The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-18
SOME STARTLING STATEMENTS
MADE TO THE MAZET COMMIT
TEE ny SIMON BUTuTNER
PCllCE SHARED IN SPOILS
MONEY SECURED FROM PATRONS
OF NEW YORK RESORTS d.
VIDED WITH OFFICERS
MR.. CROKER WAS ANGERED
Sharp Retorts to Many of the cues
tions Propounded by Inquisitor
Moss-Name Of Mr.. PIatt Is Again
Brought to the Attention of the
Mazet InvestigatOrs-COmm
Declines to Act in That Direction.


Mazet Investigators-Com
Declines to Act in That Direction.
NEW YORK, April II. Before tie Ma
yet legislative investigating committee,
today, Richard Croker was again the
principal object of 4Ir Moss eXaniiEa-
tion, and the most important develop
ment was the probability that the Tam
many chieftain and John r. Carroll would
be the subject of contempt proceedings
before the sta.e legislature adiourns.
When the oorlmI.lee began its inquiry
today about the first matter brought up
was resort known as the Broadway
Garden. which had flourished in the up
per Broadway district for some time. In
this place the alleged robbery of former
Mayor of Ire lton Frank Mcgowan too.
place, and Simon Buttner, tho former
proprietor of the garden, and several of
his walters were examined. Buttner made
some startling charges against Police
Captain Price, and his walters corrobo-
rated, in part, his testimony.
Buttner swore that Price threatened
90 close the Broadway Garden unless he
received $3.50 and half of any robbery that
was accomplished in 1t. He objected and
told Price he was running a straightfor-
ward game and letting out no rooms, but
according to the witness Price replied:
II don't care a d. If you let out hun
dred rooms night. want $3.50 a month"
AFTER PLATT.
Assemblyman HOFFMAN, offered a reso-
lution to have certain prominent men
summoned before the committee because
of a rumor that a certain law firm .by
and with the assistance of other persons
by corrupt methods, secured the passage
through the assembly" of the Astoria
gas franchise bill, whose real purpose
was Ito enable the Consolidated Gas
company to force a consolidation of all
the gas interests in the city to the end
that the supply of gas might be con-
trolled and the price regulated by the So
called consolidation"
Mr.. Hoffman wanted to subpoena the
law firm of Tracy, Boardman & Platt.
Elihu Root, the incorporators of the AS
toria Light Heat and Power company,
Thomas c. Platt, Benjamin B. Odell,
Leniuel Quigg and John D. Crimmins.
The resolution was defeated. however,
five Republicans opposing it and two
Democrats favoring It,
MR.. CROKER RECALLED.
Richard Croker was recalled. Mr.. Moss
asked him about the contributions made
by the judicial candidates last year. Mr.
Croker could not tell the amount Mr.
Croker said he was interested with Mr.
Freedman in the United States Bond COM
pany.
You know that all the bonded officers
of the city government take out their
bonds from your company" queried Mr..
Moss.
mot all Of them,'' said the witness.
Some take them out from your boss
company
This caused loud laughter.
do you mean Mr.. Platt's company?'
asked Mr.. Moss.
YES" said Mr.. Croker. you know
what 1 mean," and there was more laugh
ter.
Mr.. Croker presumed his own company
: had the majority of the business in the
city, and Mr.. Platt's in the state.
Mr.. Moss asked Mr.. Croker how much
he paid for his stock in the United States
Bond company, and whether the stock
was given to him upon the formation of
the company.
Mr.. Croker refused to answer and Mr.
Moss requested the committee to direct
the witness to answer. Mr.. MaZet so d.
rected.
'Will you answer, Mr. Croker?"
mo, SIR" said the witness firmly
please TO record the gentleman's re-
fusal to answer all of the questions con-
cerning the getting of stock, and whether
he had paid for it or not, or whether he
got 1t at the organization of the COM
pany," said Mr.. Moss
And record also that he declines to
answer on the ground that 1t is a purely
personal matter said Assemblyman
Hoffman,.
AN ANGRY RETORT.
When Mr.. Moss said that Mr.. Croker
had found that in business matters like
that of Peter Meyer & Co. members OF
the organization could help each other
Mr. Croker said angrily:
You are trying to make US out pack
of thieves in one combination together,
and you can't do 1t"
And you think that these questions
Indicate that persons who Go these things
are thieves?" Queried Mr.. Moss.
THAT is what you are trying to get
at" said Mr.. Croker, thoroughly aroused.
81 say that the people of the city OF New
OrK, when thSy VOleu LOT llChel,
voted to put in the organization. and be-
lieve in the organization, and believe that
the organization should run this city, and
when you were put out Of the police
board that is what you were put out for
because you were not an organization
man."
After further exchange of sharp words,
Mr.. Croker becoming greatly enraged, Mr..
Moss remarked that 1t was evident that
Mr.. Croker realized the seriousness Of
the occasion"
The Tammany leader retorted: mot
very serious. am not going away. 1
am. going to stay here until the circus
is over
You are not going to Europe?" said
Mr.. Moss.
II am going to be here to see how long
you are going to stay; you can have me
any day you want" replied the wit
- ness.
Mr.. Croker has said he is going to
stay with us and we can give him a lit
tie rest" said Mr.. Moss ct think Mr..
Croker, we will subpoena you for the
time being for week from today. and