New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-17
THE MAYOR BREAKS OUT.
ANGRY TESTIMONY AT THE
MAZET INQUIRY.
MOTIVES THAT PROMPTED THE RE-
MOvAL or NCULLAGH pROBED-
COMMISSIONER SEXTON DE-
FIANT AND INsOLENT
IN HIS ATTITUDE.

F1ANT AND INSOLENT
~ HIS ATTITUDE.
The resumption yesterday OF the sessions OF
the Mazet Investigating Committee was married.
by the utmost interest and Importance Inter-
esting, because OF the presence OF Mayor Van
wyck upon the stand. and important In that
the true story OF how John Mccuilsgh was
worked out OF the Police Department because
he refused to permit the friends of the Tam
many leaders to run their poolrooms unmolested.
Beside the unearthing Of the scheme of official
perfdy which led to the retirement OF Chief
McCuagh. the evidence given by the Mayor
was comparatively trivial Significant as have
been the facts already brought out by Frank
Moss. nothing so giaring as pointing to officisi
corruption has been shown as was sdduced
yesterday afternoon. II was indicated that Nc
Cullagh was deposed because he would not
transfer men, at the hehest OF Commissioners
Sexton. who we're interfering with the operation
OF poolroom at No - West Twenty -ninth-st..
run by Frank Farrell. but owned. as the evi-
dence proved. by Senator Tim" Sullivan. Cro-
ker Carroll and Chief Dever, have admitted
being on terms Of the closest friendship for
years with Farrell but each has denied that
he knew he was connected with poolrooms
But yesterdays testimony showed tnat when
a policeman named Mcconnell was sent by In
spector Brooks. at the instruction Of Chief Mo-
Cullagh TO obtain evidence against the pool
room Farrell threatened the officer. and In
formed him at the same time that the owner OF
the place was Tim" Sullivan Sure enough.
next day Sullivan was seen to visit Commis-
sioner Sexton at Headquarters subsequently
Chief McCullagh ordered by sexton 10
transfer Mcconnell to Jamaica. He refused.
and from that time began the Tammany machi-
nations which landed McCullagh out OF Null
berry Street and lifted Devery into his place.
McCuagh knew what formidable combination
he wac placing himself against and 1t could Do
inferred from the evidence he gave yesterday
that he would not have persisted In the nght
had not BERNARD J. York, the president OF the
Board assured hi Of his support But on tnat
eventfu Saturday morning when Mayor van
wyck appointed Jacob Hess Police Commis-
sioner and a meeting Of the Board was caiieo
Immediately. Mr.. York forgot his promises ana
voted for the retirement Of the Chief POLL
tics" was the explanation he gave to McCuagh
for his weakening.
real. REASON FOR REMOVAL.
The testimony went to show that McCulagh
was removed primarily because he would not
protect Tammany poolrooms.
The committee met yesterday in Part Of the
Criminal Branch Of the Supreme Court The
change from the confined quarters OF the Board
of Trade and Transportation rooms was source
of convenience to all who are concerned with
the inquiry. After a detective in the employ OK
the committee had testified that on the previous
night he had seen two policemen, In uniform'
ma med Harrison and Kane visit vicious resort
in East Twelfth-st., and that Kane had danceo
a suggestive dance with woman OF questiona-
Bile character Mayor Van Wyck was called 10
the stand The Mayors manner at the outset
was slightly nervous. but after he had become
little accustomed to his surroundings ne oesan
N live up TO the title he has earned for himselt
Of "Robert the Testy." While not so extensively
insulting as some OF his Tammany brethren
have been on the witness-stand. and as Com
missioner Sexton was later in the day. yet his
answers to the questions put TO him were often
fippant end impertinent; while the vehemence
with which he resented the least suggestion I'M
nuqninx the honesty Of his administration or MS
own integrity once or twice made Things eH-
tremely lively. The earlier part OF his examina-
ton was devoted TO the workings OF the various
departments The gst Of this evidence was tnat
the Mayor thought the system provided py the
charter had been attended with the utmost sue
cess so much So in fact that he PROMISED 10
veto every bill that disturbed the charter unu IT.
had had a fair trial.
In seeking to learn the method by which the
c,tv officials had been selected, Mr. MOSS
brought In the name of Richard Croker In
moment the Mayor was on his dignity re oe-
c,ared that every choice that had been MADE IN
the heads OF departments was his own. and as
serted that he had consulted with no one as 70
the selection he should make
CONTROLS HIMSELF. HE SAYS
1.-THE only influence that controls the Mayor
NJ New-York is Robert A. Van Wyckr' he ex-
claimed. patting himself proudly on the chest
Nobody has more power than I have" he
added a little later. and insisted that Crokers
suggestions in the matter OF appointments car
r,ed no more weight than the six or ten thou
sand people who had pestered him with their
advice and supplicatons. In the face OF Mr'
Carroll's contention that every mead OF depart
ment must hold himself amenable to the leader
of his party and must expect short Shirt II ne
manifested any INSTRUMENTATION, the Mayors
outbursts were rank mutny.
Nobody dare call me to account" he told Mr..
Moss. when the counsel asked him IL he had
ever been called to account by the Tammany
chief The reason why he had escaped reouke'
however, he unwittngiy explained himself. when
he testified that he never knew OF any occasion
when he had gone contrary to the wishes oil Mr.
Croker and when he had done anything that
was unpleasant to the head OF all the Tammany-
ties
The Mayor was unable to recoect whetner
he had talked with members Of the orsaniza-
,ion prior to the steps he took which resulted
In tho making up OF a Police Commission that
turned down McCullagh. His first action TO this
end was the removal Of the Republican MEM
hers Of the Board. Messrs. Philips and Hamilton
The first named he removed because he had
been indicted long time ago. end Mr. Hamilton
he charged with betng backmailer. Hamilton
q Sons. the Mayor explained. had claim against
Aha- and when they