The record-union., 1894-06-06
Clave one Gideon Granger. son-in-law to
the Commissioner.


testified vaguely but signlflcantiy tnaL
his father-in-law was receiver oil briDeS.
The witness was q small, mean. criminal
looking man, who could win no sympa-
thy from anyone. He had married into
McClave's family, and McClaye is an
affeetionate, doting parent, but had COM
mltted, Swore the Commissioner. several
forgeries. His wife is praying before the
courts for divorce, the proceedings hav-
ing begun before the police hearings De-
gan. There was every motive Tor the
witness 10 falsi!y, and every appearance
that he was doing so. But he said Mc-
Clave had been paid for appointments
and promotion, and that the money had
been handed TO the Commissioner 10y the
Witness who made the terms and settled
the amount with the appointees. he
gave dates, names and the number and
Endorsement of the checks received. IN
short. he gave testimony that should be
capable of verihcation, that might be
made 10 rest finally upon evidence not OF
the witness OWN mouth. There was
justification for listening TO such man,
| but McClave's lnm ber-yard burned down
several years ago and his papers were de-
stroyed.
| While that man Granger was on the
stand the spectators were filled with
/ Ioathing. The next day, when the ac-
counts OF the hearing were read, there
was a murmur OF disgust. Some men
said it would be better 10 have the city
misgoverned in the hands OF scoundrels
| than for reformers to use such tools as
Granger and his kind. 1t was police
officer who recalled the cold fact to me.
| He said: Granger may be Slckenlng
| object, but the go-betWeens are all low."
! If there is corruption In the miserable
creatures VINO are the agents, the accom-
| piices at percentage are vile, OF course
| Ii any turn traitor and become witnesses
against their pals, they will be the mean
est of the low. That is TO say, the only
witnesses the committee can get 10 give
direct evidence at first hand are just such
men as Gideon Granger. 1t is necessary
to induce them to talk and listen to what
they have TO say. Men may form their
own judgment, and the committee, II
truly honorable men, can retain and de-
eide on just SO much testimony as can be
substantiated independently of the wit
nesSes.
But Gideon Granger was well started
on his disclosures when he disappeared.
On Tuesday, when he was called by the
court, Mr.. Golf had to confess that his
chief witness was gone. 1t relieved all
good people. but it relieved some bad
ones, too. There was no occasion for
Delaney Nicoll, exDistrict Attorney for
New y ork City and present counsel Tor
spectors and Captains of the Police De-
partment, to rise in court and say he ex
pected Granger would go away. My
client" (McCIave), he said, land myself
talked the matter over last night and
came to The conclusion that Granger
would not be here" Later the brilliant
young lawyer corrected himself, declar-
ing he did not wish to be understood to
have said that he and his client had
frightened the witness away. 1t was too
late The reporters had his words in
print, and beside them had placed the
threat OF Mr. McClave the night before,
when, as the hearing adjourned. he shook
his fist in his son-in-law's face and
Missed: II Will send you up for this.
Y ou are forger."
Perhaps Granger is a forger. People
believe he is. That is good reason for
him TO stay away and at the same time
may account Tor his speedy going. But it
does not explain 10 the credit of Mr.. Nc
Clave the mans going. The ComInis-
siOner made great show OF trying to get
Granger back. He said he wanted him 10
stand crosse examination. But his teSti-
mony can be stricken from the records, if
he is not croSS-eXaInined, so that seems
no sufficient reason for that side TO de-
sire his recovery. Mr.. McClave, how
ever, went to police headquarters, saw
Superintendent Byrnes ana announced
thai he had started ali the machinery OF
the department i'll motion for the arrest OF
his son -ill-law. So we believed till to-day,
when | asked the Superintendent if he
had got any trace Of the man, he said 1t
was all bosh. that he had no authority to
take him if he found him. MIR. McClave
had given no power to make an arrest.
On the other hand Granger'S lawyer says
his client has been threatened; that he
has been seen by detectives, who wlnked
at him, and that neither the police nor the
Commissioner want him TO come back.
1t is not hand 10 draw conclusions from
these facts. Add to these the practical
renunciations of McClave by his party
and the intimate association OF the Re-
publican Commissioner with his Tam
many colleagues, and you have another
clement in the picture of deprayity in
municipal officers, as they appear in the
public mind. But most convincing of all
is the general opinion of the police force.
That attributes TO MIR. McClave sordid
rapacity for uncean profits. He is be-
lieved to be the milGest Of Judges. Com
missloners III turn try policemen every
Wednesday for various otfenSes against
the rules and regulations. and men against
whom charges are made often pay to
have their trials fixed for Mr. McClave's
dates. Despite this leniency, the Com
missioner is very unpopular, because,
pontment or promotion without being
well paid. Sometimes one Of the Tam
many men will listen TO the argument OF
good record, but McClave is to be ap-
preached in only one way.
This week, il Granger is brought back,
there will be more sensational testimony.
Delaney NicolI promises some revela-
tionS about that person anyway, some-
thing, he intimates, about overtures the
fellow has made to MIR. McClave for d
compromise relative to the divorce suit
Any depths of vileness on either side
would not now be surprising. But if
they come this sketch of the situation
will make things clear to you.
The form of the first fight in the local
political campaign has defined itself
clearly this week. 1t Is to be contest
for five tickets, of which there is prom
ise now of four. There is the Tammany
ticket, which everybody wants to be dis
tinct and straight, as of course it must be.
The anti-Tammany forces are divided
Republicans with the Tribune at their
head, the Bliss Union League Repub-
licans with Mugwump support, and the
State Democracy, consisting OF all Demo
Gratis dissatisfied with the machine. There
| is almost as little doubt of the stand the
| PIatt- Millholland faction will take, as
| there is of Tammany's. Millholland is d
party man and a believer in machine.
! Behind him stand all Republicans who
| contend that answering, unquessioning
partisanslip is the sole test OF a man s
| zeal action, whether local, State or ma
tional. Very rightly these mon declare
! that the widespread dissatisfaction with
! Democratic government offers a golden