New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
CROKER'S PARTNER TESTIFIES.
PETER F. MEYER SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE
TO HUSTLE FOR BUSINESS.


Peter F. Meyer then sworn.
Mr.. Moss-You member Of the Dock Board,
are You not? Al am sir.
Q.-What position do you hold In the Dock Board
A.-Dock Commissioner.
Q,-You have no position such as secretary or
sQ-Are you also member of firm engaged in
Q1You and Mr.. Croker are the only members of
the firm. are you not? A-The only members.
.Q.-Was that firm formed in 1892? Also; yes,
Q.-Prior to that time-that is. the formation OF
OF the Arm of A. H. Muller & Son were you not I?
Al was; yes sir.
Q.-And were engaged in the line of bust
ness were you not? Al was.
Q-iou were selling at the aucton-rooms in LIB
erty-st:. like other auctoneers-seing property at
judicial sales among other things? A.-sold at
Liberty st. and sold at No III Broadway before we
went TO Liberty-st.
9,Ths s9lesr90m was removed by order Of the
court from No III Broadway to No. 80 Liberty-st.
Was il not? A-wlth my consent.
yGa h % croE St course my
Q,-Before your connection with Mr. Croker the
No s. Lberty-sts AHY Ss sir SIR III '''0A'"8' 10
of the So st Of time me had had s fair the listen
portion? Ave never looked for mat at 'a'' ''
d sam mot T RaES to OSkng AYs
my business comes without looking:
about You do get large number OF judicial
DO SceoGns to
statement $4,000 in 1881 and that brought in the
Q.-Mr Croker has testified that his profits in
your concern annually were $4,000 or $4,000? A
Q.-But that was outside OF judicial sales was
IT, AYES. sir; through executors and trustees
or trustees sale than can out OF 800 legal sales.
DOES NOT NEED ADVERTISING.
GA large number OF legal sales coming into
the hands of an auctioneer while they do not
produce perhaps enormous income, pretty
good are they not? Al don't think so. No. sir.
Q.-You don't think so? A.-They are not adver-
tised in the papers in which the people are pr-
.Q.-But the people no doubt. see the firm men
appearing upon the rostrum constantly selling
q paope5 sat as ss e Sc Ws
known in this town they don't need any adver-
Q,sThere are other auctioneers. are there not?
o.NPrior to the taking in of Mr.. Croker into
judicial sales. did you? A.-No. but l made more
money from other sales and got twice the money
Q.-Twice you getting now? A-Yes, sir.
money now? A'-f made $4,000 in Twelve caien
dar months. More than you will ever make in
The Chalrman-You will confne your answers to
the question, and not volunteer information;
sm peffecy %ng 0s to hays this Gentleman talk
much as he pleases. That is part OF my
The Chairman will direct the stenographer to
strike out that last part as irresponsible Mr.
Croker has decreased your income? A.-No sir
that ny na6 hay some cenfase
and are still in business.
0zY9u left connection 1o With the he 6 OLD hr m
Sa T Ms Is tS GfsE o i a9'
put words in my mouth; not IN order TO form a
%'t NTH m Mr. Croker When left the
frm GO@ of a. H. Muller Julie & sons A'' '' "
JOINED CROKER FOR REVENGE.
o-Then you were waiting for the proposition to
go in with Mr. Croker a firm? Ayes, sir.
Odd he make it or did you make It? Al
think some friend spoke to me about 1t, and
spoke to Mr.. Croker about 1t.
Q.-You spoke TO Mr.. Croker about II! A.-fes'
Q.-And your object in speaking, to Mr. Croker .ss
and his influence in your real estate business? A
No. was to get sasfssio g, STt Of certain party
Q.-How you going TO get personal satsf sSo
against by going into partnership with Mr. Croker?
7 don't understand that. You don't make that
ss A You NAV HG as %e that
o. am not going TO press that part Of the in
feered II and YOU have the privilege Of making it
more clear now If you want TO do it. Al don't
osnt that dq.q sEm the III last aS ysa5 w .as
Tor the year were fourteen? A.-That was owing
possibly to the times r .o
O-That so? Ayes. SIT Inere were
moro foreclosures this year than there were In 1871
and more In 1897 than there were In lss2 and II is
a matter Of the times The prosperity OF the peo-
pie has a great deal do with II. Probably our
pro legal sales would be more In 1882 than IN
o.-Yes. but Mr. Keneaily in that year had some,
thing like sixty-eight. and even Mr.. Harnett had
forty-egh that year so that your hrm had rela-
lively a small proportion OF judicial sales? A-As
said before never looked for them.
Q.-You DO not look for them. but they come and
Mr.. Croker has told us they did come. and that no
expects that they should come? Al am ex-
pressing my own opinion ..o
Q.-Now, then this last year-the year 1898 ana
the year iss7-your firm has had majority or the
judicial sales hasn't II? Al never keep track
OF them. They so small part OF my business
that do not pay any attention 10 IL.
Q.-You make about 81 200 year out OF them?
Q.-That is such a small matter you do not care
anything about Il? A.-No
Is AFTER BIGGER GAME.
Q-Your mind runs to larger things? Ayes.
Q.-You are associated with larger people than
that financially speaking? Ayes. naturally
would.
Q.-But the figures that presented the other day
10 the number OF sales substantially cor
rect. as you read them? Al took your word for
81. On this examination have not examined H.
C.-Who first spoke to you about becoming
Dock Commissioner? A.-Nobody spoke to me hrst.
think spoke to myself.
Q.-Whom did you speak to- Al asked two or
three people II they thought had any chance' as
did not speak TO Mr.. Croker directly ~.