Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-15
not SHOT FOR FRANK MOSS.
Mayor Van Wyck and Richard Croker
Turn on Him.
THE LATTER PRODUCES DOCU-
MENTARY EVIDENCE THAT
MOSS IS A MAN OF BAD STAND
ING-SHOWS THAT HE ACTED
CONTRARY TO LAW IN AC-
KNOWLEDGING DOCUMENTS
AND WAS CRITICISED SEVERE
LY BY JUSTICE OF THE ST.
PREME COURT.


NEW YORK, September 14.-Mayor
Robert A. Van Wyck occupied the wit
ness chair before the assembly commit
tee charged with investigating the var
ious departments of the municipal gov
eminent From the outset the examina-
ton of the Mayor by counsel Moss took
the form of an acrimonious eolloquy
in the course of which Mr.. Van Wyck
intimated that Mr. Moss was seeking
TO reach seat on the supreme court
bench by pressing a partisan invest ga
ton and sneered at counsels attain
ments as lawyer.
Mr.. Van Wyck began his testimony
by saying he had, from the time he as
sumed office been alarmed over the in
adequacy of the Brooklyn water sup
ply. He had not given the Ramapo
water company contract consideration;
it would be time for that when it reich
stood, a mere option and could do no
harm to the city. Witness had not
consulted with. the heads of depart
ments regarding the contract; the Off
Gals, he said, were to exercise their
own judgment and not to come TO him
for advice upon such subjects Wit
ness again said he would consider the
Ramapo contract when it came before
him.
when will it come before your"
asked Mr.. Moss.
when | send for it."
when will you send for it?"
None Of your business"
The witness was not convinced there
was fraud in the Ramapo contract and
advised counsel to call Controller Coler
and Bridge Commissioner Shea, the
only city officials who had charged
fraud.
Counsel began formulating a ques-
ton as to the duty of the Mayor to
remove Commissioners who were in
competent
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 it and not
be talking such fmpertiaence? 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 Gen.
Tracy, having stock in this company,
are a pack of thieves"
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
Wyck ON the stand. He testified that
he had not advised any of the Com
missioners on the subject of the Ram
apo contract. Before he went to Eu-
rope last spring a committee of citi-
zsns had called upon the witness to
urge the need of an improved water
system. He was often visited by such
committees seeking his aid and inf1u-
enee. Witness intended 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 Public Improvement after
you have made your investisation?'
asked Mr. Moss.
Il am not going to tell you. You're
not here for fair investigation. re-
piled Mr.. Croker You're here for one
side only and for one purpose only.
I've been looking you up as l said
would when | was on the stand before
You told me | might do il and | have
done it. ! will prove you now a man
Of bad standing in this city. | will give
what l know to the press here to-day
| have here a decision from the Su-
preme Court"
So saying, Mr.. Croker handed a
written statement to the reporters pres
en-. The statement concerning Mr.. Moss
which Mr. Croker gave to the report
ars was an abstract OF an opinion of
the justices of the general term of the
Supreme Court in case in which there
was introduced as evidence a deposition
arrested before Mr.. Moss. and another
as notaries public. Mr. Moss was ex-
amined in court as to the authenitica-
ton Of the signatures of the dep3neat
and the witness, but he admitted that
the document was not signed in his
presence and that he only knew the
witness through the introduction by
the principal. Mr. Justice Van Bruns
expressed the opinion that the notaries
Zone of them Mr.. Moss) should be GRIM
inally prosecuted for attesting instru-
ments without having seen the sign
ing of them and without the knowl-
edge OF the signer's identity which the
law requires.
ORDERS MUSTN'T