Rock Island Argus., 1899-04-22

New York, April 22-Two sessions OF
| abe Mazet investigating committee were
held yesterday. One feature was the
refusal of the witnesses to give testi-
| mony. Another feature was the defiant
attitude of Andrew Freedman on the
stand. and still another feature the
election from the committee room of
Abraham Himmelwright, of the Roeb-
ling company, when he insisted upon
making a statement after he had re-
fused to answer great majority of
questions put to him by Moss counsel
for the committee. The chief interest
centered in Andrew Freedman, who
within recent years had been known as
a warm personal friend of Croker and
associated with him in a business way.
Freedman was more than ordinarily
forcible in his answers to some of the
questions and many of the questions
he refused to answer at all At other
times he was rebuked by both Moss and
Chairman Mazet for what they termed
"impertinence."
Freedman Defies the Committee.
After Freedman's examination had
progressed to a certain point, and the
witness had refused several times to
answer a question which he deemed "a
personal matter" Moss excused him for
the day. Freedman then got down from
the stand. and turning to the newspa-
per representatives he handed them a
paper saying: Gentlemen Of the press,
here is a statement of the entire busl-
ness of the Platt companies and all of
the companies. for publication
This was a paper relating to the bus
iness done by the United States Fidelity
and Guarantee company, in which
Freedman and Croker are interested
and contained information which Moss
had desired to get at during the course
of the examination.
Moss Recalls Him to the Stand.
Moss therefore was very indignant at
Freedman's action and he denounced
the witness vehemently and recalled
him to the stand. The questions which
he put with regard to the paper to
Freedman were not answered, the wit
ness refusing absolutely to state by
whom the paper had been prepared. At
this juncture Moss took occasion to say
that those witnesses who were in con-
tempt would be dealt with later in n
regular and logical way. When Croker
was on the stand a few days ago he tes-
titled that he had received dividends
from the Surety company. while yes
terday it developed that the company
had not paid dividends.
Divided Money with Croker.
Freedman explained on the stand that
Croker is a stockholder in the COM
pany and is interested in the business
success of the Metropolitan district
that he. the witness, received a salary
of $4,000 a year as manager for this
territory. and commissions, and that he |
divided money with Croker. freedman, |
however, refused to name the sum that |
he paid to Croker, and said further that |
he thought Croker might be under the !
impression that the money paid him was |
in the way of a dividend. Nearly the |
entire examination Of the witness CEN
tered about his and Croker's connection |
with the Surety company, which has |
dealings with a large number of city |
officials.
The Himmelwright Incident.
Abraham Himmelwright, of the Roeb- |
ling company. refused at the very out |
set of his examination to answer ques- |
tions, and entered into a discussion at |
the slightest opportunity. After several /
long wrangles the witness insisted upon |
making an explanation. He was or
dered from the witness stand by Chair
man Mazet, but he refused to leave the /
stand Then Moss called for the SER
and Himmelwright was |
escorted from the room.
An exclusive cemetery for pet animals
and birds has been established on the |
Hudson river. near COxsackie. n. Y.