The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-17
VAN WICK EXAMINED.
New York's Mayor Before the Ma
zet Investigating Committee.
he RBBUKEs AN IEsINUATIOE.

he RBBUKEs AN INsINUATI0E.
when Asked by Counsel Moss If He
Know OF "a Gentleman Named Van
wyck" Being Interested in Pool
Rooms lie Demanded an Inquiry.
New York. May 17.-Mayor Robert
A. Van Wyck was on the witness stand
yesterday before the Mazet investiga-
ting committee Mayor Van Wyck
gave II as his opinion that the conduct
OF affairs under the new charter has
been remarkably satisfactory, but re-
fused to express any opinion regard
ing changes in the city officers th't
might tend to improve the administra-
tion Of the city's affairs.
There was not much OF note about
the mayors testimony. and only on
one occasion did he find reason TO
make an outbreak. Counsel Moss
asked him if he knew James A. Ma
honey, and the mayor said he had
had business dealings with Mahoney in
Texas ten or twelve years ago. He
knew that Mahoney made books on
the race tracks, but did not know that
Mahoney was running pool rooms in
New York city. The mayor had never
heard that Mr. Mahoney, Mr.. Carroll
and Mr.. Sexton were jointly interested
in pool rooms.
Have you never heard" sneered
Mr.. Moss, that a gentleman named
Van Wyck was interested in them?"
For the first time the mayor was
aroused.
THAT is absolutely false" he shout
ed He wanted to know who told Mr..
Moss anything of the kind.
"These things are not easy to prove
retorted the counsel.
81 never had any connection with
any Illegal calling anywhere in the
world" shouted the mayor "You
knew that I was not interested in pool
rooms when you asked the question.
You knew that, and you wanted 10
bring it out for the purpose of creating
the impression that | was. l demand
that you bring out the evidence here
and show that l am connected with
pool rooms anywhere in the world OF
with anything else of an Illegal char
acter, and l think the chairman of this
| committee ought to enforce that re-
| quest"
Mr.. Moss told the mayor to wait a
| day or two with the committee, and
he would learn something that he evil
IDENTIFY knew nothing about. The
mayor insisted that Mr.. Moss be made
to call witness to prove the insinua.
! tion. Mr.. Hoffman backed up the re-
| quest. IF we are here to sully honest
mems regulations, said the Demo-
cratic member of the committee, 81
want to go on record as saying that II
is absolutely unfair" There was ap-
! plause at this, and Mr.. Mazet ordered
the sergeant-at-arms to clear the room
if there was another demonstration.
Mr.. Mazet said that the mayor him
self had accused Hamilton upon what
he admitted was only rumor. Mr.
Mazet maintained that the mayors
strenuous denial was all that was re
quired Mr. Hoffman again insisted
that the matter be at once investi-
gated. Mazet ended the matter by
saying that Mr.. Moss had distinctly
| disavowed any insinuation, and Mr.
Moss interjected the remark that hC
thought he had done the mayor a ser
vice. The mayor said that if he knew
of the existence of gambling houses h,
would order them closed, and that 1
they were not closed he would "comt
pretty near removing somebody"
Mayor Van Wyck asserted emphati
cally also that he had never consulted
with any one regarding the appoint
ments he had made, and that he him
self was the most powerful factor IN
the city administration, that he wal
guided absolutely by his own AFFAIR."
and not by those of Mr.. Croker mol
any one else. The mayor said that h
had dismissed Chief of Police McCul
lagh because he was not a fit man fol
the position, and that he had removed
Police Commissioners Philips an,
Hamilton because they were unfit. Tht
mayor said: Hamilton blackmaile,
the casino"
Police Commissioner Sexton. In hi
statement before the committee, sale
with reference to the appointment O.
Chief of Police Deverey, II wanted t
make Deverey chief. Deverey was m!
friend, and wanted to make him chic
of police, and l retired McCullagh."
President York explained the retire
ment of McCullagh by saying that
was a case of politics" and a desir,
to have harmony in the police depart
ment. He said, however, that McCul
lagh had been a good officer. Boil
police commissioners acknowledged
that they had heard of the pool rooms
being run in the city, ana said tina
efforts were being made to suppress
them. President York added, how
ever, that gambling had always ex
listed in New York, and that in hi
opinion it always would exist.
Ex-Chief McCullagh testified as Z