Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

CHs.
NEW YORK, April 26.-Chairman Fas-
sett, of the Senate Investigating Committee,
did little rapid transit business on his
own account to-day in the few minutes over
an hour during which the committee was
in session. He started train on an en-
tirely new route and dashed ahead with
all steam on until he had Mayor Grant
under an accusation of having contributed
$4,000 to a fund of s18O,O0O raised
by Billy Mahoney and held by Richard
Croker to be used to buy the votes of Grants
associates in the Doodle Board of
Aldermen in 1884 for the confirmation
of Grant as Commissioner of Public Works,
and also of having, while Sheriff, given to
Richard Croker's 6-year-old child five
envelopes containing $1,000 each as
Mr.. CrOker's share of the profits
of the Sherif's Office, and with having,
since this investigation begun, sent his
Private Secretary, ex-Judge Leicester
Holme, to Mrs. Croker and to DR.. Belkman,
the family physician, offering them
large sums of money if they would
leave the country until the in-
vestigation should be over, the strained
relations between Mr.. Croker and his wife
having led to fear that she might give evil
oence against him before the committee.
All this depends upon the sole and evident
ly unwilling testimony of Mr.. Croker's
brother-in-law, Patrick II. Mccain.
MAYOR GRANTS DENIAL.
Mayor Grant, found at his home tonight,
said: "Yes, of course, l have heard
all about McCann's testimony, though I've
not been down town. The mans allegations
are the most outrageous series of falsehoods
that were ever uttered on the witness stand
or off it. Not a grain of truth can
be traced in all the sensational charges
which have been made. 1 can only sup
pose that he Is crazy. As to McCanh's
charges, they would be laughable il they did
not assume such serious aspect. Surely
no sensible person can credit them for q
moment. On their very face they are silly.
The charges don't hang together.
"Then, according to Mr.. McCann, an
amount said to be $50, 900 of corruption
fund was contributed by myself. Now as
a matter OF fact, 1 never had $4,000
or any sum like it in lump sum in my
life. At the same time this witness
speaks of had just completed a close and
unsuccessful Mayoralty campaign in which
both sides had had bitter contest"
NEVER WAS A CANDIDATE.
"What about your candidacy for the place
McCann speaks OF, the Commissionership of
Public Works?"
81 never was candidate for the place in
my life, and never had the matter
brought to my notice until this after
noon. Without inquiring into the mat
that I was not eligible to office.
This alleged deal is located by Mr.. lvins'
witness just at the period when was bit
terly fighting the majority of the board In
the Broadway Railroad matter. Because
1 had refused to join in their
combine they hated me like
poison, and to think that would 60 before
them for an office and propose to them that
they should do service for me by the very
means which 1 was fighting. Isn't it nom
sense? Would any sane man in my place
offer to bribe the men at q time when he
knew that both men who were paying
money and those who were receiving it
were going to get into trouble? Would 1
have stood aloof from the boodlers if
wanted to use them? Absurd.
ONLY SMALL PRESENTS.
"What about the statement that you gave
Mr.. Croker, through his daughter Flossie,
s25, 900 to pay for his house?"
"Mr. Mccain deals in large figures, and
guess q few thousand more or less don't
bother him. 1 am Flossie's godfather, and
have frequently given her presents.
certainly on every one of her birthdays and
fairly valuable presents, too, but never any
thing approaching such fabulous sum as
S25, 900. Whatever I have given the child
has been with reason and consisted of such
presents as any godfather in my place
would have done. A suggestion of any
thing else is simply a malicious lie, as all
sonal benefit of the little girl"