New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
PLATT CALLED PAYN OFF.
80 MIR. oUIGG SAYS IN TELLING OF THE
FIREMENS BILL.

SENATOR TO USE HIS INFLUENCE, KNOW
ING THAT TT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT
1SFoRMANTs OF THE PRESS"
TESTIFY sENA-
TOR RAINEs's
LIBEL SUIT.
Congressman Lemuel Ely Quigg. former boi'or
Of 'The New-York Press" resumed MS place Oh
the witness-stand when the hearing VI 'eN
robn painess $50 600 dollar libel suit against 'ha'
,ys,oner was resumed in the Supreme Court yes
to-day George Raines, counsel for his Dro'hei'
took ND MI Cuisg's accumulation ASKED ny
Mr. Raines IL he had brought the existence Oh al
alleged Firemens Corruption Fund to the at'ehuoh
OF James 4 Sheffield then counsel 10 the r"o
ren,s Mutual Benevolent Association. as well as
Fire Commissioned Mr.. Quigg answered ths' ne
had not He admitted that It was WITHIN his
knowledge that the record books Of the Oricers
Association we're in the keeping OF captain 'onN
! Burns formerly Of Hook and Ladder Company
No / but said he did not try 10 SEQ captain ou
about the books ~
why was II that you didhef a'hc" MI
Raines
"p.oars. 7 lrsvy that Burns would not show me
ANYTHING ,hat would tend to incriminate himself
replied Mr.. Quigg, placidly.
He testified 70 having made efforts TO nave sac
ren+s made 10 him IN writing by F1reinen C"iio'
md Rothenhausler regarding the much-'N'Ae'-
corruption fund. corroborated by other henip'
Of the Fire Department, and with that emu ~ w"
h, said he called on Flrsmen Reed and smith, ou'
ho aid not consult with any of tho officers VINO
wore members Of tho Officers Association on inc
subtect He was aware "a an editor he hu'".''N'
that hearsay testimony was not hui'sS''.o 90
court of record when he wrote and caused 10 w
published the article on which the suit WAS oaseo'
Did you consult with Senators Raines' Cosbe-
n matter OF the CUT upASh
fund7" asked Mr.. Raines
NO did not; but did consult with fayn OF
the subject" said the witness
"And he told you II would be sacrifice 10 MIN
Of the amendment had to be taken or the bHe-
mems Sararies billT
He did"
What did you infer from THAR
.r inferred that he was getting money out OF the
bill: 50 construed his words
MIR. PLATT CALLED PAYN OFF.
A,4h,s stage OF the proceedings It developed that
the man whom Congressman Qugg sent TO MI
Pawn TO 'call him off, IN the matter or the aInenu
rnent was United States Senator T. e fla,'-
Mr. Platt. II appeared war the thru pe.sun ~
whom reference was made at tho close OF Tues
days hearing. Mr. Qugg said he did not Aho~
tina. he was being bitterly antasoniSed prfor 70
Apr1l 1896 by Mr. Payn The reason why no uSeu
the GOOD offices Of Mr.. Plat 20 make Mr. fayn
come down" Mr.. Quigg said. was because "'.
Platts influence known 10 him TO DC su'"c'e"'
70 carry out the project Of making Ar' FAyh "ilu
his supporters abandon the Ofhcers ameHuH'nn~
In the course Of further cross-examlnauon MI
o,,og IN speaking OF Mr.. Payn. said he ksnw the
Litter "wae peculiarly interested" in tho Onicars
susndrent TO tho Firemen's Saraies Dill
Asked by Mr. Nico II he (hr. Quisg) eoitea
paper IN Long Island In the years lsH-s INC VIZ
ness answered affirmativey, saying ne was hul'o'
~ .~rhe Flushing Times" and ne admitted having
f,fn rhtc oh
that paper rejecting on the character OF benjamin
W Downing then District Attorney OF queens
County.
WAS the nne imposed because Of tho fact that
you had published matter in the columns OF INC
Flushing T1m.s' intimatng that District-Attorhey
Downing had been little too FREQ IN MS ht'ehuon
toward the women school teachersT' asked MI
Nicou.
on the motion of Mr. Raines tho question was
.xoluded bnr not before Mr. Quigs had answered
yes"
Following that did there not eIist protr"cted
contest between you and Dtstrfct-Aetorney po~~
mgr continued Mr.. Rainca
"such q contest did exist and ~as COMMUNIST
answered tho witness
And ala you not publicly ACCUSE DSIloth'o'-
ney Downing OF taking bribesr
Justice MaoLean told the witness not to answer
the question: but It finally brought out that M
a resil, OF the bribery charges brought by tho
witness against Dstrct-Attorney Downing the
latter was removed from the ct-Attorneyship
OF Queens County by Governor hill. before whom
Mr. Quigg appeared in support OF the ACCUSATION
sENATB TESTIMONY RULED OUT.
An application OF Mr. Ecoli to admit In evidence
tho mass Of testimony IN book form taken before
tho Senate Investigating Committee was denied by
Justice MacIlean. Mr. Nicou excepting, and tho
examination Of Mr.. Quisg was then closed. He
was rucceeded the wtness-stand by Senator
Dava yrhn Introduced the Ftremens
gslar,es Bill in tho Assembly In 1891. Senator
Pavey however was not allowed TO relate tho
nature OF n conversation ne hnd with Senator
Robertson in regard TO the Firemens Salaries bili
or TO go into any details respecting the passage OF
his bin IN tho Assembly and the Introduction by
senator Robertson In the Senate on the Same day
OF a similar bill. to which attached the ofiicerS
amendment.
William Leary. the former business manager or
'sThe Press" recalled testified to having gone 10
Alabny with reference TO tho Fremens Salaries
hill AT tho instance OF Fire Commissioner Sheffield.
and TO having been remunsratd for his services TO
the extent of t6. Mr. Lcary admitted having
talked with Senator Robertson while in Albany
about F1remen's Salaries bill Tho Senator. nc
said protenoed that he was too busy 10 attend 10
such things. The witness said he WAS present NJ
the meetings between Congressman Qulgg and
Captain Freel and Graham. and denied that MT
Ouigg had used bad language with respect to
Senators Raines, Coggeshall and Robertson.
PRESIDENT CLIFFORD CALLED.
After a recess ut this point Captain James B
clifford, Of Engine Company No. 6. who succeeded
President Graham president OF tho Firemens
Association. was called. The organization. he tos-
titled had q Legislative Committee OF thirteen
members whose duty 1t was TO aid in securing
favorable legislation ct Albany. and before tho
Introduction OF the Pavey bill he met Mr.. Quigg
and James r. Sheffield several times in reference
to proposed legislation. Later he informed MT
Ouigg of the effort that was being made by the
officers In the Fire Department to raise fund
with which release the measure that was tied
up In the Legislature. He also had a conversation
with Assistant Foreman Quinn. OF Engine Company
No IL at Days Theatre March g. 1895. Quinn
saia he had full Information thAt the bill would