New-York tribune., 1890-05-21
MC4VV SUSTAINED BY HIS FOES

NcCann'S testimony about the corruption
e,,td r,isod in 1884 10 promote the candidacy
of Hugh J. Grant for the Office OF Commissioner
of Public Works is StrilHngly cor1oDora'euoo!
., witness from whom corroboratloh was Ied'O
ovnectcd. After all the cXtravagant dehuhoia
tjon which Mccain had hcapcd upon lonl
Adams no one had any idea that Adams Woulu
oomo on tbo stand and admit that McCannS
,to,,. obout thc interview with Croker was true
Il i evident that McCann's exposures have
hoon too mich discounted even by those who
Aoovc that nothing is too bad to he true OF
thc Tammany bosses. His worst ehem'es' anu
oven the persons charged by him WIN crlinhd'
misconduct, come forward To support MS state
monts. First comes Grant himself, oVcrDorhe
with malice toward NIcCann, and fully con-
scious of his own miserable position, with inc
,cknovlcdcmcnt that he gave $4,000 70
Crokcrs daughter a toddling baby while ne
,vas Sheriff. And now comes Adams, also
h;ttor foo Of NlcCann declaring that Croker
did send for him during the deadlock IN 1894
and did question him about his acqualntances
in thc Board of Aldermen and how he thought
they would vote.
If Adams had deliberately set his invention
ot work upon the manufacture OF such story
~ would most efficiently support McCann' ne
could not have succeeded better than he did
bv his ingenious confessions. His report OF
what Croker said 10 him and of his replies
is tbe story of Just precisely the kind OF con-
vcrsaton which would be natural 70 TWO snch
mon in thc situation described by McCann
Croker wanted 10 get Grant into the fuhlc
Works Department. He had no doubt II he
co,lld fix the Aldermen he would encounter
no difficulty in inducing the pcrplcXcd ana
anvious NIayor 10 send in Grants name. 30
he raised fund. sufficient, a he believed 70
hrv All tho vote, necessary. and 70 the fund
crort's contribution was Ss0. 900. Among the
necessary votes were those OF Alderman rear
son and hi, Republican colleagues somebody
must be got 10 handle them and IN laying
about for a suitable Co-hotwocn he hcthoueht
him Of the fact that McCann had once told
him of Adams, friendship with Pearson. He
hunted ND McCann and sent him OF to find
Adams NcCann returned with his man, pre-
,ontcd him to Croker. and left them alone.
What happened Mccain does not undertake
70 tell
But ADAMS does After corrohorating Me
Cam as 10 the date of the occurrence, aS 10 tho
place wncre he was found and as 10 his intro
duction 10 Croker. hc >ay>-what That Croker
bluntlv told him. stranger. that he was going
~ hribe Aldermen and needed his services in
such an enterprise? Of course not OR, That
Croker pulled out the corruption fund and babe
him feast his eyes on II? II goes without say
,nc that such n cool. sagaciouS man as the
Tammany boss would be incapable of such
freshness and folly After some general talk
Croker led ont by asking him il he knew Pear
son. Yes, he did know Pearson. intimately.
Then Croker asked if hc knew how Pearson
was going 70 vote upon the Mayors nomination
for the Commi>sioncrShip. Adam, was not in
formed Then there was pause. and Croker
left Adams T. his reflections. They naturally
resulted in a question. Adams asked croker
who was his man. and If he was not UIant.
Croker replied what? That Grant was his
man? OF course not The Tammany boss
was not "frc>h" enough 10 give away his
nlans in So simple a fashion. llc murmurcd
something about Grant not wanting the place
and adjourned the meeting. 81 think the talk
with me was pumping expedition, SAID
| Adams 10 Senator Fassctt
To be sure it was. A> pumping oXpedi-
ronn IT is in perfect harmony with Met ann
| evidence. Croker wished 10 look at the man
and To form an opinion rs 10 his truStworthincSS
according To the standard universally raised
among lawcss people That being accom-
nlishcd. his next step was 10 soc if the other
side was willing 10 trust Adams in case he and
Grant wcro II never saw Mr.. Croker after
that night" says Adams. About two weeks
after this meeting ! saw Croker and he SAID
tho Aldermen would not trust Adams SAID
| NcCann And so ended the deal More than
ever is il necessary for Mayor Grant To defend
his character against McCann's revelations. As
tho evidence stands its weight is strongly
against Grant.