The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-04-20
TESTIMONY
Isore the Committee 1nvestigat-
ing New York's Politics.
70 TN TECHNICAL CONTEMPT.

.sdinps Maybe Observation-Disclosures
rammany Leader and John +.
..rol, Before the Adjournment of
;. state Legislature.
New York, April 1S.-In the session
,bs Mazet Legislative Investigating
um,ttee Yesterday Richard Croker
: again the principal object Of Mr..
&C. examination, and the most i'm
rtant development was the probable
that the Tammany chieftain and
Inn F. Carroll will be the subject OF
ntempt proceedings before the state
r;slature shall adjourn. All during
sterday's evidence Mr.. Croker par
N the questions Of the counsel OF the
mmittee.
An adjournment Of the committee
IS taken yesterday until next Fri
morning, and Mr.. Croker was sub
enaed to appear before the session
ut Monday morning. BY the initia-
e of Mr.. Moss, many Of whose Ques-
ms Mr.. Croker repeatedly refused to
aver. and with whom he had several
lilies that came very near being per-
hal. the chairman Of the commit
took such action as would leave
Croker in technical contempt. 1t
stated that when Mr.. Fallow. OF
committee, left yesterday after
on for Albany he had instructions
prepare papers adjudging Mr.. Croker
d John F. Carroll In contempt.
When the committee began yester-
y's inquiry. about the first thing
ought up was a resort known as the
Roadway Garden, which had -four
he'd in the upper Broadway district
some time. Simon Buttner, the
rmer proprietor, testified that Police
ptain Price had made him pay out
geously for protection. He said the
|st thing Price did was to threaten
close the place unless he price,
ceived $3.50 at once and half Of the
bbery that was accomplished in 1t.
httner declared he was also forced
patronize certain wholesalers.
An attempt by Assemblyman Hoff-
bn to have subpoenaed the law firm
Tracy, Boardman & Platt, Elihu
bot, the incorporators Of the Astoria
Eat, Light and Power company,
homas F. Plat, Benjamin ]. Odell,
Smuel Quigg and John d. Trimmins,
ks defeated, five Republicans Op-
sing and two Democrats favoring It.
Richard Croker testified that the
lice did not contribute q cent to the
Smmany campaign last year. but that
e officeholders did. He could not
j the amount Of money raised last
ar, nor did he know in what bank
E funds were kept. He said he had
ver received cent from Bourke
)ckran. He also swore he was never
ught short with, Manhattan IL"
bck. and did not lose 327 900, as re-
rted.
When Mr.. Moss said that Mr.. Croker
ID found that in business matters,
ke that Of Peter Meyer & Co., mem
rs Of the organization could help
IA other, Mr.. Croker said angrily:
Pou are trying to make us out a
ck Of thieves In one combination to-
ther, and you can't do It"
"And you think that these questions
dicate that persons who do these
Pings are thieves?" "Queried Mr.. Moss.
THAT is what you are trying to get
said Mr.. Croker. thoroughly arous-
Il say that the people Of the city
New York. when they voted for our
|cket, voted to put In the oreaniza-
|pn and believed In the organization
pd believed that the organization
Pould run this city. And when you
|ere put out of the police board that
what you were put out for-because
pu were not an organization man."
After further exchange Of sharp
|ords, Mr.. Croker becoming enraged,
Fr. Moss remarked that It was evi-
ent that Mr.. Croker realized the "seri-
hsness OF the occasion" The Tam
ANY leader retorted:
Not very serious. I am not going
way. I am going to stay here until
le circus is over. You can have me
ny day you want"
Later on Mr.. Moss asked: Have
,u not during the last year received
rye sums Of money from individuals
hich were not your profit or earnings
ON any business?"
MOI" shouted Mr.. Croker, and he
'peated his answer.
MI Croker was seen at the Demo-
Fatic club last night and asked II he
I'D any comment to make upon the
pfusal Of the Maxet committee to
Pbpoena Tracy. Boardman, Platt and
(hers alleged to have been interested
the Astoria Gas franchise. II am
pt at all surprised by that action"
lid Mr.. Croker. why should the
'mmitttee call Tracy, Boardman and
latt! What would 1t amount to?
Thy, simply that Tracy. Boardman and
latt had summoned Tracy, Boardman
I'D Plat to be Investigated"
Mr.. Croker was first placed on the
and on Friday last, and his testi-
ony has been intensely dramatic
lroughout. When he first went on
10 stand Mr.. Moss conducted q line
questioning which Mr.. Croker evil
.ntly believed was q loss Of time, for
suddenly leaned forward and said:
1T is not necessary to bring up what
'erybody knows. There is no use
aging to the gallery; there Is no use
aking speeches. I am the leader of
le party, and I acknowledge 1t. All
ese people are my friends. and I am
'ing to stick to them all the time"
At another point Mr.. Croker said i'm
essively: III you can show where
I'VE taken a single dollar from this