The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-15
VAN WICK AND CROKER
AvERsE TO BEING DEEPLY PROBED
by THE MAZET Committee.
Dehan and Impudent when Asked
About the ama Water Scheme
Mclaughlin and Lauterbach.

NEW YORK. Sept I.-Mayor Robert A
Van Wyck Occupie the witness chair before
the Assembly committee charged with inves-
tigating :he various departments of the
municipa' -cyernment. From the outset the
examinatiS of the mayor by Counsel Moss
took the form of an acrimonious colloquy,
in the course of which MIR. Van Wyck init
mated that Mr. Moss was seeking TO reach
a seat on the Supreme Court bench by press
ing a partisan investigation and sneered at
Counsels attachments as a lawyer.
Mr.. Van Wyck began his testimony by
saying he had from the time he assumed
Office been alarmed over the i~nadequacy of
the Brooklyn water supply. He had not
given the Ramapo Water Company contract
consideration: it would be time enough for
that when it reached him officially. 1t was.
witness understood, a mere option, and
could do no harm to the city. Witness had
not consulted with the heads OF departments
regarding the contract. The officials, he
said, were to exercise their own judgment
and not to come to him for advice upon
such subjects. Witness again said he would
consider the Ramapo contract when it came
before him.
When will it come before you?' asked
Mr.. Moss.
When 1 send for it,"
When will you send for itT'
None of your business"
The witness was not convinced there was
fraud i'm the Ramapo contract, and advised
counsel to call Controller Color and Bridge
Commissioner Shea, the only city officials
who had charged fraud. Counsel began
formulating a question as to the duty of
the mayor to remove commissioners who
were Incompetent.
"Oh," broke in the mayor, you're talking
of removals, and you have been talking of
legislating me out. Why don't you go ahead
and do 1t, and not be talking such imper-
thence? And why don't you receive that
list of stockholders you were offered yester-
day? You talk as though Silas B. butcher.
Levi p. Morton and General Tracy. having
stock in this company, are a pack of
thieves"
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
Wyck IN the stand. He testified that he
had not advised any Of the commissioners
on the subject of the Ramapo contract. Be-
mittee of citizens had called on witness to
Urge the need of an improved water system.
He was often visited by such committees
seeking his aid and influence. Witness in
tended to inquire into the merits of the
Ramapo contract
What are you going to do in the way of
advising these gentlemen of the Board OF
your Investigator" asked Mr.. Moss.
here re- a for not a fa sqips sve to teal yOu;; r YOn,rs M nGt
Croker. You're here for one side only and
one purpose only. / have been looking you
UP, as / said / would when / was on the
stand before. You told me 1 might do it.
and L have done It,. i will prove you now
a man of bad standing in this city. will
l nave here a decision from the Supreme
Court"
SO saying Mr.. Croker handed a written
statement to the reporters present. This
statement was an extract from an opinion
of the justices of the general term of the
Supreme Court in a case in which there was
introduced as evidence a deposition attested
before Mr.. Moss and another as notaries
public. MIR. Moss was examined i'm court as
the deponent and the witness. but he adj
mitted that the dccumen was not signed
in his presence and that he only knew the
principal. Mr.. Justice Van Brunt expressed
the opinion that the ~notaries lone of them
Mr.. Moss should be criminally prosecuted
Tor attesting instruments without having
seen the signing of them and without the
knowledge of the signers' identity, which
AT the afternoon session the chief wit
nesses were Hugh Mclaughlin, of Brook
lyn. and Edward Lauterbach. the latter
counsel for the Ramapo Company. Several
communications were read. one of which
was from Stuyvesant Fish. president of the
Illinois Central Railroad, asking that 1t be
placed on record that his company had no
c. Platt. /,
Mr.. Mclaughlin. during the course of his
examination, pointed out that he had not
held public office for twenty-five years. hat
ne was merely a private citizen and he,
therefore, refused to answer a number of
questions which he deemed concerned his
private affairs only. He. however. denied
all association with officials OF the Ramapo
Company in relation to the proposed water
contract and declared that had had no con-
ference with Richard Croker touching that
matter. He had no hand, he said, 'in
beating the Ramapo contract" and did not
know of III until a week after IL WaS heafep
Mr.. Lauterbach went into details regard
ing the stock of the Ramapo Company,
the list of which had been submitted yes
terday. representing s2,50o.00. He had no
knowledge of any transfer of stock with
out ayment except in his own case. he
having received $50 shares for services rem
dered. Mr.. Lauterbach pointed out that
the Ramapo Company in 1887 had acquired
the right to condemn water rights and had
lest IL In 1890. By the acr of 1895 IL again
acquired the same right. and he declared
that during the past six months he could
have sold his stock at par. showing the
substantial condition of the corporation
The case was adjourned. with Mr.. Lauter-
haAA an tho stand