The evening world., 1894-05-21
M'CLAVE A WITNESS.
Lexow Committee Resumes Its
Police Investigation,
The Commissioner Questioned
About His Business Career.
Odd Coincidence OF Inspector Will
iams's Vacation.

After lapse of nearly six weeks the
Legislative Investigating Committee, of
which Senator Clarence Lexow is Chair
man, resumed its sessions in the Com
mon Pleas General Term courtroom
this morning.
IL nal been understood that the Com
mittee had finished it's work on the elec-
tion fraud sases before the adjournment
of the Legislature. and that the remain
Ing sessions would be devoted to the In.
vestigatlon of the charges OF b!ackmail
ana general corruption which Dr. Park
ndrst's Society brought against the Police
Department.
AT all events, several representatives
of the Society have been rummaging
among the records of police trials at
Headquarters for the last three weeks
and Assistant observation-disclosures John
w. Goff and W. Travers Jerome and
Lawyer Frank Moss. DR.. Parkhurst' s
right hand man. who are to act as coun-
sci for the Committee in this part OF
the Investigation. have been showing a
marked degree OF activity
One Of the earliest arrivals at the
neadquarters OF the Committee in the
soHrtIHouse this morning was Charles
., Snllth, or the Chamber of Commerce,
Which is now backing the investigation
since Gov. Flower vetoed the s25, coo
appropriation bin which was to pay the
expenses of the counsel and Committee.
Mr.. smith while not prepared to state
this morning that the fund had already
been pledged by the Chamber of Com
mercc, admitted that all the money ne.
cessary for the carrying the investiga-
tion to close would be forthcoming.
senators SaEton, Robertson and Brad
lcy We're the first members OF the Com
exactly what programme had been laid
down by the Chairman and counsel but
said they understood that the subject
OF purchasing positions on the police
force would first be taken up.
Among the witnesses summoned for
this morning We're Police Commissioners
Sheehan, McClave and Martin, Chief
officials of the Department.
Lawyer Henry Crosse, who was Mr.
Sutherland's associate, was on hand
but he did not know that he would have
Assistant Dlstrict-Attorney Barlow 8
Weeks were there to look out for the
Tammany Hall interests.
At II O'Clock neither Chairman LeXov
nor Lawyer, Goff had arrived, although
the session had been called for 10. 30.
,, Dri Parkhurst,, enveloped in a big gray
mia.GIkintosh. had come In shortly before
that hour was crowded with specta.
tors, among whom were recognized
many well known, politicians. Police
Commissioner McClave was seated in.
side the rail reserved for witnesses
Senator LexOw made his appearance
about ten minutes Afterwards. He was
accompanied by Mr.. Goff and Mr.
private session in an adjoining room
whi!n the lawyers he'd consultation
A peculiar fact in connection with the
Investigation was disclosed this morn
ing, when It was announced that In
snector Williams was absent on leave
This. it is, said, was the balance of the
twenty days vacation granted him
At that time the Lexow Committee
had just begun It's worl, and the Inspec.
tor. was absent for just one week
Is remarked as a singular coincidence
that he is allowed to take the remainder
OF his twenty days.
Delaney Nicoll. counsel for the Police
Department during the lnvestlgatio
called at Police Headquarters this morn.
Ing and had long talk with Supt
ISvrnes
The Senators finished their secret eau.
Gus Mt II 80, and took their places on the
bench. Every member OF tho Commit tee
was .aa present & Senators OConnor' Can.
the caucus. Police Commissioner sheo:
han was one of the later arrivals. He
sat down next to Dr. Parkhurst, but
they didn't seem to know each other.
the Chairman called Commissioners Johr
McClave to the witness stand. and sug.
gesto1 that as the examination of the
witness would probably take all day tbs
other witnesses should be excused.
senator LcTow told Commissioner
Shcehan that II he wanted to go he
could, but he kept his scat.
Mr. McClave said he had been in the
lumber business since 1860 He had nc
partners. hut had conducted his bushes:
| sin~.I BANDED.
Did YOU ever fail in business?" asked
| Mr.. Goff.
II was Junior member of firm that
| failed in 1870"
How about 1862"
II did not fail at that time"
Didn't you then compromise your
debts for 10 cents on the dollar?"
| II did not"
Hasn't MIR. Chrismnn made claims
against you for old debts?"
| "Eevor"
"Will YOU swear it?''
"pOsitively."
Nr. Nicoll objected 10 these questions
| and Mr. Coff wanted to know If Mr.
| Nlcoll represented him as counsel indi.
vidually or was retained by the Police
| Board.
N.r. McClave said that he had retained
Nj Nicoll personally and SO had Com,
missloners Sheehan and Martin.