New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-14
TRAP SET FOR MAZET.
AID IS PROMISED IN RETiRN
FOR 4 LITTLE SECRECY
uoSS GETS LAUTERRACH'S OFFER RE-
JFCTED-FRANK PLATT on THE
STAND DENIES KNOWLEDGE
OF RAMAPO AFFAIRS.

STAND DENIES KNOWLEDGE
OF RAMAPO AFFAIRS.
The mos, interesting feature Of the Mazet
-or,,,ittec's hearing yesterday was the attempt
..,a. hv snas b. butcher and Edward Lauter-
...b 20 involve the committee in plan to con-
80, from the public the names Of the stockhold-
s~e ~ the Ramapo Water Company. Mr.. Dutch
49, ,,ro Sc president of the company had been put
-, rho stand almost at the close Of the day ;
,-..oss.~-s His subpoena had directed him to
,-osuce in court the stock book OF the company
~. hs sii not bring II. When Mr.. Moss asked
..,, VII. not Mr.. butcher declared that the
...,, hook was not IN his custody. but IN the
.,e,osv of the company's secretary, Horace q.
MON. who was away on his vacation-the
,'~ssiscn, could not tell where. nor had he
r.,de any effort 10 find out.
VI Moss then pontedly asked MI butcher
-...ta- h. intended to assist or hinder the COM
..,.,so i~ its investigation Of the Ramapo water
.a,tr and Mr. butcher replied significantly
~. 10 would assist the committee TO find out
e.,,hi~c Il had any business to find out but
n,,hn- more
rITFRBACTS KIND OFFER.
~ Moss frowned, and was apparently about
- cav something sharp when Mr. Lauterbach
..r,,s5 up IN the body of the room. and said
- r,s most suave manner that he believed he
IA ts ~ some assistance 10 Mr.. Moss at
49,. -o.~+ He then held UP what he said was
~ o,,,~ate list Of the stockholders OF the
80 water Company. and offered TO give I
. .h, Committee on one condition. which was
49,. q. ehould not he made public. To bolster
.ht- Queer rroDosition he argued that IN
- 80 The lniunctions brought against the
.,-,. and the action 70 annul It's charter
r..,seor, for the welfare ~ the company
,t., The names Of It's stockholders remain
secret . 49,.
.sen,,.., roason. and challenged Mr.. Lauterhach
:. ,.,,.os.-ate how the company's legal inter-
'..s c,.l5 he injured by making public the
...-os 90 IT'S stockholders. Mr. Lauteroach
49, sAtf,,j his ground and argued that so
.....r ofro,uv had been recently thrown up"h
The company that part Of q would a',a'n 70
,..,.,,. s.ockholder whose name became known
e~5 as counsel for the company ana heh'r i'll
oer,afn sense counsel for every stockholdef'
~ mus, defend them. as he said from '""'
Stigma which has been 50 unjustly thrown upo"
This oorranv. hut which. I can assure N"u'
will he removed before the work of this commit
Zee is done"
MOSS'S QUICK RETORr'
NJ Moss was quick 10 turn Mr.. Lauterhachs
amended arrunent against him. and retorted
.,s. if the obloouv complained Of Was so soon
>, no removed. little harm could accrue 70 the
s.,ctbolders through resting under II for so
l~si a time He also warned the committee
fha, r II accepted Ny. Iauterhach's oner the
general public would Immediately suspect that
the committee was willing to cover up 'he
names Of certain politicians who are suspected
of being the real promoters and hackers Of the
er~rt 10 swindle the city through the Board OF
Public improvements. The upshot Of the argu-
r,ert was that Mr.. Mazet told Mr.. Lauierhach
- Keep his list Of stockholders until the com
rri--e4 had time 10 take vote on his piop'Sl-
,ior Mr. Moss told Tribune reporter last
night that the offer had been rejected
r was not thought at all probable that the
o,--.,f.tee would accept. especially as Mr.
butcher inadvertently revealed where the
e.oc. hook was. Mr. Moss had asked Mr.. Lau-
,.srAs-h how the committee could feel certain
that his proffered list was accurate ana Mr'
1artsrfacb replied that the committee could
send any one IN its employ over TO Brooklyn 10
eor--sra the list with the stock book. addins'
orss e.o-k hook IN the safe of a certain
,rust oompany over there, is It not Mr..
Dutoh-ro"
Mr. butcher. taken unawares by his own
counsel nodded assent and then looked mad
as hornet. lie could just as easily have s"ld
that es the book was in the CUSTODY or MI
Is-ro~- m one but Mr. Lamont could be ahso-
lu,elv sure where it was. As MI Du''her is
rrss.5.-- = the Hamilton Trust Company IN
Brook'vr II NJ once became pretty evident
vber. the book was and also that Mr. butcher
could -roduce It if he wanted TO.
pvTcHER REFUSES TO ANSWER
The .-ss,5ert NJ the Ramapo Water Company
show. disposition 20 be recalciuant almost
as soar as he began to testify. lie admitted
that his coming president Of the company Was
almost colncdent with his becoming STOCK
holder herein. bur refused 70 tell whom he
houph, his stock from Being urged to answer
the question. he replied: Il refuse. for the
present"
Il wa. red letter day for Assemhlyman
Honma- the Tammany champion on the com
mite. Ills chance for display came When
Frank p,att son Of Senator Platt and
nerrtor & the law firm Of Tracy, Boardman &
Par was put on the stand Mr. Moss lad eN-
amlne1 Nr Platt briefly and was a"oul 10 u's-
miss t., when Nj Hoffman, putting on ms
fer.aet .,ero took the witness into his own
faree D- me senator's son he rained per
fect shower ~ questions. He asked leading
Questo.s De asked involved questions NJ asKea
oonral tory questions. ne asked uhsIii.,n",
ical e..et.-rs he asked meaningless questions,
h. ast.. personal questions he asked insulting
questions. De- asked any and all sorts OF q"es,
tons aud withal he asked many pointed ana
pertinent stors. the true answers w "''0''
The Yu Ie wanted 10 know
HOFFMAN REFUSES MOSS.
Mr. Moss twice requested to have certain
Questions repeated before the witness answered
then Saying .n sarcastic tones that ne wanted
10 secure them as models.
"Are y.l acting as counsel for Mr.. Platt"
cenarled Mr. Hoffman sharply