The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-18
Is Likely to be Proceeded Against
for Contempt
For Refusing TO Answer Questions Before
Investigation Committee.
Declines to State How Much He
Paid for His Stock In the United
States Fidelity Bond Company,
Concern Which Furnishes
Bonds for Most Of the City EN-
ployes Who Are Required to
Give Security.


NEW YORK, April 17.-Before the
Mazet Investigating Committee to-day
Richard Croker refused to answer ques-
tions as to how much he paid for his
stock in the United States Fidelity Bond
Company, or whether the stock was
given him. The refusal was noted,
and Mr.. Croker will probably be re-
ported to the Assembly, in session at
Albany. with a. view of his being pro-
ceeded against for contempt. The
United States Fidelity Bond Company
is the concern that furnished bonds for
most of the city employees who are re-
quired to give security.
When the committee reconvened to-
day a portion of the limited space for
spectators was occupied by delega-
ton of women representing the Society
for Political Study.
At a. conference of the committee held
before the proceedings opened Assem-
blyman Hoffman offered resolutions
calling for the investigation of rumors
that a certain law firm in the city OF
New York with the assistance of other
persons by corrupt means secured the
passage through the Legislature of the
State of New York of a bill known as
the Astoria Gas franchise, and declar-
ing that the real purpose of the AS
toria Gas franchise was to enable the
Consolidated Gas Company to force a
consolidation of all the gas interests
Of the city, to the end that the supply
of gas should be by the said CONSOLE
dation."
The resolution declared that it was
necessary to subpoena the following
persons: The law firm of Tracy, Board
man & Platt; Eilihu Root, the incor-
porators of the Astoria Heat, Light and
Power Company; Senator Thomas c.
Platt Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., ex-Con-
gresham Lemuel Eli Quigg, John d.
Crimmens and others.
The resolutions were defeated by a
vote of 5 to 2, all the Republican mem
bers of the committee voting no.
Mr.. Mazet, speaking of the resolu-
lions, said the committee had certain
work to perform: that its mode of pro-
cedure had been laid out and that the
present is no time for the taking up
of extraneous matter. 1t was under
stood that he spoke for all the Repub-
licans of the committee.
Chief of Police Devery, who had been
subpenaed was excused for the day
Charles Stephans, formerly a waiter
in the Broadway Garden, was the first
witness examined. He was in the Broad
way Gardens at the time Frank Ma
gowan, ex-Mayor of Trenton, claimed
to have been robbed there. StephanS
did not believe robbery had been COM
mitted, and so testified when Simon
Buttner, the proprietor of the place, was
arrested Afterward the witness was
approached by a man named Singer,
who told HIM that money could be made
by swearing that Mcgowan was robbed.
The witness told Singer that he had al
ready sworn to the contrary. At a sub
Sequent interview with Singer, Frank
Farrell, poolroom keeper, and Henry
Schultz, a restaurant keeper, being also
present, the last-named man gave the
witness SO, when the witness said he
was willing to swear that Mcgowan was
robbed in Buttner's place.
The witness was promised $500 and
steady employment. He told Buttner
of the plot, and was sent by him to
Moss, who told him to say nothing
about the matter to anybody.
Stephans told his would-be employers
that he would like to work in a pool
room. He won $14 on the races and got
50 a day for looking after pickpock-
ets." That was the work which he was
told to do, but the witness knew no pick
pockets. AT the instigation of those
in the plot witness found a second man
for the perjury" job, George Tuohig.
Farrell talked with Tuohig and said
he was "all right" The day before
the false affidavit was to be drawn
Tuohig backed out, and said he would
not do 1t.
II told Singer about it and he was
angry" said Stephans. He started out
to find Tuohig. We went to his house,
but he was not there. The next day 1
was subpenaed to court l met Schultz
and he told me to wait until he went to
see Police Captain Price and ask him
what ne should do / told Schultz I did
not want to go on the witness stand,
and he said all right; l could go to
Philadelphia if I wanted to-"
Stephans said that Schultz sent a
man with him to the train, who went
as far as Newark They got off there
and Stephans was told to go to the
Lafayette Hotel and wait for mes
sage No message arrived, and Ste
phans returned to Jersey City.
The examination of Stephans was
suspended at this point, and Mr.. Moss
called Simon Buttner to the stand. He
testified that in $780, when he came to
this city, "a country jay" he went 20
certain politician, who told him that
he would have to see the police. He
was instructed to see Inspector Will
Jams, but he could not see him, and
met Price, then a roundsman, now a
Captain.
Buttner testified that Price told him
he would have to pay him 500 a
month to insure the protection of the
resort which he started and that if
anybody was robbed he (Price) was
to get half And / have done bust
ness with him for quite while,' said
Buttner.
Buttner testified that it was in 1890
81 that he paid the money to Price. At
that time, Buttner said, he was simply
running an ordinary saloon Buttner
said his Broadway Garden had been