The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-06

ininnsely." Now. what is tho evidence
offered by MCCAIN as to the truth OF the
charges he makes against two men whose
enemies even have hitherto always admit.
ted that each was perfectly honest? AS tc
the first charge, that Mr.. CROKER raisel an
immense sum of money ne bribery fund to
secure Mr.. GRANTS confirmation as Com.
missioner OF Public Works, McCANN does not
pretend that he knows this OF his own knowl-
edge; but ho asserts that Mr. CROKER
| brought a satchel to his shop and showed
him bank bills in the satchel which he,
CROKER asserted amounted to the
sum OF $1S0,OOO, designed to bride
the then existing Board OF Alder
men. He brings this accusation against
man who Is i'll in Europe, and so Ill that
his physician will not permit him to return
to this country; against man whose intcg-
rity has always remained unqucstioned, anu
against whom, on his somewhat recent ap-
pontment rs City Chamberlain, not ono
word was said. As to the truth OF this
alleged call and interview with Mr.. CROKER
III December, 1884, there are only two wit
nesScs; ono the accuscr. the other tho ac-
cuscd II the interview had been held on
desert island, il the subicct-mattcr were
US to some incident alleged to have taken
place on that island, and there was
no corroborative evidence ono way or the
other, it might be said that tho question was
reduced to one OF veracity as between tho
two men but in the consideration of this case
we are aided by the facts and circumstances
which made up the political situation at tho
close OF 1884. Is the story In itself probable
one aside from any question as to the relative
character OF the iufOrmer and MIR. CROKER
MCCAIN does not pretend that any one
heard the interview, and he bases this whole
charge on an alleged confession or declara-
ton made to him by Mr.. CROKER.
In December, 1884. FRANKLIN EDISON was
Mayor Of this city, and there were numerous
candidates for the Office of Commissioner OF
Public Works, prize which was eventually
given by the Mayor to RoLLIN NJ. SQUIRE.
The right to tho office was claimed both by
Tammany Hall and by the County De-
mocracy; but Mr.. SQUIRE at that time was
not supposed to be the particular friend OF
either organization, although the bargain
made between him and MAURICE b. FLYNN,
which subsequently came to light, would
seem to indicate that he was really the ser
want of certain County Democracy chiefs.
Mr.. EDISON testified that 1.-THE only man
Tammany Hall presented was JOHN Mo
QUADE," and that he, EDISON, refused to APP
point MCQUADE Mayor GRANT also testi-
fled that MCQUADE was tho candidate OF the
organization, that is OF Tammany Hall, and
that he, Mayor GRANT, was not n candidate
for Commissioner Of Public Works, and
never sought the Office; and that the NELL
ton Of his name was only newspaper talk,
and there was never any serious discussion
about 1t.
Mr.. EDISON tells us that he had simply a
general conversation with Mr.. GRANT as to
the appointment OF Commissioner OF Pub
lis Works, and 1t is clear, both from his
statements and from Mayor GRANTS, that
the candidate Of 1ammany Hall was Nc
QUADE and that Mr.. GRANT himself was
neither an applicant nor candidate.
The bearing OF this evidence is fatally adj
verse to MCCANN's allegation, because 1t s
not in the slightest degree probable that
any corruption fund would have been raised
to support for an Office particular indi-
vIdual when that individual never sought
The post.
A further inherent improbability In the |
whole tale Is the statement as to the bring |
ng OF the money IN bag to MCCANN's place |
II business. Men who are prepared to bride |
ire not in the habit Of going about with |
arge sums Of money in little satchels. The |
,nly conceivable purpose Of such course
IS that attributed by MCCAIN to CROKER
would have been his own destruction should
his informer ever quarrel with him.
TnTA Mt H fN
ct as stakeholder Of this large sum OF
money, which was to have been fully in
rusted to him until 1t should be determined
whether the Aldermen could be reached or
ct; but in his cross-examinatiOn he swore
hat only two Aldermen were to be reached
%, 900 apiece CROKER. according to Mo
ANN said he had been out around all day
nd was tired Are we to believe that Mr..
RoKER had been Juggling little bag con-
aiming $4,000 around with him through
ut the streets since early morning on that
ventful day? MCCAIN sought to strength
n his testimony by the statement that
nce the previous meeting OF the investi-
atinR committee he had met JOHN HAL
DRAM, who said that this corruption fund
,as returned on New Years Day. This
II. HALLoRAN, when interviewed on Sun
ay, said that no never heard OF fund
fsuch nature, or Of such an amount until
ICCANN first testified concerning It," II
ICCAEN's other statements are as trust
'orthy as his testimony concerning Mr..
his whole story is plainly false.
AS to the second charge, that Mr.. GRANT
ave $25, 900 to FLORENCE CROKER the Mayor
tates that the child was his godchild; that
n accepting the Office Of godfather in the
hurch he felt that he was bound to make
ONE provision for the future welfare OF the
hid and that prompted by such motives
nd by his personal friendship for tho fam
Y, he gave $4,000 In all to his friends little
aughter; and that he gave this money
pcnly In the presence of the father and
lother. We may add that Mr.. GRANT was
man OF independent means. and that such
gift to tho child was In accordance with
he generosity Of his character.
The new charge that Mayor GRANT said to
[cCANN that but for his, CRoKER's, advice
nd warning IT should have been mixed UP