The evening world., 1890-03-10
DIRECTOR WATSON TURNS UP.
Queer Disclosures as to the Elec-
ton Of the Olaassen Board.
The Much Sought For witness Before
Commissioners Shields To-day.

The examination OF Peter J. Claassen
was continued this morning before u. =.
Commissioner Shields. in the Post Office
Building.
The proceedings were enlivenod by the
appearance of j. Kenneth Watson, who
was one of the Board of Directors of the
Sixth National Bank. who has been long
and vuinly sought since the bank trouble
began.
Soon after the session opened. Watson
was called to the stand. He is q mediums
sized man, with q light-reddish mus
tnche and blue eyes. He was dressed iii
dark clothing and wore n blue overcoat.
Wntson's face was considerably flushed.
He was questioned by Assistant United
States District Attorney, Mitchell In
answer TO Mr.. Mitchell, he said that ho
lived in Rutherford, N. j., and was a
hookkeeper for the North American
Dredging Companv at As Broadway where
he began working IN June, 1889.
He knew Clnasseu, having met him at
IS Broadway, in the office Of the Com
pnny, in July. He saw him very often
after that, sometimes on privnie business.
sometimes TO pay money and sometimes
to borrow IL.
Claassen told him on Jan. 81 thnt the
Lenox Hill Bank had overdrawn its ac-
count at the Sixth National Bank.
lie received no notice TO attend the
meeting OF jan. %. lie received n writ
ten notice TO be present at the meeting Of
Jan. -.
When he arrived at the bank he saw
ClaaSsen, Pell. Simmons, Ripley and
rockingham, and some friends whom LIE
di int know. Neither Mr.. Cutler nor
Gen. James Jourdan was present
NJ 49, 49, H. - l.
side the railing. and az fast as one re-
signed one Of the new Board entered.
He testified that he had never bought
stock in the Lenox Hill Bank, but got
what he held from Simmons.
How did o become n director in
the Sixth National Bank ?" asked Mr.
Mitchell.
In the same way as I did the Lenox
Hill" he answered,
Mr.. Leland was present when he was
elected to the Board. He said that he
became a director in the Sixth National
Bank at the solicitation Of MIR. Simmons,
who asked him to 60 in temporarily. He
was formally notified on Jan. "A thnt lie
had been elected to the Board.
The witness testified that on the morn
ing of Jan. 20 he overheard q conyersa-
ton between Pell and Simmons. during
which he heard Simmons tell Pell that
Claassen had the consent of Gen. Jourdan
to so into the Board of Directors.
Il have seen Cutler and he said that he
banks, but had always declined, but Ms q
favor he would accede," Simmons Is re-
ported to have said.
Watson said that on Jan. % he kept ac-
counts with the Passaio and Second
National Banks. He also had an account
sented money belonging to Pell and Sim
mons. After n time Kilduff was told to
take charge of the account.
He testified that very little money was
ever left in the bank. as money that was
deposited one day was drawn out the
next day. The deposits were always in
checks of Simmons and Pell.
He opened an account with the Sixth
National Bank on Jan. 81. the deposits
amounting TO about Sl,60 or 81 600.
Previous TO that he had been told by Pell
that $50, 900 would be placed to his credit
to be used in payment for stock.
The check for this amount came up
from the First National Bank. and after
he was notified that that o was On
deposit to his credit. he drew q check
against II for the full amount.
He identified q deposit slip as having
been made by himself, on Jan. "a, repre-
senting S52. 500. which was in five checks.
checks. and he said he couldn't remem-
George II. Pell.
He was shown a slip showing deposits
of IS. 900 to the credit of the LenoI Hill,
and he identified the handwriting as his
own. but he said that he couldn't remem-
Der making the deposits.
did you receive So, 900 in money
from the Lenox Hill Bank?"
mo, sir; not to my recollection"
An adjournment was then taken until
Wednesday morning.