New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-19

storm seRuHdao Operations Mncrra
ESCAPE GRIGGS PROBE,
IN INQUIRY BLOCKED.
Aldermen's Probing Body Won't
Call Railroad Committee.

I
Because of the signing of judgment in favor
of w. c. Gotshau against the old New-York
City and Westchester Railroad by which Presi-
dent Gotshall of the Port Chester regains own
ership of a majority of the stock of thai con-
Germ, there is great doubt, his lawyer says
whether or not he doesn't own the present West
chester road AT least that roads title is in
validated. he holds because it purchased the
stock and assets Of the old Westchester concern
at receivers sale when the ownership of
this majority Of the stock was under dispute.
The judgment signed by Justice Leventritt in
the Supreme Court Tuesday orders Mrs,
Mary r. Bergholz, as executrix OF the estate
of her husband Major ". r. Berghoz, of New
Rochelle who obtained the original New-York
City and Westchester franchise. to turn over
10 Mr. Gotshall 2G0 shares Of the stock Of that
road. 1t also directs the officers of the company
TO give up the stock if they have it, and makes
permanent injunction restraining the Berg
holz company from receiving vote of this 26O
shares taking any action for which a vote
Of stockholders is necessary.
Through his lawyer Frederick w. Sherman.
MIR. GOtshall set forth that when he bought these
shares OF the New-Y York City and Westchester
road he delivered them TO Major Bergholz the
organizer of the company. to be transferred.
Berghoz. he alleges. struck out his signature on
the baCk OF the CerllUCaleS anu kept the AtoCh
Mr.. Gotshan hailed him to court, but promise
of restitution let him so. Still the stock
not forthcoming and Mr. Gotshall made writ
ten demand for II, saying that if II was not
produced on a stated day he would reopen the
court proceedings. On that day Major Berg
holz died suddenly from heart disease, It was
said
President Gotshall then got order restrain
ing the company from receiving vote Of this
.,Fus
was necessary. The project. however, had en-
countered difficulties. and the stock and assets
were sold by u receiver, on order by Justice
Dickey 10 the present New-York. Westchester
and Boston company for $500 Now. Mr..
Sherman says, il is an open question II that
sale would stand in the courts
At the second session OF the aldermens prob
ing committee yesterday w. Writ Mills told the
full story Of his Information regarding the story
that 100000 had been demanded for considera-
ton OF the Port Chester franchise which story
was printed in The Tribune His statement
was termed lie by Harrie Davis, the reporter
from whom Mills said he got this information.
He was talking TO Davis about Alderman Good
mans resolution to bring the Port Chester ap-
lication out of committee. Mr.. Mills said. and
Mr Davis told him that he had no show. as it
was introduced by a Republican.
Then Davis said to me- went the witness,
100000 in stock of the Port Chester was dis
tributed up at Albany. and they want the same
amount before they'll take favorable action "
He identified Davis who reporting the pro-
ceedings. He had used this remark TO draw
further Information from President Gotshall. the
witness said. but President Gotshal told him
that no one had asked him." and he didn't care
TO diecuss that affair. Mr. Mills said that he
wasn't interested with President Gotshall in the
Il 1v,|a tod
in Bronx transit affairs. particularly IN getting
a road through certain property which he didn't
own, but In which he had an interest.
DAVIS DECLARES MILLS'S STORY LIE.
Davis voluntarily took the stand.
1T is absolutely lie.' he declared 'and If I
knew any word more definite I'd use it. I don't
believe I've seen Mills in year, and I've never
met him at the Press Club. to my knowledge"
President Gotshall the first witness. He
was sworn, and excused on his promise to appear
at the inquiry on Friday. Louis A. Cuvillier also
promised TO attend Friday. He will probably
give the names Of men from whom be oh
tained the name OF the alderman who is said to
have talked doodle" to President Hayes of the
Mount Vernon aldermen.
w A. Thayer, city editor of The World.
said Frank Hughes was the reporter who had
written a story that THE World" learned that
$12J, 900 had been demanded by the aldermen
favorable consideration OF the HOrI CneSter
franchise.
Mr.. Hughes testified that he didn't know this
of his own knowledge. but ne wrote it after
hours conversation with President Gotshall.
from which he came with the distinct impress
sion that money had been demanded. This i'm
preston he gained from some answers he re-
ceived and from questions which President Got
shall refused to answer. He fixed the sum.
at $4,000, after many conversations with
many people. He thought that informa-
tion could be obtained from Mr.. Cuver or
William f. Maxon James p. Hayes, the last
two being members of the Mount Vernon Board
of Aldermen He had talked to Mr..
Hayes but he had heard Mr. MaXon make the
public statement that at a hearing in Albany
he approached by man interested in the
other side" who said that the Mount Vernon
people were a "lot of d fools" for passing
the Port Chester franchise for nothing.
Wen have Mr.. Maxon explain that" said As
sistant Corporation Counsel Burr.
William F. King of the Merchants Associa-
tion, told how his organization had gone into
the fight OF itself 1t had collected no evidence
of bribery He had talked with almost every
newspaper man who had worked on the case.
of corruption and hold-up came from one man,
w c. GotshaIl, president of the Port Chester
road.
Mr.. Burr thought it would be 'unwise to go
further with the inquiry until the testimony of
Mr.. Gotshan who seems to be responsible for
the misinformation as published. could be
taken"
James P. Hayes, ex-presdent of the Mount