New-York tribune., 1890-06-01


vacant Office Croker told McCann that he could
procure Grants nomination by the Mayor If the
Aldermen would only confirm him. that they would
nave 10 be bought 20 do it that the money had been
raised for that purpose; that among the Aldermen
whose votes We're needed was Alderman PerSOn, that
HIS present visit To McCann due 10 the fact that
ne remembered how McCann had once told him of
Ahcrman Persons intimacy with man named Adams
VINO was associated with McCann in some business
enterprise; that hc wished ~ KNOW if Adams could
e trusted IN an affair Of this Sort and. If he could he
'rohef) wished 10 be put into communication with
nm Croker wound up this extraordinary story by
showing the witness bag full Of money which he
laH tieh by him. The bag. Croker said, contained
Tl0o'"oo' raised from Tammany men. 10 which Grant
had contributed $4,000 Mccain promptly replied
uat Adams was TO be trusted and boy was
'e"' out 10 ma him. Presently the boy returned
having been unsuccessful IN his search, and McCann
himself went OF after Adams. lie found him and
came back with him. Croker was then in
private room and ththcr McCann took Adams
presented him and retired. leaving Croker and Adams
alone. What passed between them he did not know,
but Adams presently came out and went of. Croker
soon followed The witness nothing of either for
compile of weeks. but when he finally chanced to
meet Croker and asked him how the negotiations with
ADAMS had gone. Croker replied that the other side
wouldn't trust the fellow, and the whole Job fell
through
Another was pulled out of him, pccemcal, equally
amazing. stated conncctcdly, was In substance,
that Grant had cOnractcd in return for CrOlcrs in
nuence IN procuring for Grant the Tammany nomina
uoh ipr sheriff in lo-J. TO pay Croker S25oOO ont
OF the proceeds Of the office. that this money
actually paid during isoG and 1851, In n,iaments
oi 5000 each, that this sum- in bills and noloscd
within an envelope. handed five several
'ason- 10y Grant 10 Fo,sic Crokcr's infant daughter.
nolHinally present 10 her: that IL was spent by
Croker t. pay OIL the mortgage then resting upon his
h"i~c. and that the witnes,s informant TO these
facts was Mr.. Croker herself
These stories seemed Incredible though IT seemed
equally incredible that sane man could have told
them with such detail and crcumstantallty II ihcy
had been ial-c. Mayor Grant met them with bold
and indignant dcninls. lie said. in interviews with
reporters. t'At III 1--1 he not candidate for the
tomm>> ioncrshp Of Public Works. and was not even
mentioned in connection with the place" lie denied
any contribution 10 boodlc fund and every other
detail If the Story. He denounced the story Of his
presents 10 Fo-,c Croker lying nonsense FloS,c.
be said Wa, Dol, sodchim. That relation, accord
INK to Ms conception II IT, had imposed
upon him crave responsibility. and he had
taken great deal of interest ben her. lie Ind often
made her present, of money. but ia such amount,
rs ms man stated. and in nothing like S25ooO alto.
-"thcr.~ Al interview from Nj. Croker from wic'
crh dculals OF M,Cnnu'- testimony
McCann, however. stuck Ia his tale. He laughed
dcr-l,cly at these donia,, and and he could prove
Do, ,t,tcmcrtf and that both r'nut and Croker knew
hc could prove them. Unfortunately for The Tam.
many leaders, thc flies of the NcN York paper. for
December l--i found 10 contain frequent refer
cncc, To- Grant, CANDIDACY and one paper. The
Herald give p,bl,Ify to um,I, II the existence
IF large corruption !uud said To- Dee raised 10 his
Interest for u.c among The AllcrGcu This vi,
-omcVln, cmhlrri>,n. 10 Grant in ,icw ~ his un.
