The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-10
HINT FOR J.J. BROWNS PASS.
DEpEW INVOKED IN WESTCHES-
TER POLITICAL FIGHT.
,narres Made Against white Plains
president. Who Is Boss Wards Lieu
tenant-H He's Deadhead. ON Goes
Ills Head-Central Officials Don't TEL.

WHITE PLAINS, n. Y, Sept. e.-The
ssetbing political oaldron Of Westchester
has boied over again. This time 1t has
toiled over on the toes OF the Hon. William
/ Wards political lieutenant, John j.
BIovn, the village president. At hear
inc begun here to-day before County Judge
JIatt Mr.. Brown was formally charged
u;th being a deadhead on the New York
rentra Railroad, through having ridden
m q PASS between this village and New
York on or about Feb. 10. Senator Depew
and other officials Of the New York Central
we're witnesses to-day.
II the charge is proved, Brown Is liable
10 forfeiture Of office under tho State Con-
s,ituton and also liable to years impris-
onn,ent, $500 fine, or both.
Mr. Browns friends say that his political
enemies. who are Republicans dissatisfied
with political affairs in Westminster, have
trumped up the charge. They do not be-
lieve anything will come Of the investiga-
tion detrimental to Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. Brown, it might be explained, besides
being village president, an Office which he
has held for two years, is now and has been
for some time the secretary OF the Repub-
lican county committee, Of which the chair
man and boss is the Hon Bill Ward, Gov.
Odell's henchman. Mr.. Brown Is spoken
Of by his friends in times Of enthusiasm as
beinr "next- TO the Hon. Bill Ward, with
all that that means.
Appearing nominally as the complainant
against Mr. Brown is one Matthew IL.
Moore, a hack driver. The hack drivers
have great interest in the present pro-
ceednps, although it is not denied that
behind them in their case is a Clique OF
Republicans who say they want to purify
Nestchester politics. Last spring the New
York Central leased the privilege OF hack
stand at the depot here to negro named
Scott. Scott had before then boasted that
he controlled the negro vote OF White Plains
That he got the cab privilege has been
ascrited by some to deal between brown
and the railroad company. Brown it Is
said, was DESTROYS OF SCOTS votes.
The railroad company up to that time
had never objected to hacks standing in
front of the depot. After giving the privi-
ege to Scott, however, war was mace
against the other hackmen who we're Tor
bidGen to stand in the plaza in front OF the
static n, which the company says is railroad
and not village property.
All this led 10 a bitter 'ght, which is still
going on. The Board of Trustees finally
passed resolution asking the chief OF po-
lice to keep the hacks away from the depot
The Board of Trustees. it might he re-
marked for the benefit of hose unacqiiainted
with Westchee politics under the Hon.
Bill Ward, consists of six Democrats and
four Republicans. Mr. Brown has been twice
their unanimous choice for village presi-
dent. His political enemies say hat his
was the result OF a deal under which the
vponhinn
Democrats were elected to the offices OF
county clerk and supervisor, although the
rest OF the Republican ticket won by large
The action Of the trustees and Brown in
the hack driver case precipitated the
present trouble. At meeting last June
Henry T. Dykman leading citizen, who
took up the hackmen's cause spoke out in
a meeting OF the board and accused Brown
and several other trustees OF being minions
of the railroad company, ana OF riolng
on annual passes. An Investigation was
made. and the present information laid
before Judge Plat is the result.
In an affidavit a man whose name is Pie
has sworn that he saw Brown use an annual
pass on the train going to New York on or
about Feb 10. Pie went on the train for the
purpose Of seeing whether Mr.. Brown was
Q deadhead.
The charge was made several months
ago. 1t was not until yesterday that testi-
rnony was taken. In order TO prove that
Brown is the holder of pass Col. Hender-
son, counsel for the complainant, had sub
ponaed Senator Depew. President William
81. Newman OF the New York Central, A.
a. Smith. general manager; j. F. fairlamb'
auditor OF passenger accounts, and M. 7.
Cowperthwait, who IL In charge OF Senator
Depew's pass book. They were all here
except President Newman
A subpoena server had hard work to get
Senator Depew, but after trailing him for
eighteen hours he discovered the Senator
and bis wife night before last at the St.
Regis. He was not admitted to the dining
room, but waited outside and finally got
an unrufled countenance to-day. Not SO
the other railroad men. They appeared to
be visibly annoyed.
That the pass question has become a
burning one in White Plains Was plain: Inc
court room was crowded. II was fateful
day for the deadheads
The Senator was the real thing. It was
expected that he would tell all about passes
He was the frat witness. and the audience
hung breathless on his words.
Henderson asked sterniy. A spectator
more Interested than the rest at that mo.
ment fell out Of his chair. He was put
back gently by a court attendant. ,sena'
tor Depew pleaded guilty. He said. fur;
thermore, than he presumed some record
was kept Of the passes he issued. He
said he had looked in the book himself.
no pass was issued to John J. Brown o.
any person described as him and no sucf
pass was issued under my authority
sigh went up from the court room
Senator Depew was excused. Then Col
Henderson went after A. NJ. Hutchinson
secretary to President Newman. He keeps
the record Of passes issued by. President
Newman. He said he hadn't found Mr.
Browns name on his book, but he extended
a cordial invitation to Mr.. Henderson &c
come and see for himself. Col. Hender
son said he would.
Alfred H. Smith, general manager came
next. He also issues annual passes, Ht
hadn't issued any pass TO Mr.. Brown, either
Il don't know him, even by sight, hi
said.
J. H. Fairlamb said he had looked ovei
tho records turned in by conductors anc
found no record OF Mr.. Browns pass. Col
Henderson seemed disappointed. He
wanted to know why the witness hadnt
brought the records for trains No. ane
No. %. He was sure, he said, Brown rode
on one or the other.
Il don't see why I should bring them,
replied the witness. There is no recorc
OF such pass
That's your own conclusion snapped
Col Henderson. who was plainly annoyed.
Lawyer Paulding for the company ther
CoDe,,ltad with tha ofh >,iaia and opdod nv