The times., 1899-05-17
MAYOR Van WICK IN
TIE WITNESS CHAIR
Lively Session of New York
Mazet Committee.
CrOker's Words Centradicted and
His Alleged Power ScOffed.
Police Commissioner Sexton n Bel.
ligcrent Witness-The Secret of
Chief McCuIIagh's Removal.

new 1Ork, May lb.--RoDert A. van
| Wyck, Mayor of the city of New York, was
| the principal witness before the Mazet
committee today, but Police Commissioner
John B. Sexton and former Chief McCul-
lagh were good seconds in interest. The
mayor began civilly enough, but it was
not long before he showed very positive
| indications of annoyance, and when he
was finally excused for the day the opinion
was very generally expressed that the
| city's chief executive had shown himself
| to be one of the most unwilling witnesses
that had appeared before the committee
He lost his temper frequently and refused
TO answer many questions.
Tammany's toughest witness so far
came on in the person of John b. Sexton
| Police Commissioner. Mr.. Sexton is a
| clean -shaven person with an under jaw
which protrudes when its owner considers
| that there is reason for it to do so, and
the massive shoulders of prizefghter
Among the Tammany men in the court
was going to show MIR. Moss some few
things He wouldn't stand for any Of
| Moss talk, said Tammany men.
There was time when the language oi
the bar-room rose to wrathful lips and
would not be denied: when the threatening
under jaw strained forward savagely.
| This was what the willy lawyer was wait
ing for. The angry blood that flushed the
face and heated the brain beyond the con-
troll inspired an unbridled speech, and John
B. Sexton, Police Commissioner OF the
city OF New York, admitted openly that
he had voted to retire Chief of Police Nc
Cullagh for no better reason than that he
might put in his place the present Chief
| Devery.
Two members of the committee were alb
sent from today's session, Assemblyman
Fallows, who is on a trip in the West
and Assemblyman McEwan, who will be
detained at his home in Albany for the
rest of this week. The other two up-coun-
try members. Boland and Costello, came to
town last night and took summer quarters
at the Cadillac. Sergeant alarms Craw-
| ford and his assistant, Flanagan, were
with them. Governor Roosevelt's an
nouncement today that he would call an
extra session Of the Legislature for mex,
week interested the committeeman, and
| they expressed the opinion that the nec.s-
sity for their presence in Albany will cause
a delay OF two weeks in the investigation
Arrival of the Mayor.
| Mayor Van Wyck was almost the frs,
arrival. He came in at 9:57 o'cloci, and
| glanced around with a smile. The room
was almost empty, except for newspaper
| men and the committees attendants, and
| the mayor sat down on one of tine from
seats reserved for the use of spectators
! The mayor appeared to be in good humor
and when asked If he had come in response
| to a subpoena laughed and said:
| "oh. yes, I've been subpoenaed. aLd
pulled Mr.. Moss document from his inside
| pocket. The mayor was dressed in his
cpe pty-
ronic tie. The mayor sat alone for hut 6
short time, when Bernard j. York, Presi-
dent of the police board came in and tool
| a seat beside him. The two ehatted to-
| gether while waiting for somebody to come
| Police Commissioner John b. Sexton
smooth-faced and rotund, came next anG
sat down near the mayor. He remained
thoughtful and silent, twirling a cane. II
was his first visit TO the investigation, and
he did not appear to like it any too well.
Counsel Frank Moss assistants brought
in big armfuls of books and papers and Mr.
Moss perennial brown bag. These were
| placed on the long counsel table, and in &
| few minutes Mr.. Moss himself, accom-
| panied by his assistant, Mr.. Laimbeer
| walked in. DR.. O'Sulliyan, representing
the Tammany ofIiceholders. had already
| arrived. No time was lost in getting tc
work. Although 1890 o'clock was the houl
/ appointed for the session to begin, Chair
man Mazet raped for order at 10:1i
o'clock. Five members of the committee
| were seated on the judges bench.
| Several policemen and civilians were pu
upon the stand to tell what they knew o
certain alleged disturbances in the EN-
| pire Garden, on the night of May last, ir
which policemen were said to have Joined
in the revelry. These minor witnesse:
were soon disposed of and Mr.. Moss called
Mayor Van Wyck to the stand. The mayor
was in the ante-room, but came in without
delay.
Good morning, Mr.. Mayor" Mr.. Moss
said pleasantly, as the mayor took hi!
seat. The mayor nodded quickly.
Il want to ask you. do you think the of
! fee of borough president serves any gocJ
purpose in the city government" was Mr.
Moss first question.
'I have not decided about that" was thu
answer. Il have been thinking abou
that
II will ask you the same question as t
| the board of aldermen and councils th'
present double system a good one in YOU
opinion?"
| 81 am here to testify to facts. not to Civ,
| opinions" said the mayor, with Just
slight suggestion of testiness.
! "You believe" said Mr.. Mazet, "tha
| the charter has not been in operation Ions
enough to have had fair trial?'
| Yes" said the mayor. Il think we have
| done remarkably well under the circum
stances"
| Croker COntradicted.
| In answer to a question, the mayor saiC
he thought 1t was a good thing that tn,
city departments were being concentrated
| in the Syndicate building. This brough
out the first mention of Croker's name
Mr.. Moss asked the mayor if he had con.
| suited with Croker about moving the of
fees. Van Wyck denied that he had.
do you not consult with Mr.. Croker
about city matters?" asked Mr. Moss in hi!
/ suavest tones.
Not" shouted his honor, in the ferces
voice he had yet suffered himself to use
Ibid you not consult with Mr.. Croker
at Lakewood about city departments %
continued Mr.. Moss.
NO" said the mayor.
did you not consult there with Mr.
carroll?"
| Mo-
You were at Lakewood. were you not?'
Yes, | was there"
Were not the selections made there?"
mo. they were made in this city
Mayor Van Wyck gave his answers rap
| idly, never pausing an instant. His an
swers regarding the influence of Richard
Croker and of the Democratic Club aston
ished the members of the committee, foI
they fatty contradicted Mr.. Croker Mr.
Croker when on the stand had very frank
| ly admitted that his wish had been pow
| erful in the selection of city officers, and
| that at the famous Christmas conference
| at Lakewood in 1897 he had practically
| controlled the matters of selecting Office
holders. He admitted frankly the exist
I ence OF state OF AFFAIRS with which every