New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-01
PETERS BADLY TANGLED
Continued from first page.

stand for any proposition Involving the recount
bill and it was at that time that the name OF
ex-Judge Cowing was first mentioned as good
compromise candidate" Peters said he did not
know whether he or Mr.. Pallser first mentioned
the name, but after returning to the alder
manic chamber he had mentioned it to seven or
eight Of the Municipal Ownership men, who
happened TO be standing around. Here Peters
developed bad memory. and neither the AS
slstant District Attorney nor Magistrate Whit
man could make him remember the name OF
single alderman 10 whom he had mentioned the
name OF Cowing on that occasion.
WANTED TRANSIT GUARDIANSHIP.
The witness said that compromise candidate"
meant a whom both sides could unite
so that he, Peters. could further his scheme for
an investigation of transit conditions. He
wanted the craftsmanship Of such investigat-
ing committee for himself and other things for
his colleagues. IT asked for nearly everything
the Republicans had in the month of December"
he said.
is 1T not true that before the balloting be-
gan on that day, Alderman Davies, behalf
Of the Republicans. said he would give you the
Craftsmanship OF the committee and several
other places you asked for your colleagues, and
you turned your own proposition down." asked
Mr., Smith.
NO"
Didn't he ask you if yor had any other
propositions"
No"
Peters admitted he had an appointment to
meet Alderman Davies on the Saturday before
the meeting Of the board. when the Cowing
vote cast He put It off until Monday, and
then broke the appointment. He denied this
had happened. because he knew of the nego-
At, fpNo x1-ffE
Clifford. He remembered distinctly that prior
to January 10 he had suggested Cowing as a
compromise candidate" to Aldermen Brown.
Davies or Grifenhagen, OF the Republican side
of the house.
Coming down TO the actual day when the
Cowing vote was cast. Alderman Peters said:
"I met Alderman clifford about IL or 1880
o'clock, He said It would be good idea to
put forth CowHg feeler.'"
When Peters was trying TO guess where he
thought this meeting with Clifford might have
occurred Magistrate Whitman broke in 10 say:
Now. look here; this mans liberty IS at stake.
and I want you to state facts, not hazy beliefs"
The alderman foundered around. and when he
did not stop talking at the interruption OF the
magistrate the latter pounded loudly the table
and cried: I'll conduct this court sir. II you
don't behave. I'll nave you arrested"
ALDERMAN's MEMORY WEAK.
Peters could give no definite facts regarding
his meeting with Clifford but declared the latter
said to him IN substance: II think the deadlock
has lasted long enough II would be n good idea
TO throw out 'feeler' TO the Republicans Let's
give Cowng or somebody a ballot"
Following this, Peters said he had told Cliff |
ford to wait until the boys" could he got to- /
gethar. He left him then keep an appoint |
ment with Alderman Sullivan. The latter was
not there, so Peters went across the street 20
r1T y o.
Assistant District Attorney Smyth then read |
Peterss testimony before the grand jury on the !
incident, where he had testified he had told Clif-
ford tho boys had an understanding not 10 |
change their votes from Pslmeri until a con- |
ference had been held He admitted that was |
right, but said he had been excited before the |
grand jury because Of an alteration with Dis |
trict Attorney Jerome. in which they had both /
said some plain truths.
The witness said he did not speak TO any one
regarding the recordership from the tine he |
left the aldermanc chamber until he got back /
as the roll was being called at 80 o'clock /
Then he eXpostulated with Clifford regarding /
the latter's intention 20 vote for Cowing. lie /
told him they had better vote for Palmlert To |
his surprise Clifford voted for Cowtng- Then /
Peters said he indicated TO the others that they /
should follow suit, because he wanted to keep /
the Municipal Ownership together. After !
the second vote he intended To hold a conference
Of his men, but there was adjournment.
Then Assistant District Attorney Smyth asked /
Peters IT, prior to the first vote, he had in /
structed seven aldermen, who mentioned !
one by one. TO vote for Cowing. He denied it,
HdylnB tneN were mistaken Wnen Ihey mad so /
testified In the morning
The alderman caused smiles when he said he |
would not vote for the best Republican in /
the world since he had learned that the con
spracy"-the placing of the Municipal Owner /
ship aldermen on the gridion-had been cooked /
up by the Republican organization, the District /
Attorney and newspaper" It made him mad |
every time he thought Of II. he added, because /
he believed he could have got his men together /
and pulled off, the election OF ex-Judge Pal |
mieri II the Cowing incident had not happened /
WANTED FACTS, NOT ORATORY."
Abraham Levy, in cross examination said:
This is serious matter alderman We want |
facts and not oratory My client is charged |
with a serious crime" He finally got Peters TO /
admit that about a week before he had conveyed /
TO Clifford the suggestion that Cowing might be /
good compromise candidate" and that this !
was tantamount to a command, coming as IL |
did from the leader Of the Municipal Ownership |
aldermen.
At the morning session Aldermen Mulligan.
Falk, KuntZe. Rowcroft Noonan and CrOnin |
were examined. The last named said that both |
Aldermen O'Neil and Peters had told him TO |
vote for Cowlng. whereas he testified before the
grand jury that nobody had told him how 20 |
vote on that occasion. lie admitted that or ne |
former occasion he was excited.
Alderman Noonan, who admitted his youth |
and inexperienced as a politician. In reply to a |
question: said he had never heard OF graft"
FEAR NEGRO MAY BE NAMED.