The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-22

lights, possibly a thousand additional hghtS-
Now, as to whether Mr. Croker had carried
out his contract or not. don't know"
Mr.. O'Sullivan, who represents the city
departments asked Mr.. Mcdonald regarding
his recent arrest "for issuing bogus checks"
Mr.. Mcdonald testified to his acquittal on
that charge.
DR.. O Sullivan asked: Were you not found
with Chairman Hackett. of the Republican
state committee, in conference, making ar
rangements concerning the silver wing of
the Democratic party?'
NO." said Mr.. Mcdonald.
Mr. Mcdonald emphatcally denied any
such treachery. What he did do was this.
he said: I'VE were at Albany at the close of
the last campaign, having a contest over
my petition, which was criminally and
malciOusly destroyed in the office of ex-
Senator Hill. After consultation over the
telephone with that gentleman, 1 went TO
Mr.. Burns and solicited him TO contribute
money to make our contest in the court. He
could not contribute any money. He said it
was a matter of no concern OF the Repub-
lican party" No financial aid had been
given the Chicago platform from any Repub-
lican source. Witness thought his arrest,
d few days ago, the charge of giving
checks against a bank in which he had no
funds. was to prevent him from testifying
before this committee, and that the checks
in question must have been stolen from his
office by some Tammany man.
FREEDMAN'S TESTIMONY.
Andrew Freedman was called. He held
stock in the Flushing Gas Company, but re-
fused to state the amount on the ground
that it was a personal matter. He denied
that after he went into the company it was
allowed to supply more gas to light more
lamps in Flushing. Mr.. Croker, he said.
knew nothing whatever about his holding
stock Il this company. Mr.. Freedman said
he WIS connected with the United States
Fidelity and Guarantee Company. He had
nothing to do 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
for the stock he owned in the Fidelity and
Guarantee Company. Mr. Freedman testi-
fled that his bonding company had paid no
dividend.
Mr.. Moss dew Mr.. Freedman's attention
to the testimony of Mr.. Croker, who stated
before the committee that he got dividends
regularly from the United States Fidelity
and Guarantee Company Mr.. Freedman
said he could explain that very easily. AS
H.dHdSeF OF the cO1updlly lie HdQ a salary
and commission, beside owning stock. He
divided his salary and commission with Mr..
Croker, according to previous agreemeIA
There was no contract for such an al
rangement
Mr.. Croker relies on my work." said Mr.
Freedman. The witness refused to tell the
exact nature of the agreement he had made
with Mr.. Croker. Witness was very anx-
ious to have Mr.. Crokers friendship and
association in this company ION account of
the legion of friends that he has got all
over the country
Mr.. Freedman admitted that 1t was not
advertised that MIR. Croker interested
in the company. But his friends know
it, he explained. Mr.. Freedman said he
received $4,000 a year and that he worked
very hard for il.
''Do you divide your commissions with
Mr.. Croker asked the lawyer.
Il will not say that l divide them" said
Mr. Freedman. Mr.. Croker receives a pro-
portion" He did not give Mr.. Croker any
part of his salary.
Mr.. Mazet directed the witness TO state
what proportion of commissions he paid Mr..
Croker.
Mr.. Freedman refused to answer on the
ground that the agreement of a per-
SOlldl IldluIc. Ilc Sdlu tie NOiiiulSSiOho poAu
to the Tammany leader did not amount to
$4,000 a year, but he refused to say if they
amounted to $4,000 Witness said there was
no official record of the money paid to Mr..
Croker. Mr.. Freedman said that Mr.. Croker
was not interested In any business PROPOSE
tions with him excepting "a small interest
in the United States Fidelity and Guarantee
Company" Mr.. Croker, he said, received
dividends on the business done; it was not
stock dividends, but a business dividend"
Any other stockholders receiving such
dividends as that?" asked the lawyer.
"Yes: am" said the witness.
But did you give Mr.. Croker to under
stand that it was stock dividend?"
mo, SIR
LIKE PLATTS SON.
do you believe that your leader, your
friend, the head of Tammany Hall in this
city," asked Mr.. Moss 'in the view Of the
people of this city, would stoop to the busi
ness of dividing your commissions in the
bond company, that bonds the city employees
do you believe that?"
Mr. Croker has not. Mr.. Croker has
simply had business arrangement with me,
the same as Mr. Platt's son has with his
father" replied Mr.. Freedman, somewhat
heatedIy He added: 'It is an old fight with
Mr.. Patt and Mr.. Platt's son and this COM
pany."
Mr. Moss wormed out of Mr. Freedman
that the profits he divided with Mr.. Croker
were mostly from bonding.
Chairman Mazet said: There is a discrep-
ancy between your testimony and Mr..
Croker's. If you have the record stand it
is the committee is satisfied
Mr.. Freedman averred that it had been
explained sufficiently"
Mr. Moss suspended Mr.. Freedman's ex-
amina ton for the day. Just as he left the
chair Mr.. Freedman said: Now, gentlemen
of the press here is a statement of the busi-
ness of the Platt company and the business
of our company; statement of the entire
business
Mr. Moss declared this TO be fragrant con-
tempt OF the committee Il want TO say
right here" he said, that We propose TO
look upon this contempt business in reg
ular and logical and orderly way and when a
sufficient number OF gentlemen have put
themselves in contempt of this committee we
Will take care OF them in bunch.
Frank A. Bell an employe of the Depart
ment of Taxes and Assessments. testified 10
the value OF Richard Crokers house in
Seventy-fourth street. Examination brought
out the fact that the valuation of the house
had been decreased by the assessors $4,000
since 1s9S.
Mr.. Mess next called Abraham Himmel