Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-24
THE TAMMANY CHIEF.
Richard Croker Oh the Wit
ness Stand.
McCann's Stories Are Contra
dicted.
Mayor Grants Presents to His Little
GOd-Daughter.
Five Thousand Dollars Given to Flossie on
Two Separate Occasions-Mrs.
Croker Also Examined.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

New York, June 23.-The state senate
committee this morning heard the testi-
mony of Richard Croker, the Tammany
leader, in rebuttal of the sensational
evidence given by his brother-in-law,
Patrick McCann, some time ago, involv-
ing Mayor Grant and others. Croker
declared that McCann's story to the
effect that witness had $1S0,000 in a
satchel to bribe aldermen to confirm
Grants appointment to the commits
sionership of public works, was abso-
lutely untrue in all particulars. No such
sum was raised nor had Grant raised
$4,000 as alleged. Witness asked Nc
Cam about the rumor that $4,000 had
been raised to keep Hubert o. Thomp-
son in that position. McCann referred
him to Tom Adams, who said he knew
nothing of it. Tammany was fighting
the denomination of Thompson. This
was in 1884. John Kelly was then alive
and boss of Tammany. Tammany's can
didate was John McQuade. 1t was un-
true that witness was to get ten cents
per barrel on all the cement used by the
department of public works if Grant
H.,
godfather OF witnesses daughter, Flossie,
on two occasions made her present of
five thousand dollars. There was no
previous understanding about it. 1t was
invested in real estate for her benefit.
Witness was not indebted to McCann, as
alleged. On cross-eXamination the
old Tweed ring documents were
shown to witness, signed by a number
of aldermen, including Croker, in
which they swore not to confirm any
one or pass any important bill without
consulting Henry w. Genet and other
Tammany leaders. One signature was
cut out.
Objection was made to this testimony.
Lawyer Quin, for the prosecution,
said he proposed to show that the fag
ends of politics in Tweed's time still
rule New York politics.
After recess WINS took up once more
Mayor Grants presents tn Flossie Gro
ker. The first 80 1000, Croker testified
was presented in the early part of the
year.
"Did the present create any surprise
on your part?"
"Well, of course, l recognized the fact
that Grant was doing very generous
action. Mrs. Croker took the envelope
containing the money from Flossie, and
put it in the safe.
'Did you buy that safe?"
"No, it was bought for me by Mr..
Flack."
Mr.. Croker said he did not invest the
money right away, because he owned
some property which he was trying to
SELL and he wanted to add this money to
that he already had before buying any
more property.
Senator McNaughton said the COM
mittee had no business of inquiring into
Croker's trusteeship of the money given
by Grant to Flossie Croker.
At this reply to Ivins, the Tammany-
ties applauded vigorously.
Croker declared that no tax was levied
on any office-holder for election pur-
poses. Expenses, however, in the
various districts were very heavy.
Croker did not know what contributions
had been made by Judge Bookstaver,
Mayor Grant, Mayor Hewitt, and other
candidates.
Mrs. Croker was put upon the stand.
She denied that she ever told McCann
that Croker had gone to Europe and
left her unprovided for; that she had
ever said Mayor Grant gave Flossie $685.
600, or that she ever sat up all night to
guard $180,000 which had been raised to
secure Grants appointment as commits
sioner of public works. She said she
put the money given little Flossie by
Mayor Grant into the safe and it re-
manned there until the property was
bought.