The record-union., 1899-04-22


the administration of Mayor Van Wyek.
but were not successful
Continuing, Mr.. Mcdonald said
Finally, it was arranged by Mr..
Braker with Mr. Croker that the stock
holders of the company should turn
over to Andrew Freedman 70 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.. McDona
was present when that arrangement
was made?
The witness said he was simply stat
ing what he had been told.
Continuing, Mr.. Mcdonald testified:
This stock was contributed by the-sif-
ferent stockholders pro rata, and was
issued to Mr. Freedman. Thereupon Mr.
Freedman was elected a member of tie
Board of Directors. The agreement on
,he part of Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Freed
man that as soon as possible the COM
pany would receive a contract for at
least 500 additional lights, possibly l.
000 additional lights. Now as ta
whether Mr.. Croker had carried out his
contract 1 don't know
Mr.. O'Sullivan, who represents .he
city departments, asked Mr.. Mcdonald
regarding his recent arrest "for issuing
bogus checks
Mr.. Mcdonald testified to his acquit-
tai on that charge. Mr.. O'Sullivan ask
ed: Were you not found with Chair
man Hackett of the Republican State
Committee in conference making ar
rdngementS concerning the silver wing
of the Democratic party?'
NO" said Mr. Mcdonald
Mr.. Mcdonald emphatically denied
any such treachery. What he did 60
was this: When we were al Albany
at the close of the last campaign, hav-
ing contest over my petition, which
was c-iminally and maliciously destroy
ed in the office of ex-senator Hill, after
consultation over the telephone with
that worthy gentleman, I went to Mr.
Burns and solicited him to contribute
money to make our contest in court. He
could not contribute any money He
said it was a matter of no concern of
the Republican party. No financial aid
had been given the Chicago platform
from any source.
The witness thought his arrest a few
days ago on the charge of giving checks
funds, was to prevent him from testi-
f! ing before this committee, and that
the checks in question must have peen
stolen from his office by scne .ramnany
man.
Andrew Freedman was called. He
held stock in the Flushing Gas Com
pany, but refused 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 sup
ply gas to light more lamps in Flushing
I'VE are" said the witness, Supplying
less now than previous to my going into
TIE company Mr.. Croker, he said,
knew nothing whatever about his hold
ing stock in the company.
Mr.. Freedman said he was connected
with the United States Fidelity Guar
antee Company. He said he had noth.
ing to do with politics Mr.. Croker had
never assisted him in getting stock in
any corporation, unless he himself ha1
paid for it. He had paid tor every
dCllar's worth of stock he owned. Mr..
Croker had paid for the stock he Owned
in the Fidelity and Guarantee Com
pany.
Mr.. Freedman refused to answer
whether there was a rate war between
MS company and the other COMPANY.
on the ground that the question was
not pertinent to the investigation.
Chairman Mazet instructed him 10
answer, but Mr.. Freedman refused.
Mr.. Freedman testified that his bona
company had paid no dividend.
Mr.. Moss drew Freedman's attention
10 the testimony of Mr. Croker. who
stated before the committee that he
got dividends regularly from the United
States Fidelity and Guarantee Com
pany
Mr. Freedman said he could expiain
II at very easily. AS manager of the
company he had salary and commits
SION, besides owning stock He divided
ms salary and commission with Mr..
croker, according to previous aSree-
ment. There was no contract for such
aAi arrangement. Mr.. Croker relies
upon my word said Mr. Freedman.
The witness refused to tell the exact
nature of the agreement he had made
With Mr.. Croker. Witness was very
anxious to have Mr.. Crokers friends hin
and association in this company. "on
account of the legion of friends that he
has got all over this committee
Mr. Freedman admitted that II was
not advertised that Mr.. Croker was in
terested in the company. "But his
friends know it, he explained.
Mr. Freedman said that he recaivad
$I9oO0 a year, and that he worked
very hard for it,
Do you divide your commission G
with Mr.. Croker?" asked the lawve~
I will not say that I divide them :,
said Mr.. Freedman, 81 will saw thar
Mr.. Croker received a proportion ,,
Mr. Freedman said he did not give
Mr.. Croker any part of his salary
Mr.. Mazet directed the Witness n
state what proportion of comnissionS
he paid to Mr.. Croker.
ME freedman refused to answer, en-
Tie ground that the agreement was of
personal nature. He said the COM
missions paid to the Tammany leader
CID not amount to $4,000 a year. hui
refused to say if they amounted to
$25,000 -
Mr freedman said there was no off.
clal record of the money paid to Mr.
croker. Mr.. Freedman stated that Mr.
Croker was not interested in any busi-
ness propositions with him. excentiro O
a small interest in the Fidelity snd
Guarantee Company"
Mr.. Moss said: II ask you if you ever
tcld Mr.. Croker or gave him to under
stand that the moneys paid him out of
TINS bond company are dividends
Mr. Croker might say that he ur5er-
stood that, and he really did so under
STAND It, said Mr.. Freedman. TT really
IS dividends ON the business that was
done; 1t was not stock dividends: it vas
a business dividend; that covers Mr.