New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04

a
larty whether he had ever the registry
lists at Gravesend or had any knowledge what
| ever respecting their contents. Ii was a peril
nent question and the natural swagger of the
his hands stuffed in his pockets. and his heaa
wObbiing from side to side. McKane said. with
! strong intonation Of his voice:
II never saw them, | Eever had anything to do
with them directly or Indirectly until saw them
here in this court. | knew nothing Of them;
never talked with anyone about them :,
you not ulmindful of the fact, asked
General Tracy that when the charges Of fraud
in connection with these registry lists was made
the responsibility would be laid to you? Didn't
| it suggest itself to You that from your promi-
nence there with the public YOU would be held
responsible for that fraud?'
Here McKane displayed a little freak Of
| shrewdness Whether he had been coached into
! doing Il or not Is of course unknown, but with
an unusual glance toward the counsel he said
with some perness: Il don't know OF any
! frauds"
General Tracy modified his question 10 the ex-
tent of inquring as To alleged iraucS. ne
witness replied he had no knowledge except what
he had gained from newspapers on this subject
Then counsel wanted to know whether he. on see
ing these charges made i'm the public press, ana
! not want To- take steps to clear himself OF any
insinuation of wrOlgdOing
You are a member Of the Church and super
intendent Of the Sabbath-school. are you not
asked General Tracy.
II am" replied the witness.
! Q.-Would you not want naturally to relieve
Yourself Of the mputation of wrongdongE A.
| am not one Of the inspectors. and had nothing
to do with the lists in any way or shape ana
do not think my Creator will hold me responsible
for another mans actions. The public may nave
| their opinions. and may have mine.
Q.--When such a charge as that was made
| against you didn't YOU consider II a matter OK
sufficient importance to yourself 10 justify you III
| doing something t. relieve yourself Of such an
| imputation? A.-No. sir; did not-and want
| to explain-for the reason that the newspapers
! charg ii me with these things; and they nave
| been charging me with much since | was
| iwenty-One Yeas old that paid no attention
to them whatever. and the on " time that pad
! any attention to them was when came mere 10
| this Court a charge.
The witness was then asked regarding ms re- ,
| lations to Mr.. GaynOr. I'VE were on friendly
| terms" he said. but IN later remarks he init
mated that while he was willing To do good
turn for Mr.. Gaynor. even under eNisuhg circuin-
! stances. he did not look upon him as a very
! strong friend Of his. Referring further To the
charges that had APPEARED in the public press
| he said In answer 10 General Tracy's question as
| 10 whether he was really Indifferent concerning
| what the newspapers said Of him: Il am not
| Indifferent To- what the public press say OF me;
| should k" 10 have them all with me
| The examination Of tn" witness by General
! Tracy at this point was continued at consider
able length in an "Ngri To i1a,h rom nm I'm
| districts showed registry far in excess ~
re- asonable expectation. and that the TACT had
been discussed IN the newspapers Mckane
| said hr had read the charges. but did not think
| that it was a matter with which he was con-
cerned. and he paid no attention to them lie
regarded 1t as matter with which he mad no
| business
CONFRONT I'D WITH Ills oWN AFFIDAVIT
General Tracy. stepping from his place be-
hind the table II the District-Attorney. and
carrying with him typewriter document. re-
uucsted that the witness should state whether
or not the signature attached thereto was his
own The witness took the paper. fumbled its
leaves and seemed to BE- endeayornS to ascer-
| tain The contents
General Tracy quickly said: rs II necessary
h.. htfn
/ the signature?'
McKaue replied in his rather huG blunt way:
! "WclL signatures can be countereited. guess.
| Then turning To the las page and gahcing az II
/ stcadfastl} h" remarked as he returned the
/ paper 10 General Tracy's hand Yes. that's my
/ signature.
/ IN. counsel returning L. his seat then read
/ from the affidavit filed by Mckane's counsel IN
/ the maudamus proceedings on saturday. october
30 prior L. the election. Tn" portion OF the ann
+ daylt which General Tracy read was as follows:
THAT deponent has examined the registry lists
! .iections pursuant t. law. and says that K IS not
proved that said lists are made ny IN thr largest
/ employees and itin"rdnt people. who came - ConeY
Island In said town temporarily FOR about sixty
! there Deporen' furihe~ says. from such knOwl-
edge. observation and Information above stated ne
H,s ,',, ,i,,n III ISIS as Voters. and deponent
rrih,r saws that he has been present AZ polling
iu said toNn OF Grty"-eni during the election OF
during ai least twenty years previous. and dcponent
/ states from mis- observation and knowledge OF the
manner I'm which said elections were conducted IN
said town that IL is not true mat the names of
persons appearing upon th" registry lists Of either
~ said elect ions were checked voting whore said
pereons di not appear personally and vote. or
that ballots PLACED IN the hlllo'-boNcs. except
such ballots as were legally east AZ such elections
THE BOSS" CoNTEAplcTS HIMSELF.
General Tracy then asked. and did you
make that allIdaVit?" Mckane replied. in
meek way. Il guess did"
Mle II frun thar vou had pXomnel these
lists So that YOU are able To- state what you
have sworn 10 there? A.-That must be
mistake
McKaLe's face was flushed ard his manner
was very IcrVous. Meanwhile his counsel We're
I'm condition of collapse and constt rnation The
brow OF Judi;. Troy was corrugated: the face of
Mr. Bac<us. usually pal". had grown as white
as the wall and coutIastcd strongly with his
black hair MIR Roderick sat like wax figure
at the table. not even yenturing 10 raise his
eyes The face of Judge Bartlett was percepuby
pale and its lines were marked ana It's muscles
rigid a. he sat with his hands crossing each
other. looking intently at the discomhta ad Wit
ness seated within five feet of him i'm the chair
Then General Tracy with great deliheration.
asked McKane Did YOU read that ailidavt?'
McKane hositated for almost "A minute and
then said: Il do not know whether read 1t or
not"
The tension upon the Court the counsel and
the jurors as we'll the audience. WAS cN-
trrmr at this crisis. The witness had clearly
contradicted himself. and the crime of perjury
was added t. those which have accumulated
against him IN connection with MS dOmlnanrN
at Gravcsend In political affairs This point was
established beyond dispute or apology the
part of his friends. Continuing. he said that the
paper was handed to him To sign First. he de-
carcd that the signature had been affixed in a
barber shop I'm Willoughhy-st. then he contra
dicted himself 10y saying that il done in an
auction room in Brooklyn.
lie said the paper drawn up by his counsel
George W. Roderck. Mr.. Roderck. pale and
greatly agitatcd. arose. pretending evidently not
to understand the question that had been put by
General Tracy to whether he had been
talned i'm this particular case. and also evidently
bent upon aVailing himself of any technical ad-
vantage that might present itself 10 enable him
to escape but Judge Bartlett promptly checked
him by requesting that the question be read and
the answer thereto and both of these showed
that II was the clear statement by the defendant
that Mr. Roderick was responsible for the prepa-
ration Of the affidavit.
ADMITS PERJURY.
Then General Tracy asked Now Mr.. Nc
Kane. which will you say is true-the affidavit or