Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-05
THE LEXoW INQUIRY
EXCISE COMMISSIONER ANDREWS
ON THE RACK
He Il Charged with bribery. aud Possi'
bly, Other Onicisi CorruptioD-Ai'
legged Eond-SwindiinR.

NEW YORK. December 4.-The Lexow
Committee resumed its session at n:l5 to-
day. Ed. Horner, real estate dealer.
Was the first witness called. Mr. Con
asked him: How long are you out OF
the Austrian bond-swindle businessy
.I was never In a bond-swIndle busi-
ness"
The witness said he carried on a bust
ness ct No. 30 Exchange Place and NO.
IS wall street He was engaged In the
Austrian bond and Hungarian bond busi-
ness He got out Of that business two
years ago. having sold II to a man named
Spooner.
you have been swindilng your country
men for ten years out Of hundreds OF
thousands of dollars, with the connlvance
Of the police"
mo sir; have not"
The witness volunteered the statement
that he had never paid blackmsil to the
police. He denied that the German papers
had been calling him thief for years.
Commissioner Andrews then took the
stand. Chairman Lexow told Mr.. Andrews
that on taking the oath he should under
stand he was subjecting himself to cross
examination OF counsel.
81 understand that" said Commissioner
Andrews, land l simply want to place
on record my denial Of what the witness
Tomlinson stated when he said he gave
me n bride OF 500 TO influence me In per-
forming my duty.
II deny that Tomllnson ever spoke to
me about the granting of the license, ex-
cept In the ordinary official way. and de-
clare that there Is not a word OF truth
In what he said about him giving me
money.
IL am beginning an action In the SUI
preme Court, with the intention OF having
this matter tried before a Judge and a
Jury, and will subject Tomlinson to cross
examination"
Commissioner Andrews then at great
length explained how Mr.. Lewis. the
butcher. got the license for the Hotel
Tortoni renewed.
Ills check" said he. was found TO be
respectable. and we granted the license"
Commissioner Andrews then said that
the motive Tomlinson had was that he
(Andrews) In 1892 had refused to support
Tomlinscns return as chief inspector 10
the board.
80 Tomlinson's testimony was a pure
| fabrication" said Senator O'Connor.
LAS far as / am concerned. IT was"
replied the Commissioner.
Mr. Golf here asked Mr. Andrews TO
stand aside for a moment.
August Il. Lewis. who got the license
for the Ho.el Tortoni said he never saw
Mr.. Andrews before
Ibid you tell the Excise Board. as Mr..
Andrews said. that you intended to run
the Hotel Tortoni respectabiy?'
The witness denied that he had ever
spoken to any of the excise commission
ers. and said that he saw nobody but the
clerk.
Commissioner Andrews was then recall
ed. Mr.. Goff asked him II NJ had any
thing to correct in his testimony after
hearing Mr.. Lewis. The Commissioner
was of the opinion that Lewis really did
appear before the board and was not
telling the truth when he said he did not.
Commissioner ANDREWS said further that
Lewis, or a man representing himself to
be Lewis came to the board and said that
tho Hotel Tortoni owed him money. and
that he could not get his debt satisfied
unless he carried on the business. The
license was granted after a full discus
sion before the board.
Upon the back Of I.ewiss application
Mr.. Andrews had made a memorandum
that Lewis was vouched for by Judge
White. The latter took the stand, and
stated tina. h newer saw Lewis until
this case was called, and had not vouched
for him.
Mr.. Andrews then asserted that he UNI
doubtedly received some kind Of recon-
mendation from Judge White. or his
memorandum would not have appeared on
the application.
He repudiated Mr. COTS intimaton
that the memorandum was made to cover
up some kind Of corrupt transaction.
Mr. Con- brought out the fact that
Andrews had borrowed $1,000 from Sena-
tor Plunkett, who is heavy contractor
for the STRENGTHENING Department, and
he endeavored TO make Andrews admit
that this was a bride. but did not sue