New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
M,CABE HAD A STORY TO TELL
GEN. IA GRANGE TESTIFIES.
HE THINKS MCABE COMMITTED SUICIDE
TO AVOID EXAMINATION.

TENDING TO SHOW THAT FUND WAS
RAISED TO PUT THROUGH THE OFFICERS
AMENDMENT TO THE FIREMENs
SALARY BILI-EvIDENCE THAT
MONEY WAS RAISED FOR USE
At ALBANY IN FORMER
YEARs-A MEMoRAN-
DUN BOOK FOUND
BY A FIRE
MAN
In testimony given yesterday before the special
committee Of the State Senate in the investiga-
ton Of charges of bribery connected with the re-
cent passage of the bill TO increase the of fire
men in this city, 1t disclosed that eX-Deputy
Fire Chief John McCabe. shortly before he COM
,nitted suicide had made some important state
ments to General Oscar II. La Grange President
of the Board Of Fire Commissioners. The testi-
nony was given by General La Grange, and it
was evident that he thought McCabe had killed
himself to escape testifying about the raising of
money for corrupt purposes by his former asso-
ciates in the department. McCabe was an honest
man. and could net lie General La Grange sdid
hut he had been trusted by his associates with
things he could not tell. He had Irish blood in his
veins. and he could not be an informer. and ne
was dead.
General La Grange said McCabe had told him
that the officers of the department had raised So,
900 this year 10 have their salaries increased by
the Legislature; that last year the iremen raised
500 and that a committee. composed of Fire
men Clifford. Regan and Quinn, gave the money
10 Cab" Reilly. lobbyist, who did nothing for 1t;
that in 1898 all of the officers OF the department
paid s25 apiece and that the money was handed to
State Senator Ahearn by Bradley, Of Hook and
Ladder Company No. Il. and that three years ago
$500 was raised by assessing the fremen 50
apiece. and that the money given to Nc
Manus. of Punkitt's district.
Several firemen testified that Assistant Fore
man Smith, when he was detailed recently at the
quarters OF Engine Company No. S, had declared
that the officers had raised $4,000 to have the
amendment for raising the pay Of officers passed
with the Firemen's bill. and that Louis f. Payn
had charge of the measure by the direction OF
Thomas c. Platt.
Other fremen were examined in an attempt
10 show that a memorandum-book which be-
longed 70 Assistant Foreman Horan. and had
been lost and found in the quarters Of Engine
Company No. %, had contained list Of officers
who had paid assessments of $50 and S45 for pro-
noting the officers bill.
The committee. consisting Of Senators OCon-
nor Pound, Mul.n. Parker and Cantor. con-
tinued the investigation yesterday In the o'd
Court OF Special Sessions, in the Tombs Sena-
TORS Coggeshan. Raines and Robertson. with
their counsel George Ranes. were present and
Louis F. Pawn again occupied front seat Con-
gresham Quigg and Elihu Root were there TO aid
the committee in the investigation. as usual. The
n proceed
a m. and George Raines rose and said he had
70 ask the indulgence OF the committee 10 allow
Mrs O'Reilly the widow Of Patrick OReilly to
take the stand Immediately, and give her tes'l-
r,ony. He said he knew II would interrupt TO
some extent the routine which had been marked
out. but it would be distressing TO Mrs. OReilly
N have 10 sit in the court during the whole Of
the day
MRS. oREILLY's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Root raised no objection. and Mrs. Fannie
O,ReiIlv who was garbed in deep mourning. was
+bereupon sworn. Examined by Mr.. Raines' she
,esti6ed that on the day following her husbands
death which occurred March 8. two men
called TO see her. and told her that claim was
going TO be instituted about money wh.ch y I'eiiS
had collected and which was then lying in the
bank She continued:
I laughed at that and tod them there was no{ a
cent in the bank said my mustang aro an nS' ss
long 70 any association outside III" Flreihen Aa
ISOLATION and that he had no money g. Di.e.' Ior rom
this association esked. 'n1d a ;bev = rsplied NO,
They also asked me If had any papers SG
! did not tell them that the papers c9nialnel ne
names of men who had cont,lDu bay eEed me what
a. in The papers that | replied tnat they ti ton
tatned the names OF fremen who Had Paio ,'fla 'b
n"ners related to the house-tax collection My
husband was assistant secretary oi INC a'a
ton.
The witness said she did not know the names OF
.ooo rho called upon her. but If she saw them
again she would be able 10 recognize them Fire
~ Clifford who was In court, was thereupon
aeked - come forward. and Mrs. OReiily ideho-
eed him a. one Of her visitors. II leaked out 'ia'
Rothenhouser was his companion
oDur,ng the lifetime OF your husband ssaess dse ne
a, any time inform you q: any pay!nnS Yes |
ments he @ had m mads 1sv g AS assessment per month
ODD You at any time hear t9a{ 3a5d he Rai am am
quite sure he did not ..o mama NJ Robert
son mentioned at that interview A'-->o "e'
Snew Of the name until last sunday uo,or,son was
ODD you not say that senator 1totei @ cborre OF
Son1 5TIeaS afars Gf X'uA ANo l2i@S sf ' ~ ,.v. 70.
QWhere are the papers oirS 10 Snlc destpoyed them
ali. as did not consider them OF any imPoI'a
Fireman Charles H. Thompson, Of Engine com
nanv No. So. testified that on March Assistant
Foreman Samuel Reed said at the engihe-hous'
that he had to put up $50 for the officers a'''"'
nent TO the salary bill, and he thought the "'e'
should contribute their share. The men oe''d' ~ -
that they would not pay a cent. ON ADi' -
when Foreman Gooderson. Of Engine Coi"P""' >
No. 25. went TO the engine-house Keen S"'D
''Here is the man TO get my money 10 'no' Gao,
your salary" Gooderson and Heed theH
into the office and talked together
Assistant Foreman Edward H. Too'h' oi i-,'
gine Company No. 23 testified that ne "aS ''i'
collector Of the Ninth Battalion for the oi"O''
association, but he knew nothing apou' "'
money being raised in the ASSOCIATION except 80
regular 81 monthly assessment lie "a7 ~
about checks which he had drawn anu ~
planned that he WAS the treasurer Oh t"' 1,",.ol