Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-17
CROKER DEFIANT.
Continued from page ~

RATS firm is to have il paid"
Mr.. Croker said no man would dis
close all his private affairs. Continu-
ing to talk of Senator Plat, Mr.. Croker
said: "Mr. Platt's firm are taking all
the corporations by retainer They
could not get the city departments; the
people would not give it to them The
people put US in charge of the city de-
partments, and we are responsible to
the people for them. You find one of
, the city departments. or any one in the
city department. who is doing wrong
and tell me. and | will be, one of the
first persons to help get them out"
How about you, MI Croker?" asked
, Mr.. Moss.
IF | have done wrong in the city de-
partments-or if | have done wrong at
all, the city departments will discover
1t. | Would not last 10 days If | done
wrong" declared the witness.
MIR. Croker said he was not afraid of
convicting himself or of discriminating
himself but thought there was no law
or reason for Mr.. Moss to come down
here and examine into his private af-
fairs.
Mr. Croker said there We're no state
senators present at the Tammany Club
dinner, Thursday night. because their
place was in Albany, at their business.
And you told them SO, didn't you?"
said Mr.. Moss.
Yes said the witness.
And they obeyed YOU" quericd the
lawyer
Il think they did" said Mr.. Croker.
1T is a fact, then. that you do con-
troll the physical movements of the
members of the Senate on your side of
the house," kept on Mr.. Moss.
Mr.. Croker hardly thought he did
He admitted that he had given instruc-
tons that Assemblyman Reddington
! ought to be reprimanded for the Am
| sterdam grab
Have you not, since Jan. /, been
short 1000 shares of Manhattan stock
in one office on Broad street," asked
Mr.. Moss changing the subject. Mr.
| Croker declined to answer.
Did not that Office decline to exc
| cute any more short orders on that
stock on your account" continued Mr.
/ Moss, but Mr.. Croker was mute.
Mr.. Moss said the questions about
Manhattan stock We're asked because
of the movements Of the members of
| ton to the Manhattan Elevated Rail
road. which are matters Of general
knowledge" said Mr.. Moss and which
will be proved at their proper time"
! Did YOU sell Manhattan stock in an
! ticipation of an attack upon the Man
! haitian Company? Did you know that
| the departments of the city govern
ment were going to make an attack
tn1 al
road? Did you consult with members of
| the city government. the heads of the
| departments in reference to actions
| against the Manhattan Elevated Kali
road Company
Mir. Croker refused to make any definite
| answers. lie did not know if his friend
| Andrew Freedman. had lost money on
Manhattan stock. He did not remember
! when George Gould came 70 see him
! Croker AT Lakewood in 1898. and dis
! cussed the extension OF the Elevated
/ Railroad. 1t was aoout five weeks ago.
! Mir. Croker stated that he spoke TO Mr..
I Gould about allowing the pipes Of his air
/ ana power company 70 be suspended
/ from the Manhattan structure.
He believed $4,000 was the sum offered
! to the Elevated for the requested priv
4 lege.
\ Mr.. Moss tried to show that an investi-
/ CATION IF the Elevated Road had been eX-
| pectod with the object OF compelling ii to
! allow the stringing of air and power
| pipes along its structure. Mr.. Croker
! denied this.
I Mr. Croker said he never considered the
possibility Of the Roebing COS. furnish
! ing the wire for the new steel bridges
| that are to be constructed by the city and
which he said he was anxious 70 see
built.
Mr.. Croker was understood to deny that
the air and power company intended join
ing issues with the Metropolitan Street
Railroad. lie had friends in the latter
company. but why they had been allowed
to construct electric conduits without
paying the city for the franchises he did
not know. though he believed it had been
done
Later Mr.. Croker insisted that all his
answers to the questions about the Air
and Power Company had referred 10 tn"
Auto Truck Company. Mr.. Moss main
tanned that MIR Croker had distinctly re-
ferred to the Air and Power Company.
Again and again Mr.. Croker refused TO
tell of his relations with other companies
named by Mr.. Moss.
I'VE have a right to know how a man
that controls the municipal actions is
able to go and put his hand on business
men and put their stock in his pocket for
nothing YOu dare not say that you have
not done it, DO you? said Mr.. Moss
Dare said Mr.. Croker, his eyes
flashing. Then in quietcr tones, he add
ed: NO. ! won't tell my private affairs.
Mr.. Moss said: You dare not.
s. II l'rnlSpr that SmuiN