The sun., 1908-04-10
S5OO,OOO WENT TO WTDENVR
RYAN TELLS IN COURT now
METROPOLITAN WAS REPAID.

Money BACK After the PurChaSe Of tho
Wan and COrtlandt street Ferries Co.
From Thomas F. Ryans testimony in
ne We'll damage suit for $500 in the Seventh
Municipal Court yesterday IL appears that
The $500 900 which figured in the Wall and
Cor.landt Street Ferries Railroad deal
cent originally to p. A. B. widensr OF
pNiladelphia. This Wall and Cortlandt
/, ansaction has been subject Of investi-
CATION by the special Grand Jury, and some
witnesses In those proceedings. 1t is ,ih-
c.,etood, testified that the sSOo,OOO had been
used for campaign purposes in 1870, the
seAond Mckinley campaign.
II appears further from Mr.. Rysns tes-
.imony yesterday that the SSOOOOO pay
rrent was made in the first instance by the
oficers Of the Metropolitan Street Railway
company themselves. The entire series Of
,ransactions involved in the Wall and
,ortlsndt Street deal seems in the light Of
,!r. Ryan's testimony to have been as fol-
,vs:
The officers Of the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company in the latter part Of
500 or in the first part Of 1900 drew check
r,r $50 900 In favor Of p A. h. Widene.
4 few weeks after this check was drawn
william E. Whitney. then the controlling
,n1t Of the Metropolitan system, called
mon Mr.. Ryan. P. A. 3. Widener. William
/ Elkins. Thomas Dolan and himself for a
can Of $4,000 each, the money to be used
FOR the benefit Of the Metropolitan COM
aauv. With this S5OO,O the Metropolitan
vas apparently temporarily reimbursed.
Two years later the Metropolitan Secu-
rites Company purchased from Anthony
y Brady the franchise Of the Wall and
Cortlandt Street Ferries Railroad for
'1SO 200, sn1 Mr., Brady received in pay
u,ent a check for S965.OOO. From the
balance Of S1iSOOO Mr. Whitney repaid the
i've individual loans with per cent in
loreet, sending 10 each, including himself,
= check drawn by Mr. Brady for slti,S52,7s,
Mr.. Ryan disolaimed yesterday any
eAnite knowledge Of the use to which the
'1O00OO was put, thus disPOsing Of the
eports that he had testified before the
{ rand Jury that 1t had been used in a
Mckinley campaign fund. Yesterday was
The first time that Mr.. Ryan has said any
hing publicly about the Wall and CoTtlandt
street deal.
Lawyer Eugene Kremer. who as counsel
for the plaintiffs really represents the
William F. King minority stockholders
committee Of tho Metropolitan, brought
Mr.. Ryan around 10 the Wall and Cortlandt
Street deal by asking him II he knew how
he 81, 100000 that was raised under the
Metropolitan lease Of 1907 was used. Mr.
Ryan replied that he didn't know in detail,
but II was all used TO pay the debts Of the
property.
De Lancey Nicoll, Mr.. Ryans counsel,
objected TO questions along this line
You have converted this court, said MIR.
Nicoh, addressing Lawyer Kremer, into
4 hearing Of the Public Service Commission.
Practically the only difference is that there
! wasn't allowed to make a speech MIR
Hremer is very devoted disciple Of MIR
wins, but say il Ia tme TO call halt
unless you are going 10 turn the Municipal
ourt into an investigating committee
am sghast already az the general extent
f the evidence that has been allowed in
Justice William II Young, who was pre-
ding. overruled the objection and Lawyer
rremer suggested that Mr.. Ryan must
row at least how a small part Of the S2S.-
$4,000 was applied.
What. the Sill ,OO0?' asked Mr.. Ryan.
yes - said Kremer, Then he asked:
Wac that Sill 900 expended in accordance
yuh the terms Of the lease?
1t was to pay the debts OF the company
II At was one Of them
Was that debt Of the company?' asked
kremer. referring undoubtedly to the fact
hat the 10000 was finally paid by the
Metropolitan Securities Company while
he debt had been contracted before the
Securities company was organized.
1t was a debt Of the property, was
sir. Ryan's reply.
And that Sill 900 received by you was
~ reimbursement for a sum that you had
aid out?"
Yes, paid out for the benefit Of the
roperty.'
To whom did you pay this?'
To Mr., whitney Mr.. Ryan added
hat Mr.. Whitney had gone to four or FIVE
e the man interested In the Metropolitan
.ystem and had asked them 10 put up $780,
40 each for the purposes Of the company.
Wasn't there some specific purpose
TO which II was TO be put that was not in
lhe ordinary business Of the company
To this Mr. Nlcoll objected and the court
.us..in~d him. Mr. Ryan said the $4,000
'as paid in 1909 or 1900.
y Vas any entry made In the Metropoll-
az Street Railway books2 A. don't know.
0. Did you order any entry to be nader
T. No.
0. To whom was the payment made! 4.
he check Of the company was drawn IN
rAvor Of P. A, B. Wldener either In 1893 or
mo.
0. You say Il was for the purposes OF the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company A,
10 understand.
Q. What facta did you know that justified
hat understanding? A. ! didn't have any
,acts.
O. Yet you say Il was paid out in accordance
With the lease? A. Yes. II was paid out TO
ray debt.
Q. Who considered It a debt' 4. Mr..
Whitney.
Q. Was Il 90 considered by you? 4. Yes
Q. But what facts had you? A, None.
.. What relation did Mr.. whitney bear to
be company them 4. lie was the control
ing spirit