The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-15
CROKER SCORES MOSS
Lively Scenes at the Mazet Inquiry
In New York.
VAN WICK TAKES A HAND
SAY PROSECUTOR rs A MAN OF
BAD STANDING.
Document Produced Showing That
Supreme Court Had Once Advised
His Arrest For Questionable Work
as a Notary Public-Not Conduct
ing a Fair Investigation.

New York, Sept. H.-Mayor Robert
A. Van Wyck occupied the witness chair
before the assembly committee investi-
eating the various departments of the
municipal government. From the out
set the examination of the mayor by
Counsel Moss took the form of an ac-
rimonious colloquy, in the course of
which Mr.. Van Wyck intimated that
Mr., Moss was seeking to reach seat
on the supreme bench by pressing a
partisan investigation, and sneered at
counsePs attachments as a 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 enough for that when
it reached him officially. 1t was, wit
ness understood, a mere option, and
could do no harm to the city.
Witness had not consulted with the
heads of departments regarding the
contract. The officials, he said, were to
exercise their own judgment, and not
to come to him for advice upon such
subjects. Witness again said he would
consider the Ramapo contract when it
came before him.
when will it come before your" Mr..
Moss asked.
"When l send for it,
when will you send for it?"
None of your business"
Croker on the Stand.
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
Wyck. He testified that he had not adj
vised any of the commissioners on the
subject of the Ramapo contract. Be
fore he went to Europe last spring
committee of citizens had called upon
the witness to urge the need of an i'm
proved water system. He was often
visited by such committees seeking his
aid and influence. Witness intended to
inquire into the merits of the Ramapo
contract.
what are you going to do in the
way of advising these gentlemen in the
way of public improvement, after you
have made your investigation 2" asked
Mr.. Moss.
81 am not going to tell you. You're
not here for fair investigation, re-
piled MIR. Croker You're here for one
side only and for one purpose only. I've
been looking you up, as 1 said l would
when was ON the stand before. You
told me I might do it, and 1 have done
it. ! will prove you now a man of bad
standing in this city. I will give what
know to the press here today. have
here deposition from the supreme
court
Hot Shot For Moss.
So saying, Mr.. Croker handed writ
ten statement to the reporters present.
The statement concerning Mr.. Moss
which Mr.. Croker gave to the report
ers was an extract from AN opinion of
the justices of the general term of the
supreme court in a case in which there
was introduced as evidence a deposit
tion attested before Mr.. Moss and an
other as notaries public.
Mr.. Moss was examined in court as to
the authorization of the signatures of
the deponent and the witness, but he
admitted that the document was not
signed in his presence, and that he only
knew the witness through the intro
duction by the principal.
Mr.. Justice Van Brunt expressed the
opinion that the notaries Zone of them
Mr. Moss) should be criminally prose-
cuted for attesting instruments without
having seen the signing of them, and
without the knowledge of the signers'
identity, which the law requires.