New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27
GRANTS GIFTS TO CROKER.
PATRICK H. McCANN'S INCREDIBLE TESTI.
MONY
lie TELLS WONDERFUL TALE ABOUT THE Ex.
FUND OF siso.ooO IN A sGTCHEL-THE
MONEY. HE DECLARES, WAS IN
TENDED FOR ALDERMEN-PRO-
FEsSING UNWILLING

TENDED FOR ALDERMEN-PRo-
FEssING UNWILLING
NESS TO TESTIFY.
Patrick II. McCann, with an air of deep melan-
choy. and with many protestations of reluctance
yesterday told the State Senate Committee on CIT e
several curious and sensational stories about Mayor
Hugh }. Grant and Richard Croker. State Sen
ator Fassett presided and the courtroom in which
the investigation was held was crowded. The
melancholy Mr.. McCann was the only witness ex
amined. lie is the disappointed lessee of the
Mount ST. Vincent Hotel, in Central Park. The
Park Board has refused to renew his lease, and
he alleges that Mr. Croker and Mr.. Grant are to
blame for this Mr.. McCanns wife and Mr.
! Croker's wife are sisters But Mr.. McCann and
Mr.. Croker have not been on speaking terms foI
several years.
Mr. McCann on the witness stand managed to
say many things calculated to wound the feel
ings of Mr. Grant and Mr.. Croker lie was eaten
up, according to his professions. with the zeal
OF his house. He protested. with tears" me-
thinks I've did protest too mach. that he did not
want to discuss family affairs before the COM
mittee. With tender reluctance lie re-
lated how Mr.. Croker had called on
him in 1894, carrying a satchel containing
$3.50, ,OOO TO ask his advice about getting trusty
keeper for this money, which was to be used
among the Aldermen to secure their confirmation
Of the appointment of Mr.. Grant as Commissioner
of Public Works If Mayor Edison should nominate
him. Another family secret wrung from MIR.
McCann's unwilling bosom that
Mr.. Grant had, when Sheriff, given
to little Flosse' Croker. the six-year-old child
of the eX-City Chamberlain, $4,000 in sums Of
$1,000. With tears and n broken voice, caused
/ b, tbo cf nd he admitted
that Leicester Holme the Mayors private secre-
tary, had recently offered money to Mrs. Croker
and to Dr. Beckman, her family ply
sician, TO leave the country until this
dreadful investigation was over. And
the last and crowning family secret that he dis
closed in an agony terrible TO witness. was that
lie had been told about Flossies7 $4,000 by
Flosse's" mother and FlossiesT aunt; and that
Mrs. Croker herself had also been his informant
about the Intellectual visits of exJndge liolme
Mr.. McCann said that he lived at the Mount
St Vincent Hotel lie used TO be in the dry
goods business at Twenty y-second-st. and Sixth
ave lie took the lease Of the Mount st. Vim
cent Hotel on October 0. ss5. from Mr. Conk-
lin, who kept the oyster house in wenty-third-
ST. known as Doron's.
o.-Who suggested to you to take that lcasel A.
Nr. Richard Croker.
O.-Are you related to Mr.. CroAcrl A.-Our wives
arc sisters.
Q.-You are brothers n-law A.-well, If you call
il So Ml. Croker made tic suggestion that should
take the house about the first OF october. He came
to me and said that Conkln wanted TO sell out lie
told me ! could buy Conklns interest for $1,000.
Odd he tell you he had any interest in II A.
Odd lie offer TO sell his Own INTEREST," A.
O-For what amount A.--Thc same as Conklns:
Q.-Was Mr. Croker at that time Fire Commissioner
Odd you ever hear from Mr.. Croker or any one
had haen designed tnat tndt lease SiOulO
be had for Mr Nauer Who prior to hat otn time n'o scn
saesS rsr se bSt 'e Dc not 't" Know pos.yey never
knew Mr. saucr and never saw him
SMln0 saaSr %S dtd o 1Sa1 Lease s:'R
into between Conkiin ana the ciS A. thh barIs so
Gle was killed In the Park by runaway morse
QX6oat the time lust before that that lease with
ODD YOU ever hear that it was intended that
sauer should have that lease for Joint account between
o~As matter Of fact Croker stated that he had
Joint account lease with C9nkln A.le'; IA "A
he tine bought it. c"t paid hin the same as scc5snt Paa
Of merchandise, for the money he =, pSe; SSo
that was made by him ard conblm on the fixtures
'''c '''co-WHhat is the condition Of that lease with the
cityl Alive per cent on the gross receipts mas 10
'' dpWa, the business being run at profit at the
time Of the Joint lease of Conkln and Croker Al
O. Vas that one of the given to You as 70
why should take the place tat yEa a 's N Mr. p9ISS rdSey
and and Mr.. cdnbn had dispute. The house was not
paying 1t was running IN DEBT 80 tna' ., os Sc, d map
to ra'c m9gaie o,S e., ana Go Mf .r'S'r Wr Malone.
grocer at Nnnays onn, ana yncegf ioc now running
oIpAHd pg' You pay per cent the gross income to
oYon have had some difficulty about the renewal
Of that lease A.-Con>idcrahle. 49, NJ
for 9DS it. Tnsaa y% make x "pPGdd''o" PGd the " BOAR"
Odd vou get an award OF the lease NO .ir
Q.-who did A-Gabc '''Ne' believe got the
S'-Has Gabe Case since then surrendered tha,
o That surrender has been accepted by the Park
Bosrdf A.-so by the records
"Have YOU ever had any personal difficulties
with Mr. Croker growing out of tho Mount 81.
Vincent afair?' was the next question that
Mr.. WINS asked
Yes said the witness
Mr. WINS asked what were the personal rela-
tions existing between Mr.. Croker and Mr.. cCann.
Mr.. McCann hestated, twddled his thumbs and
said I'D rather not GO into family matters If
Won can get along without going into family
matters I'd rather Mr.. Croker and | married
sisters. and I don't care to 20 into family matters
if Won can possibly accomplish what YOU want
without IT, I'd rather have II that way
Said Mr. Wins: " II the committee please. |
shall have to ask Mr.. McCann number of aues
tions later on about matters that | feel justified
in assuming that he has knowledge Of matters
that for the purposes Of this investigation are
Of the most serious importance. Personally. |
dislike as much any one could to ask Mr..
McCann any questions that involve family re-
ations Nothing could be more distasteful TO
me- But if | am correctly advised. certain things
have been done by prominent officials in this city
which have been kept so secret. which have been
managed with such wonderful closcness. that
In. ODf fron ri
themselves or the members Of their |
families, the purposes Of this investi. |
cation in disclosing irregularities will |
be largely frustrated The question: there |
fore whether not this committee
shall permit itself TO be frustrated in its purpose,
because it recognizes a quite proper sentiment on |
4 hc nart of any witness sentiment that amonnts