Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-22
EXCITING SESSIONS
Witnesses Before Mazet Commit.
tee Refuse TO Testify
ANDREW FREEDMAN DEFIANT,
He Is More Than Ordinarily PoTcibIe d
Answering Questions.
a. HIMMELL WRIGHT ELECTED
He Declines to Leave the stand os
the Order OF Moss and Maxet, ans
Is Escorted from the Room by tn,
Seargeant-at-Arm

! NEW YORK, April a.-Two excitins
sessions Of tho Mazet Investigating Com.
mittee were held here to-day. A feature
was the refusal OF witnesses 10 give tes.
timony. Another feature was the defiant
attitude OF Andrew Freedman on the
stand. and still another feature tho eiec1
ton from the committee-room OF Abra.
ham Himmill Wright OF tho Roeblins
| Company when he insisted upon makina
a statement after he had refused 20 an.
swer great majority Of questions put IA
him by Mr.. Moss. counsel for the com.
mittee.
The chief interest centered in Andrew
| Freedman. who within recent years has
been known as a warm personal friend
or Mr.. Croker's. and associated with him
IN business way. Mr.. Freedman was
more than ordinarily forcibie In his an
swers TO some Of the questions. and many
OF the questions ha refused TO answer at
all. At other times he was rebuked by
both Mr.. Moss and Chairman Mazet fof
what they termed "impertinence."
MOSS MADE INDIGNANT.
After Mr.. Freedman's examination had
progressed to 4 certain point. and the
witness had refused several times 10 an.
swer question on what he deemed IA
personal natter Mr.. Moss excused him
for the day. Mr. Freedman then got
down from the stand, and turning 20 the
newspaper reporters handed them a pa.
per. saying: Gentlemen OF the press,
here is a statement OF the entire bust
ness OF the Platt companies. aud ali Of
the companies. for publication"
This was paper relating TO tho busi-
ness done by the United states Fidelity
and Guarantee Company, IN which Mr..
Freedman and Croker are interested, and
contained Information which Mr.. Moss
had desired 10 get at during the course
OF the examination. Mr. Moss. therefore,
was very indignant at treedman's action,
ana ne denounced the witness yehementiy
and recalled him 10 the stand The ques-
tons which he put i'm regard 10 the paper
TO Freedman Were not answered the witt
ness refusing absolutely 10 state by whom
the paper had been prepared.
CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS THREAT
ENED.
At this juncture Mr.. Moss took occa-
sion 10 say that those witnesses who
were in contempt would be dealt with
later In a regular legal way.
When Mr.. Croker was ON the stand. a
few days ago, he testified that he had
received dividends from the surety COM
pany. while to-day IL developed that the
company had not paid any dividends.
NJ" Freedman explained on the stand. In
reply TO a series OF questions, that Mr..
croker Is a stockholder in the company,
and IS Interested in the business success
OF the metropolitan district; that he uha
Witness) received a salary OF $1,000 u
year as manager for this territory, and
that he divided this money with sir.
Croker. MI Friedman, however re-
fused TO name tho sum that he paid 10
Croker, and said. further, that he thought
Mr. Croker might be under the impress
sion that the money paid him was In tho
way of a dividend
Nearly the entire examination OF tho
witness centered about his and Mr.. Cro-
kers connection with this surety COM
pany. which has dealings with large
number Of city officials The witness
could not remember exactly how this
connection originated. but he aid remem-
Der that there was no actual contract
between Mr.. Croker and himself for the
payment of money.
WRIGHTS ELECTION.
Abraham Himmel Wright Of the Roeb-
ling Construction Company refused at
the very outset OF his examination -
answer questions. ana entered into a dis
cdssion at the slightest opportunity. Al
ter several long wranges. the witness in
sisted upon making an explanation. he
was ordered down from the witness-stand
by Chairman Mazet. but refused 20 leave
the stand. Then Mr.. Moss called for tho
sergcant-at-arms. and Hlmmel Wright
was escorted from the room.
Another session Will be held to-mor-
row. and Mr. Freedman may be called
again.