Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-04-22
Before the Committee Investigate,
ing New York's Politics.
He IS IN TECHNICAL CONTEMPT.

An adjournment Oh the coluuilltee
was taken yesterday until next Fri
day morning. and Mr. Croker was sub
poenaed to appear before the session
next Monday morning. BY the lmtla-
tive of Mr.. Moss, many OF whose queS-
lions Mr. Croker repeatedly refused 10
answer, and with whom he had several
sallies that came very near being per-
sonal, the chairman OF the commit
tee took such action as would leave
Mr.. Croker in technical contempt 1t
was stated that when Mr.. Fallow, OF
the committee, left yesterday after
noon for Albany he had instructions
to prepare papers adjudging Mr.. Croker
and John F. Carroll in contempt.
When the committee began yester-
days inquiry, about the first thing
brought up was a resort known as the
Broadway Garden, which had -four
ished in the upper Broadway district
for some time. Simon Buttner. the
former proprietor. testified that Police
Captain Price had made him pay out
ragecusly for protection. He said the
first thing Price did was TO threaten
10 close the place unless he (Price)
received $3.50 at once and half of the
robbery that WAS accomplished in il.
ButtGer declared he was also forced
20 patronize certain wholesalers.
An attempt by AssemGlyman Hotf-
man to have subpoonaed the law firm
OF Tracy. Eoardman & Plat. Elihu
Root. the iacorporators Of the Astoria
Heat. Light and Power company,
Thomas F. Plat, Benjamin ]. Odell,
Lemuel Quigg and john D. Trimmins,
was defeated. five Republicans op-
posing and two Democrats favoring it.
Richard Croker testified that the
police did ,iot contribute Il cent to tie
rammany campaign last year. but that
he officeholders did He could not
:ell the amount OF money raised last
wear nor did he know in what bank
the funds we're kept. He said he had
never received a cent from Bourke
Cochran. He also swore he was never
caught short with Manhattan IL
stock, and did not lose $4,000, as re-
rorted
When Mr.. Moss said that Mr.. Croker
had found that i'll business matters.
like that OF Peter Meyer & Co.. men,
hers of the organization could help
each other. Mr.. Croker said angrily:
You are trying to make us out a
pack of thieves in one combination to-
gether. and you can't do it,
And you think that these questions
indicate that persons who do these
things are thieves" queried Mr.. Moss.
"That is what you are trying to get
at" said Mr.. Croker. thoroughly arous-
ed. q say that the people of the city
of New York. when they voted for our
ticket, voted to put in the organiza-
ton and believed in the organization
and believed that the organization
should ruin this city. And when you
were put out OF the police board that
is v nat you we're put out for--because
you were not an crgarization man"
After q further c~change OF sharp
words. Mr.. Croker becoming enraged,
Mr.. Moss remarked that it was evil
dent that Mr. Croker realized the 'seri-
on ness of The OCCASION. The Tam
Giany leader retorted:
Not very serious. l am not going
away am gong to stay mere until
any day YOU want.
Later on Mr. Moss asked: Have
you not during the last year received
large sums of money from individuals
which were not your profit or earnings
from any business"
NO" shouted Mr. Croker, and he
his answer.
Mr. Croker was seen at the Demo-
cratic club last night and asked if he
had any comment to make upon the
refusal of the MaZet committee to
subpoena Tracy, Boardman, Plat and
others alleged to have been interested
in the Astoria Gas franchise. Il am
not at all surprised by that action"
said Mr.. Croker. "Why should the
committee call Tracy, Boardman and
Plat? What would it amount to?
Why, simply that Tracy. Boardman and
Platt had summoned Tracy. Boardman
and Plat to be investigated
Mr.. Croker was first placed on the
stand on Friday last. and his testi-
monv has been intensely dramatic
throughout When he first went on
the stand Mr. Moss conducted line
of questioning which Mr.. Croker evil
IDENTIFY believed was loss of time. for
he suddenly leaned forward and said:
cit is not necessary to bring up what
everybody knows There is no use
playing to the gallery; there is no use
making speeches. | am the leader of
the party, and acknowledge it. All
these people are my friends, and ] am
going to stick to them all the time"
At another point Mr.. Croker said i'm
pressively IF you can show where
have taken a single dollar from this
city, you CAN cut off that right arm"
Mr. Croker admitted that he had con-
siderable political influence, but not
in every case were his wishes car
ried out lie had been member Of
the auctioaeering firm that conducted
the majority of the judicial sales, and
as true Democrat he expected to he
befriended il the way OF legitimate
profit in his legitimate business.
"Then You are working for your own
pocket?" said Mr.. Moss.
cali the time. the same as you are.
ITO the boss belongs the lions share
of the plu:lder." sneered Mr.. Moss.
INO plus-QcI, llO, Sstlu SiONC4. L ou
can call it what you like. You can call
the bill you sent to the legislature for
the work you are now doing plumber,
if you please"
MT. Croi,e. :c!u-s.! - answer many
questions a:Te ,t.ng his private bust
ness, but he did saJ':
1--WE got nothing to conceal. If any
one comes To me with a good stock to
buy, buy it, and so would you. l
will not go into any details of my
private business.
Incidentally Mr.. Croker praised
Chief Devery and the police depart
ment.
John F. Carroll, Mr.. Cookers chief
refused to answer ques-
lions as to his private business. 1t
developed during the examination that
Mr.. Carroll had given up $500
position to accept his present position
in Tammany Hall, which. theoretic-
ally, is without salary. You cannot
brighten me- said Mr. Carroll. He
made the admission that what MI.
Croker says goes"
Other witnesses on Friday were eX-
Judge DAILY and eX-Judge Pryor. The
former said he had contributed $1,000