New-York tribune., 1890-04-29
PUZZLED ABOUT McCANN.
WILLIAM VI. WINS Is SATISFIED.
SOME TAMMANY MEN UNDECIDED, BUT NEARLY
ALL OF THEM DECLARE 1T CANNOT BE TRUE


topic OF conversation about the City Hall yesterday
mayor Grant remains impcrturbable ever. but he
ad"e" an important statement to his answer Of Friday
ana saturday which may have important bearing
upon tne Charges made by Mccain. The Mayor said
tlat about two weeks ago he visited at the City
Han by prominent lawyer who talked TO him about
'ic'ann and his lease Of the Mount St. Vincent rcstau
rant aud the advsability Of sat, wing Mccann and
having no further trouble with him. This lawyer told
me-. the Mayor said. " that McCann would settle the
matter for 5000 with the stipulation that he be al
lowed to retain the Mount st. Vincent lease for six
weeks or six months. longer, am not positive which.
He told me that he friendly terms with Nc
Cam, and ntmacd that McCann had a budget Of stuff
about Croker and myselfto unload which it would not
be pleasant to have made public. | replied that
did not care what McCann had to say. and that I
wonld not pay him 3l5 or IS cents. said that had
never had anything to do with McCann and never
would did not understand McCann's representative
as making any demand for $4,000. lie came to tell
me ta; the whole matter eoud be settled for that
The lawyer did not that he was McCann's counsel "
Richard ). Newcombc, McCann's counsel, and the
lawyer referred 70 by Mayor Grant as having in
formed the Mayor that he could settle with McCann
for $4,000 and a short extension OF the Mount St
Vincent lease. found last evening at his homo,
No. 605 Madson-avc. The Mayors statement having
been briefly conveyed to him. Mr.. Ncwcombc at first
refused 10 say anything. lie thought he said, that
II "ouIn DC unwlsc ann lndscreSt to uo ~ d> IL
seemed now certain that he would be called as a
witness. al admit Mr.. Newcombe said. that
have been in the Mayors Office several times to see
about McCann's lease Of Mount st. Vincent. have
been Mr.. McCaDn's counsel. but In the matter 10
which the Mayor refers ! went simply a. McCann's
representative. ! talked with the Mayor about the
lease but II he construed the matter In the way he
seems to have done, he is entirely mistaken. said
nothing that could be construed looking In the
fpu pf hlacl nd 900
how the Mayor could have received any such i'm
preston
as not McCann very vindlctlve in this matter ~
Mr.. NcwcOmbe asked.
"Not any moro so than any other man would be
under like circumstances
." Did you not have consultation with McCann
before he went the witness standi'
Yes. | knew Thursday that he was going 70
testify
did Won advise him to testify as he dldi'
Perhaps did and perhaps did not. That Is a
matter between lawyer and client"
lid you not say to the Mayor that the trouble
could be settled for 81 1000 and the extension OF
NcCann's lcasci7
~ viii not answer that question now Mr.. New
comhc explained that he had asked the Mayor TO use
his influence to get rc-lcase for McCann. but Mr..
Grant had replied that he had nothing 10 do with the
matter As IL was entirely In the hands Of the Park
Commissioners hut further than this Mr. Newcomte
refused to 90.
81 won't saw ANYTHING more" he said. "bccause
+, looks as II IT migr- come down To a question
of vcracliy between Mavor Grant and myself
The Mayor received this letter yesterday from ex-
Mayor Edson
I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt Of your
note n, ih. date in which you refer the evidence of
patrick MrCann before tho Senate Committee Satur.
civ last and IN which you also ask me 70 say whether
or no, YOU were candidate Tor the Office Of Commissioner
name was considered seriously by in connection with
tho appointment, In reply have say. your was
no, presented candidat" for appointment 70 the
ONCE Corns-ioner ~ Public Works in December 1851
or At any other during term Of onire and that
your name ncvcr considered by in connection with
appointment q that once
Thl. letter received from De Lancey Nicoll:
Yesterday morning rad the evidence given bcfor. the
senate Committee Saturday last by Patrick II MeC,nn.
