Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-22

checks against bank in which he had
| no funds, was to prevent him from tes-
tifying before this committee and that
the checks in question must have been
stolen from his Office by some Tam
many man.
Andrew Freedman was called. He
held stock in the Flushing Gas Com
pany. but refused to state the amount
on the ground that it was a personal
matter. He denied that since he went
into the company il was allowed 10
supply more gas to light more lamps in
Flushing.
we arc" said the witness, supply
ing less now than previous to my going
into the company" Mr.. Croker. he
said. knew nothing whatsoever about
his holding stock in the company. SIR.
Freedman said he was connected with
the L. s. Fidelity and Guarantee Com
pany. He said he had nothing to dc
with politics. Mr.. Croker had never
assisted him in getting stock in any
corporation unless he himself had paid
for it. He had paid for every dollars
worth OF stock he owned. Mr.. Croker
had paid the stock he owned in the'
Fidelity & Guarantee Co. Mr.. Freed
man refused TO answer whether there
was a rate war between his company
and the other company, on the ground
that the question was not pertinent to
the investigation. Chairman Mazet in
structed him to answer, but Mr.. Freed
man refused. Mr.. Moss drew Mr.
Freedman's attention to the testimony
of Mr.. Croker, who stated before the
committee that he got dividends re-
gularly from the United States Fidelity
and Guarantee Company. Mr.. Freed
man said he could explain that very
easily. AS manager of the company
he had salary and commission, be-
side owning stock He divided his sal
airy and commission with Mr.. Croker,
was no contract for such an arrange
ment. ''Mr. Croker relies upon my
word" said Mr.. Freedman The wit
ness refused to tell the exact nature of
the agreement he had with Mr.. Croker.
Witness was very anxious to have Mr..
Cookers friendship and association in
this company ION account of the legion
of friends he has all over this coun-
try
Mr.. Freedman admitted he was not
advised that Mr.. Croker was interested
in the company, but his friends knew
it, he explained. Mr.. Freedman said
that he received $4,000 a year, and
that he worked very hard for it,
DO you divide your commissions
with Mr.. Croker?" asked the lawyer.
Il will not say that I divide them"
said Mr.. Freedman. Il will say that
Mr. Croker received a portion" Mr.
Freedman said he did not give Mr.
Croker any part of his salary. Mr.
Mazet directed the witness to state
what proportion of commissions he
paid to Mr.. Croker. Mr.. Freedman re-
fused to answer on the ground that the
agreement was of a personal nature.
He said the commissions paid to the
Tammany leader did not amount to
$4,000 year, but refused to say if they
amounted to S2500O Mr.. Freedman
said there was no official record Of the
money paid to Mr.. Croker. Mr. Freed
man stated that Mr.. Croker was not
interested in any business propositions
with him excepting "a small interest in
the United State Fidelity & Guarantee
Company"
Mr.. Moss said: 81 ask you if you
ever told Mr.. Croker or gave him to
understand that the moneys paid him
out of this bond company are divi-
dends.'
'Mr. Croker might say that he under
stood that, and he really did so under
stand it, said Mr.. Freedman. 1T
really is dividends on the business that
was one. 1t was not stock dividends,
it was business dividend. That COW
ers Mr. Croker
'Any other stockholders receiving
such dividends as that?" asked the law
yer.
Yes: I am" said the witness.
NOW, do you mean to say, Mr..
Freedman, that you told Mr.. Croker
that this money you were giving him
was given him by the company"
Il have replied to that. Mr.. Croker
might have believed that this was
stock dividend"
But did you give him to understand
that it was stock dividend?"
mo, sir
do you believe that your leader,