New-York tribune., 1902-10-01
DELANY CALLS IT A PLOT
SAYS THAT LEARY AND PURROY con-
SPIRED TO BUY WITNESSES
AGAINST CROKER.

Sharp verbal encounters were numerou, yester-
day at the trial OF Fire Chief Edward y. Croker
before Commissioner sturgs. In almost every case
Arthur f. Cosby Assistant Corporation Counsel.
who is conducting the case against Croker was
sustained agnst John ]. Delany Crokers coun-
sell Cross-questionins by DeIany showed that
Deputy Chief Purroy. important witness against
Croker. had aided the secretary Of the Fire De-
partment in preparing charges against the chief
The charge considered first was the alleged in
competency Of Chief Croker at the Wicke Paper
Box Company fire. at Thirty-nrst-st and First
ave. on January 81. 1901. when there was a loss OF
nearly 100000.
Deputy Chief Purroy was in command al the
Wicke nre until Croker came when he was sent
TO take charge Of the Thirty-seeond-st end Of the
FIRE. Chief Croker he testified ordered him 70
get out the hose lines from No. Rs East Thirty
second-st. saying there Was fire in the cellar.
whereas Purroy declared he saw IL on the hfth
floor As a result. he said. the buildings were de-
stroyed.
In your opinion. when that order was given to
you, what should have been done?" Mr. Purroy
was asked.
In view Of the belief that there was IRE in the
cellar would have taken a line from the lumber
yard and put out the fire."
Q-Would you have Withdrawn the lines from
m me nppett, stofy Al would not could not say
think the proba bilities that the rest OF the
Q-Do you know 4 there was any fire in that
cellar? Al know there fire four minutes
Qwere there enoagh engine '~oS Companies to han
had mo more Il f' had Been in command nnlnn would nave
Mr. Deany then examined the witness
Q.-How many companies would YOU have had
II u you nad ao-., oeen In command? A-About eight
Q-What would you have done with them? A.
would nave planted them all around. and II there
Q-Is it not fact that the lines were Withdrawn
because there was no water? Al don't think so.
fire escape and did not the man have to retire
records of the department will show that
Mr. Delany said that he wanted to prove that
the supervising engineer had reported a shortage
Of water that night all along First-ave.
The question OF the removal OF books and papers
from Chief Croker's desk while he was on his
vacation was then brought up. Mr.. Purroy said
that the old lock had not been removed; that a
one. TO which ne mad key. had been put
one drawer. He said only his private papers and
department. records had been removed:
Ibid you have anything to do with preparing
the charges against Chief Croker?' Mr.. Delany
only. so far as collecting statistics ordered
Who gave you those orders?"
@ The 81 secretary ret Of the deIsrtPsnt pa ,.,a 20
Purroy that if Wese and Cuff two battery
men, went 10 secretary Leary and gave desired IN
10 ne @ s SnV IS e pa shoG BE
increased. and Cuff reinstated in the department.
Il mean to show he shouted "and can show
that this man entered into a conspiracy with Leary
TO buy two testify against the honor Of Chief
Croker"
Let him prove it," interrupted Corporation Coun-
sci CSGE @ cs5baT him bring p MS M ss1v
ed unless l can make this m@i testify and then
PurrOy has made his statements In reply 10 my
cross-examination, shall know whether 70 call my
witnesses or not"
Battalion Chief Frederick W. Gooderson. tr.. who
responding the fourth alrm. said that the en-
gine working on the Thirty -second-st. corner Was
almost useless, because Of the poor water supply.
He had fire In the cellar
Byron ID. Southard. guest at the Park Avenue
Hotel at the time OF the fire. said that half hour
after the tre woke him he saw no nremen or hose;
After recess the accusation against Croker OF
falsely reporting about the water supply taken
up. CTokers official report was put in evidence.
and against IT, reports OF the foremen, saying there
plenty OF water.
In discussing the charge concerning the railroad
passes. Charles F. Lambert of the West Shore Rail-
road Orrin Root. OF the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company. and K. E. Skinner, Eastern agent
OF the Canadian Pacific, swore that they had not
furnished any free transportation Many witnesses
desired this subject did respond.