70 ,e erec, that he had heard that in year 1884 you
uora a candidate rc~itsn - Coni--onor o. Pubhc
WORKS. and that very large OF money, partly con-
tribued by ycu. raised FOR dsrbuticn among the
Aldermen for your confirmation.
had occasion when Assistant Dstr.ctAtornev 70 IN
vc.tga,o all q e transactions of the Board Of Aldermen
o., ss, In respect Broadway Railroad and other Tl
road. When the squlrerlynn indictment wa found J
ckcd into all the proceedings o' IN" Boafd leading "p %
squir.s nomna Ion and confirmation. Through the wit
ne-s.- among TIC Aldermen whom procured FOR The
stat learnd = all and gossip about candi'
ia,-. for Commissioner Public Works who were spoken
- a. r.ai time
~ these means and through thNss channs' became
.ippoc - familiar with the whole subject ~ tho conduct
- Af, OF that and the attempts to corrupt
them a. any ono connected with public Affairs.
deem but just 10 write You nov TIA, never heard
-ource directly or indirectly. All intinaon OF NE
rnmor repeated hy Nr. M,Cann never heard Your
name suggested ~ candidate FOR Commissioner % Public
WORKS or 81 ans cort made Of being raieed
10 secure your confirmation by uo Board OF Aldermen
The Mayor made the following reply q Mr. lvins's
offer TO cali the committee together again TO hear
evidence rchuttlnc McCanus testimony Il decline
10 enter into any discussion directly or indirectly win
, committee or il, counsel engaged, a. both were on
saturday last IN the manufacturing Of evidence.
.h,ll meet ih, charges made fully and promptly anu
IN my way.
81 know, that McCann's testimony before the
Fassctt Committee string Of fal-ehooI- from DC
ginning H. end said Police Commissioner Martin yes
terday. He had been shouting out threats IN bar
room, for weeks telling what he intended 70 90 10
get even with Mayor Grant for fhncied grievance
lie evidently was working TO get some Of the leaders
in Tammany Hall 10 call him down. Finding that
they took no notice OF hi. foolish talk he co"kch up
his story for the Fas-cit Committee with the assistance
Of Grace and WINS. happened to know that apone
A week ago cx NayOr Grace was at Mc'anns h"te' III
the park and that he and McCann sat on the ho'c'
vcranda smoking and talking together. HOW Is
vccnnn's story regarded by Tammany Hall men :
~ no account We are I'm position to Know 'hae
NcCann /, living III, story is 80 absurd, ANYHOW,
that can't see why anybody should believe IT,.
The Park Commissioners do not attach muoh I'M
portance " the statements made by Mc'anh III rc-
gard to the Mount IT. Vincent restaurant They say
that he is untrstworthy and is angercd no" Ueo'se
he is not permitted 10 retain his lease
"Thc sort of man he Is" remarked 'oh'Di''S'o"c'
BORDEN " | discovered just afcr was made prc'
dent Of the Board two years ago. fouhu '"' 'i'
Cam was behind in his accounts at that uh'' anu
I sent word to him that he must attend 10 '"ci "'
once. lie paid no attention TO my notices. so 'lcn
sent word that II his accounts were not s''tcu WIN
the department Immediately would revoke u"s !"
censc That brought him down to see me- Iio
began talk about his political influence S"S'"s "
Mr. Croker was behind him. anc 10 intimate 'n"V
had better moi interfere with him. That was enough
I told him. You will settle every dollar VI your
account by this time tomorrow Will rcVoHc Soui
license Mr. Croker or Mr.. Croker. lie se'ue" '"'''
day and | never had trouble with him atcr""N'
Mr.. Bordcn said that he did not hink inc mum
ST. Vincent restaurant was a fitting structure i''
Ia, fa,ro ~ III.