New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-24
RICaARD CROKER on TIE STAND

RICHARD CROKER on THE STAND
Richard Croker appeared before the senate
Investigating Committee Yesterday IN goou
health and with a complacent bearing. HIS
testimony was firmly given, his temper STOOD
the strain of cross examination well and alto
co,ber il was evident that he had made good
use of the weeks which have elapsed since his
return from Europe The hearing deVelopeu
no startling surprises-nO moment, 1or ihs'a''o'
like that when Mayor Grant, having previous
w ridicued as preposterous the ldea 'hao no
had ever given Flosse Croker any large SUM
of money. testified that he had in TACT gwen
her $40. 600 in two sums Of 81, 600 each. III
cannot be said that anybody was surprised 10
hear Nr Croker confirm this acknowledgment
avon though he did deny by cable all recolec-
zion of the godfatherS bounty and the DISPOSE
tion made of it, 1t had been foreseen that inc
Navor would have no difficulty Ill refreshing
his memory as to the amount bestowed an"
that glance at the inventory OF MS property
uoud enable him TO identify some particular
transaction as representing his Solcituue lor
his little daughters welfare. 1t appears tha'
tho investment in which FlOSSc VIII soon De
old enough to take a lively interest is real
estate at Seventh-avc and -hundred-ahd-
fortv-eiehth- st.. which was purchased, subject
70 y mortgage. with her $40, 600, plus S6,ooo
beIonoinc 70 her father Mr.. Croker kept the
FIRST s. 600 in hand until after the second
81 600 had been received, though financial
institutions nav very low interest on balances;
but this is not 10 be regretted lnaSlnuch as inc
property finally bought has nearly doubled Ill
value. and Flossie is now worth about T2o'ooV'
Apart from his statement concerning thiS
enisode Mr. Cookers testimony was chleH!
made ND of negations. He denied all Know
edge of a fund to procure the continuation Oh
Mr. Grant as Commissioner OF Public WORKS;
he never showed Mccain bag containing
$50. 600 or any other sum of money he never
entertained the idea of making 10 cents
barrel on cement for the Aqueduct he did not
owe Mccain $4,000. or any other amount
when he surrendered his interest in the Mount
St. Vincent restaurant-an interest whlch con
trary to the Mayors suppoSition' he had ac-
ouired merely by procuring the lease for ConR-
lin But he did recall distinctly the interview
with Adams. of which Mccain had given a
distorted version lie held the interview AT
NcCann's request in order that he might form
an estimate OF Adams'S character and capau-
ties. though incidentally the conversation
turned to a discussion of Hubert o. Thomp-
sons chance of being retained at the head OF
the Public Works Department after the ex
piration of his term. and the probable attitude
of certain Aldermen in case that manoeuvfc
were attempted.
But. whatever satisfaction Mr.. Croker may
have derived from the accuracy OF his recoi-
lections concerning certain events OF compare
lively recent occurrence, he cannot have failed
10 feel annoyance when Mr. WINS carried MN
back 10 his Aldcrmanic days, rcSurrec'ed the
sworn agreement in which he delivered 10 me
notorious Genet and others his vote, his Judg-
ment and his independence, and reminded him
Of his close affiliations then and now with men
who became the grateful benohciarlcS OF the
Tweed conspiracy. 1t may easily be imagined
that. after these unwclcome "reminiscences the
cheerful and dutiful cOrrohoration of ms te>u-
monv hv Mrs. Croker must have been peculiar
~ comforting and soothing.
Reviewing all the incidents of yesterdays
hearing it appears t. Us that the most Inicr-
ostinc and suggestive disclosure Of The day
was the extraordinary contrast between the
vividneSs of Mr. CrOkerS rccollcctlon> aS 10
the subjects involved in McCann charges ana
the density of his ignorance concerning mumc-
ipal government by bosses. lie remembered
the minutost details OF the SWcc; domestic
scenes of which FloSsic and her godfather were
the centres Of attraction, he recalled every
topic touched on in the talk with Adams; bat
when it came to political assessments the dlS-
tribution of patronage and the delicate opera
tions by which the Tammany machine IS adj
iusted fabricated and kept in motion, his mind
was perfect blank. Then Richard Croker
became forlorn and miserable spectacle. Who
could have believed that within 80 bnci
period all knowledge of subject OF which he
was a consummate master would so utterly de-
scrt him, Nobody imagined that such tate
ever could befall him and. what is more we do
not suppose anybody imagines that such fate
has befallen him now.