The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-19
Trying TO Prove Interests Held by Freed
man and Plat Surety Companies.
Police Commissioners Hess and
Abel on the Stand for a Short
Time, the Former Agreeing with
Counsel Moss in an Expression
of Opinion That Facts of a
Suspicious Nature Had Been
Presented Before the Commit
tee.

NEW YORK, May 1S-The Mazet
Comittee spent the greater part of the
day in an attempt to show the re-
spective bonding interests of city en-
ployes held by the so-called Freedman
and the so-called Platt Surety Com
panies. Counsel Moss for the commit
tee, after an elaborate examination in
to this matter, said that the significant
feature of what has been shown was
the growth of the Freedman Company,
the youngest of all the bonding COM
panies during the past year or two, in
the bonding of city officials.
Police Commissioners Hess and Abel
We're on the stand for a short time to-
day. Commissioner Hess agreed with
counsel Moss in an expression of an
opinion that facts of a suspicious ma
ture had been presented before the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Hess said it was the duty of the
against poolroom keepers as was brought
out in yesterdays examination of Agent
Wood. The fact that the Captains
unanimously reported their precincts
free of crime and vice had caused some
suspicion in his mind that the Captains
were lying in their reports"
Mr.. Moss asked: What do you con-
ceive to be your duty with regard to the
Chief and the other subordinate officials
of the department
Mr.. Hess answered: ITO Immediately
start an investigation
He did not believe that gambling
could be suppressed entirely, but
thought it could be reduced to a mini
mum.
Mr.. Moss brought out the fact that
when Chief Devery was on the stand
before the committee about a month
ago the list of poolrooms, most of
which were testified to yesterday, was
placed in his hands.
Mr.. Hess testified that he applied for
his bonds as Commissioner to the FL
deity Company of Maryland, Mr.
Platt's company" the witness ex-
planned. At first they said they were
glad to take him, but afterward refused
him.
Mr.. Hess said their refusal had moth
ing to do with his responsibility. He
supposed they had heard from some
where Then he was bonded in the
United States Guarantee Company. the
Freedman Croker concern. Mr.. Hess
said he got a reduction in bonding rates
because Mr.. Freedman was an old
friend.
Mr.. Hess testified that as Treasurer
of the Police Board he had divided the
deposit of the pension fund, amounting
to about $1,000 between the Bowery
National and Garfield National Banks
1t formerly was all in the Bowery con-
Germ. He gave several reasons for this
change, but finally admitted that Com
missioner Sexton might have first sug-
gested the change.
James P. Heating. Commissioner of
Highways, was the next witness. When
cent of his yearly salary, 81 800 to po-
litical expenses of his district. Mr..
Heating said he could not tell He had
contributed as usual, but could not re-
member how much. He did not know
that it was a general thing for city en-
ployes to contribute per cent. of their
salary to their party.
Mr. Heating had not spoken to Mr..
Croker about his department His de-
partment had given all the auction
sales to Peter F. Myer & Co. He knew
that Mr.. Croker was a partner in that
firm, but did not know if he knew it
when the sales were awarded. Mr.
Myer was the only auctioneer he knew.
Mr.. Heating said he was bonded in
Mr.. Freedman's company, as were ali
the employees of his department Mr.
Heating did not know that Mr. Croker
was interested in that company.
Comptroller Golfer was called and
testified that two or three weeks after
his nomination to the COMPREHENSIVE
he subscribed $1,000 to the New York
County and $1,000 to the Kings County
Democratic organization. He had also
subscribed $4,000 or $1,000 in addi-
ton
The list of the bonds filed in the
Comptroller's office by city employees
and heads of departments gave the
Freedman company 81, 405, 900, as com
pared with $4,000 in the Platt COM
pany
Police Commissioner Abel was the
first witness called to the stand at the
afternoon session.
The name of the late Police Captain
O'Keefe came up, and Mr. Moss sprung
a genuine sensation by asking Mr. Abel
if the police had ever investigated
O'Keefe's death. Mr.. Abel said he
thought O'Keefe died from an accident
Don't you know" said Mr.. Moss,
that at this day that neighborhood is
full of the rumor that has never been
properly investigated by the police de-
partment, that O'Keefe was killed be-
cause he had knowledge of a guilty plot
to remove another man from this life.
and it was not safe to let him live with
that knowledge?"
Commissioner Abel had never heard
of it.
Mr.. Moss said there might be no
tangible evidence to base the rumors
on, but, he added, You don't expect
tangible evidence in the Molineux or
other similar cases." to which Mr.. Abel
agreed.
Mr.. Moss referred to M. c. Gurk's
place on the Bowery, sometime called
1.-The Suicide Dive because so many
young girls killed themselves there.
Mr.. Abel said it was shut up now