The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-16

u eAeTCtSe tne-T own judgment ana mol
to come to him for advice upon such sub
jects. Witness again said he would con-
slider the Ramapo contract when 1t came
before him
When will it come before you?'' asked
Mr. Moss
when I send for tt"
When Will you send for it?"
None of your business
The witness was not convinced there
was fraud in the Ramapo contract and
advised counsel TO call Controller Coler
and Bridge Commissioner Shea, the only
city officials who had charged frauds
Counsel began formulating question as
to the duty of the mayor TO remove COM
miSsioners who We're Incompetent
s"Oh," broke in the mayor, you're talk
ing of removals ad you've been talking
of legislating me out Why don't you go
ahead and do it, and not be talking such
impertinence? And why don't you re-
ceive that list of stockholders you were
offered yesterday? You talk as though
Silas B. butcher. Levi P. Morton and
General Tracy, having stock in this COM
pany. are a pack of thieves"
Richard Croker followed Mayor Van
Wyck. He testified that he had not ad-
vised any of the commissioners on the
subject of tn Ranapo contract. Before
he went to Europe last spring commit
tee Of citizens had called upon the witness
TO urge the need Of an improved water
system. He was often visited by such
committees seeking his aid and influence.
Witness intended to inquire into the mer-
ifs of the RaroarO contract
''What are You going to do in the way
of advising these gentlemen of the board
of public improvement after you have
made your Investigations" asked Mr.
Moss.
'I am not going to tell you. You are
not here for a fair Investigation" re-
piled Mr.. Croker. You are here for one
side only. and for one purpose only. I've
been looking you up, as 1 said 1 would
when on the stand before. You told me
I might do it, and 1 have done 1t. viii
prove you now man of bad standing in
this city. I will give what know TO the
press here today. have here a decision
from the supreme court
So saying, Mr.. Croker handed a written
statement to the reporters present. The
statement concerning Mr.. Moss when
Mr.. Croker gave to the reporters was an
extract from an opinion of the justices
of the general term of the supreme. court
in a case in which there was introduced
as evidence a deposition attested before
Mr.. Moss and another as notary. Mr..
Moss was examined in court as to the
Authorization of the signatures of the
documents of the witness, but he admit
ted that the document was not signed in
his presence, and that he only knew the
witness through the introduction by the
principal Mr.. Justice Van Brunt ex-
pressed the opinion that the notaries
Zone of them Mr.. Moss should be GRIM
inalIy prosecuted for attesting documents
without having seen the signing of them
and without the knowledge Of the signer's
identity which the law requires,
AT the afternoon session the chief wit
nesses were Hugh Mclaughlin of Brook
lyn and Edwin Lauterbach. the latter
counsel for the Ramapo company Sew
eral communications were read, one CT |
which was from stuyvesant Fish, presi-
dent of the Illinois Central. asking that it
placed on record that his company had
no business transactions with Senator
L. I. 1ldpLs
Mr.. Mclaughlin. during the course of
his examination, pointed out that he had
not held public office for twenty-five
years, that he was merely a private citi-
zen and he therefore refused to answer a
number of questions which he deemed
concerned only his private affairs. He,
however, denied all association with Off
Gals of the Ramapo company in relation
to the proposed water contract and de- !
cIared that he had had no conference !
with Richard Croker concerning the mat |
ter. He had no hand. he said. in beat |
ing the Ramapo contract" and did not |
know of it until a week after it was beat |
en-. Mr.. Lauterbach went into details |
regarding the stock of the Rmaapo COM |
pany, the list Of which had been submit |
ted yesterday. representing S2,5OO,000. He |
had no knowledge of any transfer Of |
stock without payment except in his own
case, he having received 80 shares for |
services rendered. Mr.. Lauterbach point |
ed out that the Ramapo company in 1857 |
had acquired the right to condemn water |
rights, and had lost IL in 1890 BY the |
act Of 1895 1t again acquired the same 1
right. and he declared that during the |
past six months he could have sold his /
stock at par, showing the substantial /
condition OF the corporation.
The sitting was adjourned with Mr.. |
Lauterbach on the stand
a WOND CURE