Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-08
MAYOR GRANT ON THE STAND
The Investigation at New York the
Cause Of Many Sensations.
Mayor Grant is Sworn and Clears
Himself of Wrong Doing.
Interesting Testimony is Secured in
Yesterdays Examination.

New YORK, May Sat the afternoon
session of the Fassett investigation COM
mittee Mayor Grant was called. He de-
MED positively any knowledge of any
agreement by which Croker was to receive
any sum per barrel for cement If he Grant
was appointed commissioner of public
works. He denied that he ever told any
one that If it had not been for Croker he
Grant would have taken his share
the Broadway railway Doodle. He
knew nothing about the $4,000 that
Mccain had spoken of. He had never
been candidate for commissioner of pub
lie works. he never contributed to or had
any knowledge of a fund to secure any
ones appointment to that office Cues
toned by Choate as to his relations to
the Croker family, the mayor said that
he had been very intimate with them
He was godfather to Cookers child,
Flossie. When he assumed that response
bility, as he had no nearer relative than
cousins, and no obligations, he determined
to make some provision for the child. On
one occasion he had given her $500, and
subsequently the same amount. He never
gave her any other present except such as
he gave to all the Croker children on holi'
days. The money was given the child In
the presence of its father and mother, and
the child handed the money to its mother.
The presents were free and without any
understanding or agreement, or in con-
sideration of his election as sheriff Mr..
Boardman took up the questioning, the
mayor repeated that he was never a candi-
date for the commission of public works
You did not go so far as to secure
counsel to aid your appointment"
Secure counsel. no sir
Did you not retain Col. Bliss?"
oh, at the suggestion of Mr.
Kelley | retained him to have
the injunction dissolved that restrained
the board of aldermen from acting on the
appointment Of the commissioner of pub
lie works.
Mayor Grant further stated that he had
no personal knowledge of what had been
done with the money he gave Flossie He
did not know it had been used to pay off
a mortgage.
Senator Fassett questioned the mayor
about his candidacy for the mayoralty and
was told he was not assessed by Tammany
Hail. He contributed 1900 and this
was to the printing fund for local officers.
Fassett questioned the mayor about his
letters to the president of the
senate Choate objected when it was
argued that that the letter had been referred
to the committee Croker, on behalf of
the mayor, here said that he would with
draw any intimation that the committee
or its counsel had been party to the con-
spiracy against the mayors character.
There had been such conspiracy, but
they would entirely exhonorate the commit
tee. In rep y to the final question
sought to influence the park commission
ers to refuse to renew McCan's lease. Ex-
Assistant District Attorney Nicolls said
that throughout his extensive investiga-
ton into the matter of the Doodle alder
men of 81 he never heard anything about
Grant being a candidate for commissioner.
Adjourned.