New-York tribune., 1900-05-24
ICE MEN PLEAD NOT GUILTY..
PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICERS OF
THE TRUST ARRAIGNED IN
POLICE COURT

Robert A. Scott. secretary of the American Ice
Company at the jefferson Market Police Court
yesterday afternoon. but he did not produce the
stock books of the company. No save Mr..
Scott knows whether he had all the books with
him not. because he asked show
them. 1t so happened that Clarence ]. Shearn,
counsel for William R. Hearst the complainant,
devoted much time trying to show that the
American, the Knickerbocker and the Consolidat ed
Ice companies were all one and the same thing
that o'clock came before he got down to the ex-
animation of the stock books. and thus Mr. Scott
was spared the ordeal of explaining the book
keeping of his S60.0O0OOO concern.
The hearing adjourned till tomorrow at
2S0 O'Clock. and Mr.. Shearn said last night that
at that time he would go at the matter of ex-
amning the books the first thing. The books are
expected TO show that Mayor Van Wyck ex-Justice
Augustus Van Wyck. John F. Carroll and others
are large holders the shares
The prosec Ition will also ask Vice-President
Schoonmaker to explain how it that he could
truthfully assert September last in his appli-
cation to the Stock Exchange TO have the shares
or the American Ice Company put on the unlisted
list that the American Ice Company owned the
knickerbocker and Consolidated companies and
owned and controlled thirty ice bridges piers
while, as a matter of fact. it appears that 1t was
not until November that the American company
secured a bill of sale of the Knickerbocker COM
pany of Maine. The prosecution will also attempt
to prove that Messrs. Reilly, Bauer Benedict
Church and Bennett. whose names appear In the
booker or the Consolidated company, ordinary
clerks in the employ of the American Company
at the general offices in East Twenty and
that there is in reality only one company
De Lancey Ncol for the defence at one point
in the hearing yesterday off by saying that
the American Ice Company did not lease a single
dock or bridge in the city, and that the Consoli-
dated and knickerbocker companies together leased
only five. The affidavit of Vice President Schoon-
maker presented the Attorney sets forth
hat tha
twenty-nine docks.
The hearing was resumed yesterday at 2:3O o'clock
In the private examination room, which was
crowded with lawyers. reporters and the numerous
counsel for both sides. There were present for the
complainant c. j. Shearn and B. F. Einstein, of the
firm of Einstein & Townsend; for President Charles
w. Morse De Lancey Nicon and John D. Lindsay
and for the remaining officers and directors of the
ice company William Rand. jr.. of DAILY. Hoyt &
Mason; attorneys for the American Ice Company
OF the defendants President Morse First Vice
President John d. Schoonmaker and Edwin Camp
bell, a director. were the only present "
the hearing was resumed although Secretary Scott
Court, Mr. Nicoii named those present and u was va
asked why the remaining defendant officers and di-
issued Mr. Nicon said that ali who had been
explained that three Of his clients, Messrs' Hunt
Eler and Church. all directors. had not yet been
were in reality prisoners and were merely by
courtesy at large n Mr.; Nicolrs custody The
were absent by agreement. 1T thought
necessary
Magistrate Zeller became heated. and said
Il propose to have this case conducted in a regu-
lar manner 1t should not be different in this than
in any other case and II these defendants are not
all in court the next hearing | will issue war
rants for their immediate arrest"
The continuation Of the examination of the com
plainant, Walter r. Howard of The New-York
Journal" developed nothing
Secretary Scott of the American company testi-
fed he is also secretary and treasurer OF the
Knickerbocker Ice Company of Maine He could
not remember whether the company held more than
two meetings in the last year He contradicted
himself by saying that none of the Knicker booker
company's books were in this city. and
afterward admitted under cross examination that
the Knickerbocker company held directors
ings at the American company's building. in East