-tltri"i declaration nat Do" had never uc"n even
mentioned for the place. . statement which he ~
pain, 10 no.liiy nhch Do ctfc before The committee
Z, testify iu am to N,Ctuu. Th- va, done 40 =
session hcN Just 900, Vcch after TIE charges were
made. Ncrauu V1. first put upon The stand 10 allow
Grant, lawyers t' cro.s c,aunr hu. iIr va, iu
lighting huInDr. and th"y handled him very ging"rly
ilc repeated h story freely. firmly and fully. aiding
.aHy i"ttil. and uft~ry rciu.irc to hr bothered.
lAi,n .i ln thr l.l-t affected hy t''Ir 'hnsi- O"
confuse r.u. DE scent over tnc ground umc aud
.a.u telling ~" same tie each limo hut Strength.
crius il h.rc ard adding 10 1t there. Ia" evident
.uay OF the lawyer. lie said 'hnt Ctoa"r had ioid
lr thlt Tie rca-lu Dee wanted Grant at me head Of
fhe Public WORKS department Wa brcau'" Grant
Lad promised ~ use a certain Kind of oement in the
Aluciuot and Other WORKS 90 which me Croker
Interested Hc also said that Mr.. Croker had told
him That .hc eat mp one u.-lt during that holiday
there u,, largo -um of money ln the house.
When Nr Grant tool. the stand hl, manner had
none of rat jauutlu"-- which had previously charac
toril.d it he denied the corruption fdud story
utterly cxccpt that he admitted having been talked
about o. % candidate. When hr came % th" story q
his pl,,cns 10 Ilo~-i" however hc made substantial
admissions. which wcr, not Al all iu harmony with
hi, ncV.uapor inter, .cyg-. H. ,iid bee lad f.vcf,
flo,Ac $4,000 u two sums Of 5000 each. The
-,fts were made in the MANNER dc-crbcd by Nc' ann
n blll, contained within envelopes. Fl,-slc wIa
then between one and three year Old. The money
vas intended q, q provision for her, and was given
loo the performance Of bis Obligation n, her godfather.
What wa, done win the money Dee d.d NOT know.
lIr had never inquired about after he gave It into
nc c.nd'- hand. llc dd not put it. into trust
...cit4~ De- wa- perfectly satisfied 20 leave II, dis
position "a VII. CROKER.
siu.1lIarly enough the DAY after mi, evidence
w,e gwen an Interview Win Croker Wa printed IN
-T'r sun ln which. though acLuov lcdsing that
Gran, had uadc -lmc presents 10 his daughter. hc
aid thcy nothing like ~" amount stated lN
NcCaun. and. u fact hc rcal, had forgotten ia"
amount of them, anyhow! ~n-narly. also. although
Mr. croker Wa then m This city. well and strong.
ard ca-il, within tie reach Of subpoena. mo- cNjrt
,a. made by MAYOR Grant to producc her before
thc committee. although lie chacn god by its
counsel . do 20.
ono other piece Of evidence bears strongly upon
tho McCaun story. II J, that of Adams. the In
tended stakeholder. Ilc acku"wlcdg'o That M'' ann
had sought and found hm that night in the holiday
week Of I--f aud had ;allcu him tp meet Croker.
who wa, Al Met AIMS Office. that Croker, after
general conversation. had asked him II he hnr"
pier-on and how Intimately hc knew him. and II
he knew how P"r,uu going T. vot" ln the mat
ter of the Comm.-- Ouct-hp. His rcpllc- were non
comnlttal. lie said hc remarked 20 Croker that he
supposed Grant va, the real 1ammany candld1t".
but Croker replied cva-lvcy that hc didn't think
Grant would tahc II. 80 brib' va, offered. nor was
any suggestion made a. t. hi handling any money
for PlersOn think Croker on pumping cx-
u4iltion.n .aid the witnr~, m conclusion.
Scarcely less prolific Of di'cartcnng revelations has
been the examination into the Excise Department.
80 act Of bribery ha. been distinctly proved against
the Commission is agents. but general ana "ilinl