New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-22
DIVIDES WITH CROKER.
F'REEDMAN'S s DISCLOSURES ON
HIS BOND BUSINESS.

NAMES SOME VALUABLE
Ns-HIMMELwRIGHT
NOW HAS THE personal
AFFAIRS" FEVER.
Unless some drastic action is speedily takso
to punish the persistent contumacy OF some a
the witnesses appearing before the Mazet Ine
vestigating Committee. the work Of that body
Is likely to be seriously impeded. Yesterdays
sitting OF the committee far less fruitful
than It should have been. owing to the defiant
attitude Of the two most important witnesses Of
the day. These men were Andrew Freedman,
who had he been compelled to answer the in
Quires put to him. would have thrown consid-
erable light upon the Where did he get 1T"
puzzle applied to Richard Crokers accounts
laton Of money, and Abraham Himmelwright,
the manager OF the Roebling company, whose
manner upon the stand when questioned as to
the sudden favor into which the Roebling nre.
proof material was taken by the Buildings De-
partment after Frank II. Croker Joined the com.
pany. even more recalcitrant than Freed.
mans The questions put to these two Wit
nesses which they refused to answer were ger
name in every way to the intent Of the whole In.
quiry.
FREEDMAN INSULTING.
Mr. Freedman was insulting to the counset
and the members OF the committee individually
and collectively while Mr.. Himmelwright treat.
ed the proceedings huge Joke. He 80
openly disregarded the authority OF the com-
mittee in fact that Mr. Moss specially request-
ed that his contemptuous conduct should be re.
corded upon the official minutes. The diner.
ence in the department of Mr. Himmelwright
yesterday and when in the witness chair on the
first day Of the investigation was remarkable.
Upon the first occasion that he was called no
was obedient and respectful In demeanor. ana.
apart from periodical apses Of memory, replied
fairly satisfactorily to all the queries put to him.
and gave valuable Information as to the con-
nection of Frank II. Croker and Charles E. f.
McCann nephew of Richard Croker, with tho
Roebling company. Yesterday emuating the
example set In the first instance by the Tam
many leader and John F. Carroll. he was un.
compromsingiy recusant, much so that II
was a matter Of slight degree whether he or
Freedman the more impudently perverse
witness BY both men the directions OF the
chairman set at naught. To such ques-
tions OF any pertnence as they deigned to an
swer they persisted In making long. irrelevant
explanations" and declined to obey the ruiz
ings Of Mr. Mazet when he endeavored to keep
them within the line Of the inquiry. In Short
1t was made apparent yesterday more than at
any other time since the committee began it,
work that some steps must be taken TO over
come the studied contrariness Of hostile witt
nesses.
When Mr.. Mazet spoken to on this mat
ter by a Tribune reporter at the close Of yes.
terday's session. he said that undoubtedly some
action would be taken by the Assembly on the
hut of
committee was dsincned to proceed to any
extreme step until the examination OF the witt
nesses was completed in preliminary sense as
far as possible. It was obvious. however TO
those who were In court yesterday and saw the
disgraceful exhibition of Freedman and his to-
tally undisguised contempt that the committee
cannot afford, without weakening its standings
to make a moments concession to the recalci-
trants who swagger and vapor when any ques-
ton is put to them bearing in the most indirect
way upon the conditions which the committee
is endeavoring to shed light upon.
FOLLOWING CROKER'S LEAD.
Not only this. but the saucy attitude which
Mr. Croker and his followers have adopted 10
being reflected in the subordinate city ofncials
who are called upon to give evidence Win
equal effrontery they. copying the precedent OK
the men whom they are proud to acknowledge
as their masters are becoming supercilious tow
ard the committee, and are seeking reruse Do
hind the plea of personal affairs" even when
those affairs relate to the conduct OF the Guys
government. Consequently. in the opinion OF
many people it is imperative that the Assem-"
b-v should be advised to compel the men mainly
resnonsible for the defiance exhibited yesterday
% nurge themselves of their contempt. Tho
stott AQqer
mittee cannot allow themselves TO be insuiteo
NV sucb insolence as Carroll. Meyer. Freedman
and Croker himself have exhibited on the stand
Tho committee resumed its inquiry In the
rooms OF the Board OF Trade and Transports
,,or No 2O3 Broadway The first witness calico
,,os Horny NJ Mcdonald, who was the chicago
platform nominee for Governor In the last eiecs
,,or Mr. Mcdonald had some extremely IN
,rest,np not TO say startling. testimony to tell.
60 far there has been admitted difficulty In de
rectIv connecting Richard Croker with any
scheme to make money by bartering to indiVio"
.uIs his influence with the city authorities Mrs
McDonald's testimony was brief, put sumceo
10 nut Mr. Croker In an exceedingly unco"'
Portable position. He swore that after Tam"
many's victory In the Mayoralty election MS
company the Flushing Gas Company sought 10
obtain from the city a contract to supply ITO"
duo hundred TO one thousand lights In the
streets OF Flushing Henry J. Braker. TO whom
Mr. Croker transferred his purchase OF the OLD
New-york Athletic Club building. was induced
TO toin the company and then Mr.. braksF
hrought the desire Of the gas company FOR fuf~
ther street lighting privileges to the knowledge
a, Mr. Croker At first the company was not
successful in It's efforts but finally. the witness
deno.ed Mr.. Braker arranged with Mr.. Croker
that stock Of the company should be turned ovsr
20 Andrew Freedman. for the joint benent OF
croker and Freedman. In pursuance OF tnis
agreement. Freedman was made director Of
the company.