New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
CROKER PLANS REVENGE.
TALK OF A MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY INVES-
TIGATION ITO GET EVEN"
THD TAMMANY CHIEFTAIN SAYS HE DOES NOT
THINK HE CAN BE PUNISHED FOR REFUs-
ING TO ANSWER oUEsTIoNs-THE

MEETING ON FRIDAY.
Richard Croker ana his deputy John +. Car
roll. smilingly intimated yesterday that the
Legislature wouldn't dare to do anything to
them for refusing to answer questions. on the
other hand, 1t is no secret around the Demo-
cratic Club that Croker is planning to get
even" Mysterious whispers are heard there
TO the next investigation" and what "the old
man" will do to retaliate upon the Republican
party for the appointment Of the Mazet com
mittee. Members say that an investigation by
the Municipal Assembly is close at hand. and
that Mr. Croker deferred his trip to England not
only on account of the Mazet committee, but
also because OF his desire to perfect plans for
the appointment of committee to investigate
those whom Mr.. Croker has denounced to Mr.
Moss being the fountain-heads of corruption
in this city. Mr.. Croker has gone record as
opposing Investigations for spite" or revenge"
but it is said upon excellent authority that he is
planning such investigation and is actuated
by such motives
When Mr.. Croker was asked yesterday what
he thought OF the way the investigation had
gone far ne replied: well, / don't see that
they have got far They seem to be cropping in
the dark, but it must be apparent to every one
that they have no good leads I don't think they
have been conducting this investigation in a
me waiting in an unnecessary manner, but they
have also sandwched my testimony in with
that of crooks and thieves with the apparent
idea of making the public think that this class
of people are my natural associates"
do you think the committee will be able to
punish you and Mr. Carroll and Mr.. Meyer for
your refusal to answer questions?' asked.
Il don't think" answered Mr.. Croker, that
we can be punished for refusing to answer ques-
tions that the committee had right to ask.
Speaking from personal standpoint. 1 think
answered a great many questions that were
purely personal: but because / refused to tell all
my private business to the committee is
son why should be punished for contempt It
was foolish for the committee to think they
could ask about my auto-truck company.
That company required franchise and
rights from the city. Any is free to run
cabs through the streets If they will go to the
trouble to build them. My owning stock in that
company had about as much relevancy to cor
ruption in city departments as Mr.. Mazet's
divorce; and l was, indeed, sorry to hear Of his
domestic trouble and he is to be praised for try
ing to keep it quiet"
The fact that Assemblyman Mazet, chairman
of the Investigating Committee, had obtained
divorce from his wife on January g. was pub
lshed yesterday with the statement that the de-
cree and the evidence upon which IL was
granted han been kept secret few months
The decree obtained statutory grounds
n. ]. Parker. Of wRrunswick. N j.. being
named correspondent. Mr.. Mazet has de-
clared that he wished TO have the proceedings
and evidence on which the divorce was secured
kept from publication. not because he would be
harmed by the publicity, but because 1t would
hurt the woman who had been his wife.
Frank Moss. counsel to the investigating COM
mittee, said yesterday that the refusal of Mr..
Croker and Mr.. Carroll to answer questions put
to them In the investigation was not only con-
tempt, but also a msdemeanor. There was a
law he said which made refusal to answer
questions asked before a Legislative investigat-
ing committee a misdemeanor He declined to
say what steps might be taken to punish Mr..
Croker and Mr. Carroll. but he said there was
no need for haste in such proceedings. Both
Mr.. Croker and Mr. Carroll under subpoena
and to be subjected to more questioning be-
fore the committee. II may be that they Will
purge themselves Of contempt. In the Lexow
Committees investigation there were two wit
nesses who were guilty Of contempt in refusing
to answer questions for time. but they were
allowed TO escape summary punishment when
they changed their minds and answered the
questions.
Mr. Moss said yesterday that he would give
no information to the witnesses to be exam
ined next Friday TO the lines of inquiry TO
be followed on that day. He might not decide
until tomorrow night. he said what witnesses
to call. All guesses and predictions to the
character of the evidence to be presented on
Friday We're likely to be wide of the mark. The
investigation is to take wide range before it
is concluded. Il expect that the investigation
is to last all summer" Mr. Moss said.
There. was no change yesterday in the atti-
toward the investigation. The usual Tuesday
afternoon meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Society for the Prevention Of Crime did
not take place. The Rev. Thomas r. Slicer.
chairman Of the City Clubs Committee on Mu-
nicipa Affairs, has become active in giving as
sistance to the investigating committee.