Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-06-28
DOODLE IN POLITICS.

Richard Croker, the Famous Tammsny
Hall Leader, Testifies In His Own be-
half to Refute tho Charges of Mccain
His Alleged Dealings with Mayor Grant.
New YORK, June "a. The Fasset Sem
ate committee held special session
Monday for the purpose OF hearing the
testimony OF Richard Croker, the Tam
many Hall leader. The Superior Court
room where the hearing took place was
filled to overflowing with spectators.
Patrick Ii. McCann and his wifc, who is
sister OF Mrs. Croker, were in the au-
dience. Croker said he had lived in
this city forty years, and had been al
derman two terms and coroner two
terms, also fire commissioner and city
chamberlain. He resigned the last
named Office in February last to go to
Europe for his health. He had come
from Europe contrary to the advice of
his physician in order to refute the
charges made by McCann. Lawyer
Choate read McCann's testimony about
the $3.50, coo which he had said Croker
had in satchel to bribe the aldermen
to get a confirmation by them of Grants
appointment by Mayor Edison for Com
missioner of Public Works. Croker said
it was absolutely untrue in all particu-
lars. He had gone to McCann's store
about that time, but had not carried a
satchel nor any large sum of money. No
such sum had been raised for such con-
firmation nor any sum, nor had Grant
raised $50, 900 for such purpose.
He said he had visited McCann's about
the time referred to. He asked McCann
if he had heard anything about rumor
| that $50, 900 had been raised to keep
Hubert o. Thompson in the Office of
Commissioner of Public Works. Nc
Cam thought that "Tom" Adams, who
was intimate with Alderman Pierson,
might know something about it. He
met Adams in McCann's store by ap'
pointment subsequently, but Adams said
he knew nothing Of the rumor. Tam.
many Hall was doing all it could at the
time to fight against the reappoi n tment
of Hubert o. Thompson and he h ad de-
sired to forestall any efforts made by
Thompson to arrange for confirmation
1t was also untrue that the witness was
to get ten cents on every barrel o.
cement used in the Department of Pub
lie Works providing Grant got the nomi
nation. Grant had stood godfather fol
his daughter Flossie and had given hel
$5, 900 in bills on two occasions as pres
ents. The money was not given by rea
son of any prior understanding with
Mayor Grant. The money had been in
vested in October, 1887, in house for
the benefit of the child, taking title in
his and his wife's name Jointly.
Mr.. Croker stated the circumstances
of Mayor Grants gift to Flossie Croker
The first $1,000 had laid in the house
about year without drawing interest
Shortly after the second $1,000 wa:
given it was decided to purchase the
property for Flossie, Mr.. Croker said
he had not shared in the returns of the
registers, county clerks, or sheriff''
Office. He had not asked register Reil
ley, nor subsequently register Slavin
to contribute to the campaign fund. He
could not remember what Hewitt, Grant
Bookstaver or others had paid into Tam
many Hall. He did not know that the
gamblers or liquor dealers had contrib
uted to Mayor Grants campaign.