The times., 1899-04-22
PLA7T'S INQUTI7oRS
WORKING THEIR GAME
Andrew Freedman on the
GridirOn.
He Admits Dividing Commissions
With Mr.. Croker.
The Witness Refuses to Answer
Questions Pertinent Only to Fri-
vate Busincss transactions.

| sion of the Assembly COMMITTEES, when is
investigating the city departments, was
| by all odds the liveliest it has yet held 1t
| was also in many respects the most inter
esting and the most profitable. Richard
| Croker was not there, but il was a bad day
| for Croker just the same. The big bo-s'
personal henehman. Andy Freedman, went
| on the stand, and made disgraceful ez-
hibition He insulted the members of the
committee, individually and collectively,
| time after time, and once or twice 1t
seemed as if he were about to use the ar
gument best known to him, his fist. What
interests the committee and the pubic at
| large is the testimony dragged out OF
| Croker's man. Freedman is manager Of a
surety company. This company tonds
nearly all the city officers. When Croker
was on the stand the other day he swore
| in trying to account for his income that
he received dividends from it regularly.
| Freedman today swore that the company
had never paid any dividends. He said
that he received a salary and commissions
from it, and that he divided his emo u
ments with Croker. When Freedman
| stepped down from the stand he threw a
! document on the reporters table. 1t was
a typewriter statement of the amount of
! business done here by all the guarantee
companies. 1t showed that last year the
Freedman and Croker company did s5,274.-
| 600 of business in the city departments,
and that the rival concerns did l953, 900.
Croker and the Gas Companies.
Mr.. Moss called as the first witness to-
day Henry NJ. Mcdonald, who was the Chi
cago platform nominee for Governor in this
! State at the last election. Mr.. Mcdonald
was interested in the Flushing Gas Com
pany, and he told some interesting details
| regarding the connection of Richard Croker
and his man Andy Freedman with the op-
| erations of the city's gas corporations. His
| story was the most startling and direct
| testimony that has yet been aimed at R,ch-
ard Croker. He said that he was close
! personal friend of Judge Henry L. Burnett,
director in the Flushing Gas Company.
| After Mayor Van Wycks election the COM
pany sought TO gain certain valuable priv
! ileges from the city and the matter was
/ brought TO the attention OF Mr.. Croker by
/ Mr.. Braker, a member OF the Democratic
/ Club, and Mr.. Croker had demanded as his
! price 20 per cent of the co-npany's stock
He said. so Mr.. Mcdonald testified, that
the stock must be delivered 10 Andrew
| Freedman. Shortly after this Andrew
| Freedman was elected director of the
| gas company.
Freedman on the stand.
Andrew Freedman next took the stand.
| He was very defiant from the first. After
| saying that he had been interested in the
| Flushing Gas Company, he told Mr.. Moss
he would answer no questions about his
private affairs" Being pressed he denied
| NTH eho of
Richard Croker knew anything about his
| connection with the gas company, and
| that the company had received any favors
from the city.
Mr.. Moss asked him about his bond con-
cern, the United States Fidelity Bond
Company. which furnishes the bonds for
| the city officers. Freedman said he did
| not know how many city officers had bonds
! in his company. He said that he sent
| circulars TO the city employees, but that
some Of them dealt with another corpor-
| alton.
II have nothing to do with politics, -
said Freedman later. MY relations with
Mr. Croker are purely social"
Asked about Croker's stock in the surety
company, Freedman, after some hesitation.
said that Croker had paid for his holdings.
| Mr.. Moss asked him If his company was
engaged in a rate-cutting war with the
rival company. Freedman refused TO an
! swer. He was directed to do so by Chair
man Mazet, but held to his refusal
Freedman said he did not remember
whether or not he had consulted with
| Croker about going into the surety COM
pany. The company, he said, had lever
paid a dividend, but its stock was steadily
appreciating.
Divides With Croker.
Freedman said he got a salary and a
commission from the company and that he
divided it with Croker. He admitted that
he had no contract with Croker saying,
"Mr Croker relies on my word This
testimony created something of a sensa-
tion, and Mr.. Freedman got very angry.
Mr.. Moss said once when Freedman was
trying to evade questions: You are afraid
something will rise up and hit you
I'm not afraid of you," shouted Freed
man.
What were your arrangements with
Croker regarding the payment of this
money!" was the question that Freedman
stuck at. He refused to answer it, but
tried to explain that he wanted Croker in
because Croker had legions of friends.
Freedman refused to answer a question
without tacking on long explanation
MIR. Hoffman insisted on allowing Freed
man to explain. Mr. Moss, for the first
time, exhibited impatience with Mr.. Hoh-
|
would permit him to examine the witness
without interruption. Mr.. Hoffman said
that he would insist upon his rights as
member of the committee. Mr.. MaZet said
rather sharply that questions would have
to be asked after Mr.. Moss had concluded
his examination.
After this row had subsided a little
Freedman denied that he had said that he
divided his salary with Croker. Mr.
} I nkEr n M my m lS
sions.' he said.
.Nonc of Your BuSiness.'' Says Freed
What proportion" Mr.. Moss asked.
None of your business" said Freedman
Freedman said that his salary from th'
company was $4,000 year and that HI
. worked hard.
lis Croker's share s5O,OOO year," asked
Mr. Moss.
No" replied Freedman.
. lis it s25, ,000?" persisted Mr.. Moss.
. II won't tell any more Freedman
!. growled.
/ He would not answer as to whether o
not he divided with Croker only the com
!. missions on official business.
j Mr.. Moss got Freedman to say that h
!. | usually used bank notes and not checks il
!. his personal business. He paid Croker hi
!. share in bills. He was interested in fiv
1 | companies. but Croker was interested onl
| in the surety concern, he said. He had
]. | however. given Croker some money on rea
|. | estate transactions. Another occasion o
!. which he gave Croker money last year wa
! | on deal in European security. Freed
|. | man refused to tell the extent of this las
|. transaction, but said it was mot YER