mr. Croker continued TO come TO inc
place for "a month two and then suddenly ceased ms
visits Hen heard from members Of the IammanY
crowd that order. had been issued by Grant and
Croker that the Tammany patronage should at once be
withdrawn. Grant had succeeded in getting the ear
Of Croker, and. although he is square man II let
alone. his weak point IS to listen I" bad
advisers He Will believe the words Of the
men who for the time happen TO be at bis SIDE, ana
will 20 back his best friends. 1t was perfectly clear
10 me that Grant had talked him over and Croker
was afraid TO break with him. was also Informed by
TWO men in the organization that it was the aim Of
these men TO freeze me out They thought that II
their patronage was withdrawn l would have TO 20
10 the poorhOuse. They have been mistaken in this
however, a. since got rid Of them my returns have
almost doubled Soon after ordering Grant from
the house ] found out that Croker was in the habit
OF pumping one Of my barendels, man named John
Kcarnan, with whom Croker had been friends since
boyhood ! discharged the bartender on this account
In their attempts to inure me these men even
went 50 far as issue order that no supply wagon
should be allowed TO enter the Park one minute after
IL O'Clock. No repairs have been made On the place,
although as / have said, could do almost twice the
amount of business ! do If proper kitchen was
built and the bar accommodations were improved.
Why the ruts in the roadway in front OF the house
are deep enough TO break carriage wheel. also
learned that Grant had said that since the orgtniz-
ton had stopped going there my chief customers wcFe
dis,olute women. All Of these statements l can
prove. / intend 10 swear TO them before the com
inittce tomorrow .,
= What is the general character of the people "ho
visit the Mount Nncent -
They are chiefly brokcrs and merchants-what are
To your knowledge, has the house ever been Wis
tied by women or OF notorious character
Z" Not to my knowledge. And on this point
wanf 10 say right here that am
wiling to place 5000 in the hands Of any
trst orthy man who may be settled upon, 10 be Tor
fcted il IL caA be shown that any thing out 81 the
way or of all Objectionable nature ha occurred at the
place that there nave been any Nis'lors oi 10"
rcpute during the time have had the place
Mayor Grant seen at his home IN west soy,
only tnild ST. Tribune reporter last evening ana
me SUBSTANCE Of McOann's story va, detailed t. ihn
The Mayor >aio . 49,, .
me j. utterly fal,e. never ordered or
,aftooA of a dinner IN his place. ! have not eaten
. mol i'm the restaurant since Me- ann took charge
~ H. In fact never visited the place but once Will,
he E.pt it, and then went there with Mr. Croker.
remaining hut short time 40. .. -,
never had personal dlhcultY with this
man the MAYOR continued. " in my If lie al u"
tunc accused me of doing any thnS OF All unf1cndiF
sharactcr nor did he ever order me from hi, house.
q, So a word indicating that he thought that