The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-18
new YORK POOL ROOMS
Mazet Committee Learns That
There Are 1876 of Them.
J. MAHONEY ON THE STAND
His Refusal to Answer Questions Turns
the Whole Affair Into an Interro-
cation Point-New Things
Unearthed.

ilton, formerly police commissioner, and
who was yesterday denounced by
Mayor Van Wyck as a blackmailer, was
the first witness before the Mazet COM
mittee to-day. He testified that no rea-
son was assigned for the retirement of
| Chief Mccullough, nor was there any
suggestion of inefficiency made against
| him at the meeting of the board. He
| denied the statement by the mayor that
| he had used his official position to CO.
cree the Casino into the payment of a
bill. He also denied the mayors state
| ment that witness had refused to vote
! for the transfer of any police officer
| unless Quigg or Platt were agreeable.
He told the mayor he wished to consult
/ with the leaders Of his party and had
mentioned Platt as one, but denied that
the consultation was in regard to the
passing of a resolution which defined
the powers of the chief to make trans
fers.
John r. Wood testified that as an
agent for Counsel Moss he had been in
125 pool rooms in this city and had pro-
cured evidence against all of them. In
many of the places all kinds of gam
l
faro, poker and craps. This witness
swore also that while Cohen was testi-
| flying he heard Chief of Police Devery
speak contemptuously of that witness
| and tell a man whom he addressed as
English" to look up his record and as
certain if he had ever been arrested.
Joe S. Harris, another agent of Mr..
! Moss, gave testimony similar to that
of Wood.
Mr.. Moss called James A. Mahoney,
with whom Mayor Van Wyck testified
/ yesterday he had business transactions
and was intimate. Mr.. Mahoney said
he was in the building and real estate
business He had been bookmaker
on the race track. He admitted that
| bookmaking had been and still was
his principal business. When asked if
he had an office anywhere in New York
Mahoney said:
'I decline to answer because, as a
private citizen and not being an office
| holder or connected with any depart
| ment Of the city of New York, l don't
| think you have a right to inquire into
declination, though he acknowledged he
was member Of the Democratic club
| and friend of Mr.. Carroll. of Mr.. Sex
/ ton and of the mayor. When asked If
/ he was interested in any of the pool
rooms described by witnesses Woods
and Harris Mahoney absolutely re-
| fused to answer. He said he knew Chief
Devery, but Devery had never asked
| him anything about pool rooms Mr..
| Moss went over the address of every
pool room mentioned by Woods and
| Harris and asked in each case if Ma
honey was interested in it.
Mahoney refused to answer. He ad-
mitted that he had said he was in the
| building business because it looked bet
| hCSlnaSG'
Mr.. Mazet directed Mahoney to an
swer if he had or had not any connec-
ton with the pool rooms here, and he
again declined to answer on the ground
that it was "a private matter"
Mr.. Moss asked if he learned that
private business" answer at the Demo-
| cratic club and Mahoney said he did
not He apparently inadvertently an
swered no in reply to the question,
Have you been permitted by any city
| authority to carry on the business of
| any of these pool rooms l have men,
| toned without interference"
Mahoney got nervous and played Wig
orously with his watch chain. He said
! he would not admit having pool rooms
in New York, but when asked if he
would deny said:
| Il won't answer.
Mr.. Moss hurled question after ques
tion at him.
| can I answer, relt6TdteQ ManOney.
"Why?" thundered the lawyer.
Because I can't-because / don't
know-I can't" were the answers that
| came from the witness. At length he
was driven into admitting that he had
been interfered with by city official
| in the conduct of pool room business.
! But, he added quickly, that was many
years ago. Honw many he could not
remember. The place was "shut up"
but beyond that Mahoney had forgot
ten everything.
when did you give up the pool room
| business, If you ever gave it up?"
thundered Mr.. Moss.
II decline to answer" said Maho-
ney.
Mr.. Moss went into details connected
| with what he alleged were pool rooms
run by Mahoney. but the witness re-
membered nothing. He refused to
| deny the accusations.
| At length Mahoney stated that the
interference of the police occurred at
pool room he ran at No. u Center
street and that he discontinued busi-
| ness there - or IA years ago. At that
| time Mahoney said he had no interest
| in other pool rooms. He declined to
| answer whether he was interested in
| pool rooms at the time he was assoc
ciated in business with Mr.. Van Wyck.
DO you divide the profits of any
| pool rooms with any city officials?"
asked Mr.. Moss
Il divide nothing with any city Off
cial or with any member of the Tam
| many" said Mahoney.
mo member of the police force is
interested with me in any way, shape
or form in anything He had no
knowledge that any member of the
police force had any interest in the
pool room business in this city. Ma
honey was temporarily withdrawn and
served with a subpoena for to-mor-
row.
Police Commissioner Jacob Hess was
sworn. He said he was appointed as
a republican in the bipartisan board.
His first official act was to vote for
the retirement of Chief of Police Nc
Cullogh.
Upon what basis did you vote for
the retirement of Mr.. Mccullough"
asked Mr.. Moss.
Well said Mr.. Hess. II was ap-