The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-04-28
MANY ARE IN CONTEMPT.
Witnesses Refuse to Testify In the
Gotham Lexow Inquiry.
ANDREW FREEDMAN DEFIANT.

New YORK, April 90 Two exciting
sessions of the Mazet investigation
committee were held yesterday. A
feature was the refusal of the wit
nesses to give testimony. Another
feature was the defiant attitude OF
Andrew Freedman on the stand; and
still another feature, the election
from the committee room Of Abraham
Himmelwright, of the Roebling COM
pany, when he insisted upon making
a statement after he had refused to
answer a great majority OF questions
put to him by Mr.. Moss, counsel for
the committee.
The chief interest conferred in An
drew Freedman, who, within recent
wears, had been known as warm per-
sonal friend of Mr.. Cookers and asso-
ciated with him in a business way.
Mr. Freedman was more than ordi-
narily forciblc in his answers to some
of the questions, and many of the
questions he refused to answer at all.
At other times he was rebuked by
both Mr. Moss and Chairman Mazet
for what they termed 'impertinence. "
After Mr.. Freedman's examination
had progressed TO a certain point, and
the witness had refused several times
to answer question which he deemed
"a personal NATTER Mr.. Moss ex-
cused him for the day.
Mr.. Freedman then got down from
the stand and, turning to the news
paper reporters, he handed them
paper, saying;
Gentlemen of the press, here is
statement of the entire business of
the Platt company and of the business
of our company for publication.
This was a paper relating TO the
business done by the United States
Fidelity and Guarantee company, in
which Mr. Freedman and Mr.. Croker
are interested, and contained infor-
nation which Mr.. Moss had desired to
! get at during the course of the exam
nation.
Mr.. Moss, therefore, was very indig-
nant at Frcedman's action and he de-
nounced the witness vehemently and
recalled him to the stand. The ques-
tions which he put with regard to the
paper TO Freedman were not answered,
the witness refusing absolutely to
state by whom the paper had been
prepared.
At this iuncture, Mr.. Moss took oc-
casion to say that those witnesses
who were in contempt would be dealt
with later il regular and logical
way.
Abraham IIimmelwright, OF the
Roebling company, refused, at the
very outset Of his examination, to
answer questions and entered into a
discussion at the slightest opportuni-
ty. After several long wrangle3 the
witness insisted upon making an eX-
PLANTATION. He was ordered down
from the witness stand by Chairman
Mazet but refused to leave the stand.
Then Mr. Moss called for the sergeant
alarms and Himmelwright was escort
ed from the room.
Henry NJ Mcdonald, the nominee
of the Chicago platform Democracy
| for governor at the last state election,
was a witness. He stated that
he was a lawyer and now lived in
Mineral City, Va. Mr.. Moss asked
Mcdonald: you have some knowl-
edge of the affairs connected With the
Flushing Gas company?'
Mr.. Mcdonald said he had. He
stated that William b. Burnett, a di-
rector of that gas company, was a
close associate of his and that from
him he had learned the various facts.
Mr. Mcdonald said the gas company
was reorganized in the beginning of
1898 and that Henry j. Braker, q mem
Der of the Democratic club, and the
present owner of the Democratic club
building, and another man purchased
the first mortgage bonds of the COM
pany and were made directors. Soon
after this, Mr.. Mcdonald said, the
Flushing company endeavored to OBJ
tain contract from New York city,
under the administration of Mayor
Van Wyck, but were not successful.
Continuing, Mr.. Mcdonald said: "Fi-
nally, it was arranged by Mr.. Braker
with Mr. Croker that the stockholders
OF inc company SuOuLu TURN ONer W
Andrew Freedman 20 per cent of the
stock of the company to be held for
the benefit of Mr.. Croker and Mr..
Freedman.
Mr.. Hoffman ASKED if Mr. Mcdonald
was present when the arrangement
was made Mcdonald said he was
simply stating what he had been told.
This stock was contributed by diff
ferent stockholders pro rata and was
issued to Freedman, the witness con-
tinued. ''Thereupon Mr.. Freedman
was elected a member of the board of
directors. The agreement upon the
part of Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Freedman
was that as soon as possible the COM
pany would receive a contract for at
least 500 additional lights, or possibly
1000 additional lights. Now as to
whether Mr.. Croker carried out his
contract or not don't know"
No More Auctions of Migrants.
RICHMOND, KY, April 22.-The Ken
| I'll.