The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-15
CROKER HITS BACK
Tells Mazet Committee to
Call Platt to Explain
Corruption in New
York.
SLAP FOR lNQUISITOR MOSS
Young Croker's Firm Didn't
Receive City Contracts
Other Innuendoes
Swept Away.

| the Postoffice Building. Mr.. Rich
| ard Croker was recalled after P. F. Meyer
| gave some testimony, and Mr.. Moss twit-
| ted him regarding his assertion made
yesterday, that if it should be proven
that he had ever received any dishonest
money from the city he would allow his
right arm to be cut off.
Are you willing to make the PROPOSE
tion that if dishonorabe money or dis
honorable transactions are laid at your
door, you will part with your fortune
and part with your liberty?" asked Mr.
Moss.
Yes" said Mr.. Croker.
''That is more to the point and more
to the purpose replied Mr.. Moss, smil-
ing.
Il was led to put that question, Mr.
Croker, because of your suggestion early
in the examination yesterday that there
should be no playing to the galleries.
Mr.. Croker said he was acquainted with
John Kelly, sometimes called Smiling
John Kelly. He denied that Kelly was a
gambler Hire did not know if Kelly was
a member of the firm of Naughton & Co.
contractors.
Isn't Mr.. Kelly practically your repre-
Co. % asked Mr.. Moss.
mo. sir" said Croker. He had never
received money from Naughton & Co., di-
rectly or Indirectly, neither had any mem
ber of his family that he knew of.
Mr.. Moss said he understood Mr.. Croker
had stated that when he returned from
Europe in 1897 he was substantially with
out any large amount of means at that
Sha fat ba1 rllhl iS
Mr.. Croker denied that the statement was
true. He declined to answer whethre in
1897 he held stock in the Union Railway.
THAT is my personal affair." said the
witness, but he went on to deny his
family hel dany stock in the Roeblin
Comapny at that time. He did not know
that his son Richards was a member of
the Contractors Supply Company or that
Richard had ever got any money from
him Che witness) to go into the company.
Did you give your son Frank a check
of 81, 900 to go into the Roebling Con-
struction Company?" askede Mr.. Moss.
Mr.. Croker declined to answer on the
ground of personal business
Mr.. Moss was persistent regarding the
payment of this $4,000 Finally Mr.. Croker
said
while my son has been in the Roeb-
ling Company, it has never received a
contract from the city, so that it does not
concern this committee at all. With
warmth Mr.. Croker added:-"I have the
utmost confidence in that boy, and if you
can destroy him in this city, as you are
working to do-this committee it seems,
has made a set against my two sons-and
if you can destroy him and not allow him
to go into business, l suppose you will do
so.''
Mr.. Mazet-'I hardly think that state
ment is justified"
Eyes, it 'is," rejoined Mr.. Croker. go
on and examine Mr.. Platt's firm and find
out what his boys are in, if you want to
be honest. You go and examine the peo-
pie who brought you here TO examine
u.s."
Keep cool, Mr.. Croker" INTERCEPTED Mr..
Moss.
.I am just as cool as you are came
the reply. THAT is the gentleman-Mr.
Platt-who puts you here to examine US.
You go and examine his firm. They are
at the foundation of all the corruption
in this city. I say that there is more
corruption in that firm today and it is
run by all or mostly all the corporations
in this State-there is more corruption in
that firm than anywhere else. You go
and examine that firm, now, to be fair,
and bring their books here
Mr. Moss said the. matter Mr.. Croker
had spoken of was in no way concerned
with the local government. You make
that matter in any way pertinent to this |
inquiry, and will examine into it, said
the lawyer.
1.-The committee will throw it off, re-
torted the witness.
"You need not throw out any bluffs at |
all, Mr.. Croker" said Mr.. Moss.
"you need not throw any bluffs at me-
snapped Mr. Croker.
81 am under no retainer from Mr.. |
Platt," detained the lawyer.
"You are looking for it now by your |
examination here said Mr.. Croker |
when this mater goes to the Legislature |
you expect to be paid, and Platt's firm
is to have it paid
Mr. Moss said his compensation was a |
secondary matter.
Mr. Croker said no man would disclose all |
his private. affairs. Continuing to talk
of Senator Platt, Mr.. Croker said:-'s Mr..
Platt's firm are taking all the corpora
tions by retainers. They could not get
the city departments; the people would
not give to them The people put us IN
charge OF the city departments, and we
are responsible to the people for them, |
You find one of the city departments or
any one in the city department. who Is
doing wrong, and tell me, and I will be
one of the first persons to help get theaa
OUT
How about you, Mr.. Croker?'' asked
Mr.. Moss.
IF have done wrong, in the city de-
partments-if I have done wrong at all.
the city departments will discover it. I
would not last ten days If done wrong,
declared the Witness
Mr.. Croker said he was not afraid of
convicting himself or of discriminating
himself, but thought there was no law
or reason for Mr.. Moss to come down
here and examine into his private affairs.
Mr. Croker said there were no State
Senators present at the Tammany Club
dinner ON Thursday night because their