New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-20
GRANTS WEAK WITNESSES.
NCANN NOT WIPED OUT YET.
THE MAYORS Defence BEFORE THE
FASSETT INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
EX-JUDGE LEICESTER HOLMES UNHAPPY TIMD
-THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CIvIk
SERVICE RULES TO BE LOOKED IN.
TO NEXT-TEsTIMoNY AT THE
HEARING YESTERDAY.

! There are still people in the world to whom truth
is a comparative stranger, and it is evident that
some of them have been in the witness chair
before the State Senate Committee Cities
The committee met yesterday in Part III Of the
Superior Court. and allowed Joseph II. Choate
and ". Bourke Cochran. counsel for Mayor
Grant, tO put a number of witnesses on the stand
to testify against Patrick II. McCanns stories
about the Mayor There is as much public in
terest ever in the Mayors war the veracty
| Of McCann. and the courtroom was so crowded
that extra police had to assist the usual officer in
keeping order. There were many lawyers
present, and more politicians. OF the committee,
State Senators Hendricks (charmanl, tassett,
Ahearn, McNaughton and Stewart were in attend
ance. Senator Hendricks presided, but Senator
Fassett, usual, acted spokesman for the COM
mittee The principal witnesses examined were
John Clafn Tom" Adams and ex-Judge
| Leicester Holme
In examining Mr.. Claflin, Mr.. Choate and Mr..
! Cochran made the reputation Of Mr. Adams their
! chief care. When Mr. Adams was called on 10
speak for himself the Mayors counsel found
much consolation in his denials Of all knowledge
Of any boodle' of Sls0,000. carried by Mr..
Croker in a vase But he admitted that Mr..
McCann had found him in liquor-shop and had
taken him to be introduced TO Mr.. Croker when
Mr.. Croker visited McCann's store, late in 1884.
and that he then held private conversation with
| Mr.. Croker. On this admission William NJ WINS
| ceverly wrecked any rcfutation Of McCanns
statement that was 10 he built on the foundation
| of Met AIMS ignorance of the vase and the
money by pointing ont that McCann had not
pretended to tell what passed between Croker
| and Adams az their interview. nor had he assumed
! that the custody of the 81 200 was a subject
| of direct discussion by the TWO men, All that
| McCann's evidence showed was that Mr.. Crokers
brother-in-law had given Mr. Croker chance
| to meet and size up Adams.
Leicester Holme did not find the witnesschar
an easy one If he had given his answers, on his
cross-examination by Mr.. WINS, more frankly
they would have made better impression. As
IL was he incurred the suspicion that he was
holding something back His nervous con-
| fusion. as his friends may call it, or his lack OF
candor. as distinterested people may he apt 10
| regard it, became apparent than ever when
! Senator Fassett suddenly made question as TO
whether he the Mayors private secretary
when the Worlds Fair bill came up at Albany,
the precursor Of series Of inquiries in regard TO
visits TO the Mayor by Fred" Gibbs and Hamil-
| ton Fish, ir and in regard TO city department.
| appointments made through Mayor Grant for
Mr. Fish or Mr. Gibbs in the last six months.
Mr. Holme first pleaded that he was the Mayors
| private secretary and had no right TO talk about
the Mayors business, and when Mr.. WINS cruelty
| deprived him of this shield of privilege, by re-
mnding him Nlat he was exceedingly public
nrivate secretary. he pleaded ignorance Of the
| whole matter.
| Among politicians last night it thought
! that Mr. Ivins's promise to investigate the ad-
mnstraton OF the Civil Service laws in this cl;y
will he rigdly fulfilled. and that within the scope
| of this investigation will come the deal which,
il is generally understood, was entered into by
Mr.. Fish. Mr. Gibbs and Mayor Grant about the
time the Words Fair bill WAS introduced, by
which deal it is supposed Mr.. Fish and Mr..
| Gibbs, in return for their efforts to prevent the
additions in the list of Worlds Fair Commission
ers which would have destroyed Iammanys grip
on the proposed Fair were 10 receive patronage
N New-York City departments through Mayor
Grant.
THE EXAMINATION BEGINS
| Jobn Ualloran. who was mentioned by Mo
| Cam as having told him that he thought the
notorious 81 900 was returned TO its contribu-
tors took the stand. and at the invitation OF VIZ.
| Choate gave the following version OF the con-
| versaton he had with McCann
Three or four weeks ago stepped into the Mount Sc
| Vincent toward evening to have lunch MI Mc' ann
came along while | eating After con'ersatioh In
ecard 10 health and weather forth the CONVERSE
ton drted talk concerning the testimony Mc' a"n
| had given said to Mr. McCann that II Mr.. Croker
had any persons money they IL back. meaning by
| that remark not knowing anything oi Mr. Mc'anh
In regard to Croker having money to distribute
to the Board Aldermen that Mr. Croker was an honest
man and that he became possessed OF any money oy
loan or otherwise he would certainly pay his deots ana
| repay any money that did not belong To him.
The next witness of Mr. Choate and Mr. Cochran
for the Mayor was John Clahin, of the firm OF
H. b. Clahin 4 Co. lie said he never told Nc
Cam that Thomas Adams was discharged from the
rmployment of II. H. Clatiin a Co. for embezzle-
| ment Adams not he thought, discharged
for embezzement. 1t Mr.. Clahns idea that
Adams resigned and no embezzement by him was
discovered alter he went away.
Mr.. ADAMS TEsTFIEs FOR HIMSELF.
Mr. Choate then called Thomas Adams Mr..
Adams said he was now resident of Boston. lie
knew McCann when he lived in New-iork and
was with II. T. Claiin * Co. McCann was
! purchaser from the firm He remembered Mr..
McCann coming 10 Ferds saloon in loei, and
| thus described what followed:
Mr. McCann came this restaurant in Twenty.thrd'
st. and asked to 90 around his store and be intro
ducei to Mr.. Croker. did So met Mr Croker up'
stairs in one OF the fitting Mr.. McCann went away
after introduced, and Mr. Croker and myself en-.
tered conversation. lie stated to me that he had
heard Mr. Mccain speak Of in connection with the then
contemplated extension OF McCann's business. with my
brother and bother-n.aw lie asked me about the eN.
peuses contemplated improvements etc. He then sus.
nested TO me II IL would not be better move to go 70
Harlem competition there was not 20 great ana ths
exnenses would be much less told him per-
fecty satisfied OF my judgment In the matter Mtsr
that Mr. Croker asked II not interested in politics.
said wa not directly Interested but occasionally took
a, i,,eres, A. elections He said me- 'Why don't YOU
ioin T,mmany HallV' l said had always been Re-
ubcan and would not he possible for me TO JON has
organization He then asked me II knew Mr. Pearson
who WAS then an Alderman. L said did. He asked mo
If know how Mr. Pearson was going TO vote IN eonnton
with the appoinment OF the Commissioner OF Pubic
Works | told him | knew nothing about 1t. think
that then asked Mr. Croker who was his candidate Tor
commissioners and II not Mr.. Grant and to the
host of my recollection the answer was mo" Either Mr.
Gram, coud not be confirmed would not be candidate
which cannot say then came down to the store and
bade Mr. Croker good evening went my way and ha
won't his After that / never saw Mr.. Croker. Mr.
Croker did not exhibit any money on that occasion
oDid he have in his possession valise containing
-, Not that [ sir Mr.. Croker did