The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-20
TOLD A GHOUL|SH TALE
Alleged Bribery in the DISPOSE
ton of the Dead.
WARREN BOUGHT CLERKS
Illegally Secured Funerals From the
Harlem Hospital-The Pool Room
King Jollied the Investigat-
ing Committee.

New 4ork, May 1S-lne leatuie VI
to-day's session of the Mazet investi-
CATION committee was the unearthing
of an alleged system of corruption in
the disposition of the dead bdies from
city hospital, ghoulish tale that was
well corroborated and replete with de-
tail. By several witnesses it was stated
that an undertaken named Marren lie
gally secured the funerals of all bodies
taken to the Harlem hospital and that
he was enabled to do this by the brib-
ing of clerks in the employee of the city
to break the rules. 1t was also shown
that apparently an acquaintance eN-
listed between Marren and MeSsrs. Gro
ker and Carroll
A large number of witnesses were
called and a multiplicity of subjects
were touched upon during the eXamln-
alton.
The old question of sewer pipe and
the connection between the Contractors
Supply company and the city depart
ment was gone into. but the only APP
parent important point ELECTED was
that Richard Croker had objected to
his sons going into this concern when
he learned that it intended to supply
city departments.
James A. Mahoney, the bookmaker.
was the first witness before the MaZet
investigation committee. Mahoney de-
clined to say whether full page story
in the New York Herald describing him
as the pool room king and describing
his alleged pool rooms was true or not.
The article in question stated that
reporter went to Mahoney and said he
intended to open a pool room and That
Mahoney said:
$50 ahead, and when you are ready
come over and see me-
Mahoney refused to answer any ques-
lions in regard to this when asked If he
intended to sue the Herald for libel.
Mahoney said:
What sue a paper that made me a
king" and the spectators We're con-
vulsed with laughter.
In declining to answer Mahoney
made several humorous remarks and
he was excused, having added nothing
of Importance to the record.
Wyndon D. Lynn, formerly employed
by J. p Marren, an undertaken to
whom unclaimed bodies at the Harlem
morgue are delivered, testified that on
Marrens behalf he had on two or three
occasions paid two clerks at the morgue
SO for bodies that were not properly de-
liverable to Marren. Marren, Lynn
said, had told him that so long as Gro
ker and Carroll controlled affairs he
could continue his arrangements with
the morgue keepers. Lynn also testi-
fled that Marren bought from the
morgue for so cents to a dollar each
coffin made for the city at greater
cost. Lynn admitted that he had come
to the Tombs, ywhere he was confined
on complaint of Marren, charging
petit larceny. Lynn said that he mad
pleaded guilty to the charge. The sum
involved was $21 and he had himself
discovered the shortage, to conceal
which he had made false entry in
Marren's book. A friend had written TO
him that the prosecution would be
dropped if he would promise to leave
Harlem. After leaving Marren's en-
ploye the witness had gone into the un-
dertaking business on his own &C.
count.
Several witnesses We're examined in
relation to the Contractors Supply COM
pany, with which Lawyer Mciann, Mr..
Croker'S nephew, was connected. Wit
nesses denied that city officials favored
the company in the purchase Of sewer
pipe. The committee adjourned until
May 81 Bennoz Lewinson and Sam
uel ]. Goldsmith, who We're candidates
for city judgeships, were questioned re-
purposes, but had nothing of conse-
quence to tell
]. H. Mccarthy. a judge of the city
court said that he had contributed
s., 900 or $4,000, he was not sure which,
to the democratic party at the election
in 1897, when he secured his position On
the city bench. He thought he had
drawn a check to Mr. Croker, as chair
man of the finance committee Of Tam
many hall. He said he approved CT ju-
dicial candidates contributing to their
political organizations.
The committee adjourned until May
ST.