New-York tribune., 1911-11-04

at that time. Cassidy mentioned lot
Of names. including Surrogate Noble
County Judge Burt Jay Humphrey. Maui
rice f. Connolly. Willett, Story and
others, which the witness jotted down on
a pad Of paper on the desk In front Oh
him. he said. Cassidy promised that ne
might have the name of the man to be
nominated by the convention later
He said that he would find me a good
man." said the leader. and a man who
would help to make a good, strong
ticket"
McCooey said he didn't meet Willett
until the day of the convention, OCTOBER
s, and didn't know prior to that that
Willett was the man. though he be-
lieved his name had been in the air as
the Queens candidate.
He said that Connolly. who is the Bor-
ough President of Queens. called him up
half an hour before the convention and
wanted to know if he knew who the can
didate was. McCooey said he answered
in the negative, and Connolly wanted to
know if IL wasn't about time he found
out. He suggested to Connolly that the
delegates might know, the witness said.
How Libel Suit Was Ended.
After Willett had told him he drew
| $4,000 out of the Long Island bank on
the day of the convention, McCooey said,
| he urged the three candidates to with
draw the action for criminal libel against
William Berri. of The Standard Union y
which had been brought at that time.
He characterized Wilett's action as
| very indiscreet," and said he considered
| ii a good stroke Of political strategy to
have the libel suit withdrawn. because
| he wanted to get the case out OF the
papers,
Wi,ett told him, the witness said, that
he wanted TO use the money TO mail the
district" meaning that he desired to
urge his candidacy on the voters by let
ter. 1t was at his urgent suggestion
that the letter of withdrawal was signed
by the three candidates, McCooey said.
Candidates Callahan and Ketcham were
not eager to admit this, later on, when
they testified.
When asked by Mr.. De ord If they
signed the letter because McCooey urged
them that it was good stroke for the
organization. they qualified McCooey' S
testimony by saying that they all
thought 1t was the best thing to do under
the circumstances"
Mr.. Ketcham and Mr.. Callahan were In
court during the morning session, and re-
quested early that they be called to tes-
tify and allowed to go about their i'm
portant business" as Surrogate Ketcham
said to Justice Scudder. But they were
not called by Mr.. De Ford until after
noon.
Surrogate Ketcham was called first
He said that after reading the editorial
in "The Standard Union on October IL
he conferred Immediately with his as
socIate. Mr.. Callahan, who came to his
chambers, and they talked about 1t as
two men would talk who had been
grossly libeled and outraged" Mr.. Cal
lahan told him. he said. that II was un-
questionably libel, as he had never re-
ceived nor paid an evil dollar in connec-
ton with any office, or otherwise, dur
ing his life"
Willett came into the chambers, Surro-
gate Ketcham said, and said that it had
done him a great injury. and that he was
absolutely clear in his record In regard
to the nomination and that it ought to
be resented. Willett said nothing about
his financial transaction on the day OF
the convention, the witness said.
Did he make any reference to his Dor
rowing?" asked Justice Scudder.
HE did not" replied the witness, en-
phatically: "he said he was free from any
! criticism "