New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-11


invidious in his association with the company
but before his examination was over he fire.
ouentIy hesitated before replying TO some OF
Mr. Moss pertinent and searching inquiries
Taking him first over the circumstances OF MS
FIRST introduction TO the company MT MOSS
ELECTED from the young man that he had given
no particular attention to ireproonng OF en-
cheering or buildings while at college. ana tha'
Il was at the Democratic Club, or somewhere
near there" that he first got the idea OK gong
into the Roebng's Sons Company. He had the
notion that he was TO go into the Jonn A
Roebling's Sons Company in a subordinate ca
pacity. but he wasn't bit surprised he SAID
when he was informed he was to be a stock
holder in the Roebling Construction Company, a
subsidiary corporation formed to take the fire.
proohng contracts out Of the hands OF the
parent company. The extent OF his holding in
the new company. he informed the committee.
was $1,000 but when Mr.. Moss came TO
inouire how he paid for the stock he became
sornew hat tangled in his answers. He first sta'eo
that he bought the shares by the payment vi q
check but later said that he had paid the Sl"VVo
IN hills which had been handed to him by his
father for the purpose of starting him IN the
freproonng business Mr.. Croker did not Kho"
what became OF the money. He gave IL 10 the
treasurer. and presumed that II had peeh
banked, but although the secretary OF the COM
pany at a salary Of $500 a year, he had not
the least idea Of the name of the bank in winch
the company's funds deposited. This state
n,ent seemed TO amaze Mr. Moss. and, proceed
ing 10 inquire into the methods OF the company,
he ascertained that all young Croker did for his
yearly $500 was to learn the business by
talks with our superintendent" The only real
work he admitted that ne had done as secretary
was TO sign contracts. Even the minutes OF the
organization meeting Of the company, heid IN
January last. had not yet been entered UP by
him. although he supposed 1t was part OF the
duties Of his office. Mr.. Moss was still anxious
10 obtain the name Of the companys bank. but
while Mr. Croker agreed that he received his
monthly pay by check he unable to recall
upon what bank the checks were drawn
THINGS HE CANNOT EXPLAIN
Nor was he able TO explain why II was that
he invested his money in the Roebling company
knowing that its ireproofng system was OBJ
1ected to by the Buildings Department or why
those objections should have been suddenly
dropped after he became stakeholder In the
Roebling concern. Mr. Croker had no answer
whatever TO make to question put by counsel
as 10 whether he did not think it was unfair to
his Observation-Disclosures to draw money which
must lessen their dividends for doing absolutely
witness was emphatic upon. and that was his
sureness that his cousin Deputy Assistant Dis
trict-Attorney Mccain, had not received $1,000
from the company to represent 1t before the
Building Code Commission. He knew this be-
cause he had access TO the books. Mr. Moss
could not quite understand why IT was that the
witness had such poor acquaintance with the
books as to be unable to tell where his
ST., 900 went In what bank the companys
money was deposited. he could be so positive
regarding Mr. McCann's Improbable connection
with the concern. The witness did not enlighten
him II may be remembered that Mr.. Hmmel-
wright the manager of the company, on Satur-
day testified that Cousin Mccain had received
q $1,000 retainer.
STARTS OUT WELL FAVORED.
Iron his own showing Frank Croker has
started his commercial career with more good
fortune than usually falls 20 the lot Of young
man. Apart from the enyiabe position of draw
ing $500 year for the privilege OF learning
a business he owns $1,000 worth of stock In
the United Company. recently formed con-
tracing and constructing corporation. for which
he has paid nothing at all, and has made no
arrangement. either. for payment in the future.
He was unaware also, Of the full names Of the
principal men in the concern. All he knew was
that his elder brother r. S. Croker. Mr.. Hink-
ley and himself held shares. and that the or
ganizers and principal stockholders were Mr..
Hun and Mr.. Livingston. but he did not know
their Christian names nor where they lived.
At this point Mr.. Cookers memory began to
fail him considerably, and especially when Mr..
Moss asked him IL he had not written letters to
the heads OF departments asking them TO use
certain materials in which he was interested.
He was unable TO inform Mr.. Moss also. whether
II was not true that other sons of Tammany
politicians" Eddie" Carroll and Bartholomew
Dunn. for nstance-had been as well favored
as himself in obtaining lucrative interests in
contract corporations.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Croker was allowed to
leave the stand, and he stepped down he
gave audible sigh Of relief. Mr.. Moss treat
ed the young man with the greatest consdera-
tlon throughout the examination, and did not
press him too severely at any time. but 1t
the general opinion OF those who followed the
evidence that he had succeeded in demonstrating
that the son OF the Tammany leader was con-
nected with the Roebling and United companies
more as a representative OF some one else than
In active capacity.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
At the close Of Mr. Cookers testimony a recess
was taken. When> the inquiry resumed
Thomas Walker builder Of East Twenty
third-st.. was put upon the stand He one
Of those indicted for manslsughter following
the Ireland Building collapse, when about If |
teen lives were lost. The witness stated that a |
friend called upon him three weeks ago and |
informed him that he had pull enough to get |
the indictment dismissed. No sum was men |
toned because the witness refused to consider |
the offer Walker would not publicly state the |
name OF the man who called upon him. but gave /
Every married man must ask his wife's permits |
sion TO make a success" That was a saying Of a |
wise old clergyman who knew that marriage was a |
partnership in the broadest sense and that there