New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-27
Apprehensive of Crooks

Prior 70 the rollcal Senator DuhameL
in behalf of the laymen Of the court
asked for liberal Interpretation Of the
legal rules governing the introduction OF
evidence
we should he mindful" he said, that
these proceedings may be the result "f
a conspiracy Of crooks and criminals.
The fourteen voting I'm the negative
were Judges Collin. Cuddeback ard His
cock and Senators Brown, Csrswell
Foley. Frawlcy, McClerand, Murtaugh,
Pollock. Sage. simpson. Thomas and Wal
tiers.
Or. Cox thcreupon repeated his declara-
ton that his contribution vas given foI
Suffers personal benefit.
WAS .our contribution solely because
he was candidate for Governor asked
Mr. Bracket.
Yes. but there was another reason
because he would he put 10 extra ex-
pense."
Richard Croker jr., aroused buzz OF
interest among the spectators when he
took the stand He clasped and I'M
casped mis- hands. and frequently asked
to have questions repeated. In one case
he refused 70 answer because IT was not
"a fair question: and rebuked John r.
Stanchfeld for being too quick with
me"
Croker said he was in the real estate
business on October Is. 1912. he had
.alled on Sulzer at his office after bank
ing hours and had given check for So
600 % him This check was admitted in
evidence 1t was made 10 the order OF
cash" he said he thought, AT the re-
,,iest Of Sulzer who said something about
going upstate on a campaign trip the
next day. Croker said he did not know
Colwell. whose Endorsement was on the
check. and he'd never seen him IN his life.
Young Croker Generous, Too.
With him. too, Nh Herrck tried 70
show that Sulzer was reputed 10 be i'm
2ecunious Croker said he felt that tho
candidate was depending entirely on the
salary he received as public officer at
that time When he gave the check. he
swore he told Sulzer he would like to
help him to the extent Of giving this, of
giving $1,000 toward covering his per-
sonal expenses.
The very last thing | said to him be-
fore leaving his Office on that afternoon,
the witness testified. was IN substance
that | wished he would consider the Civ
ing Of this money a personal and conf
Dental matter"
Mr. Stanchfield took Croker up for re-
direct examination lie put him through
hard drilling in the endeavor to prove
that what Croker had in mind was not
personal expenses as an individual. but
personal political expenses. such as get
ting ont campaign book which Croker
said he thought consisted entirely Of the
speeches Of William Suzer." Croker
admitted that Sulzer had said he was
under heavy expense probably oc-
casioned by the fact that he was a candi-
date for Governor" But he insisted that
his contribution was to help Sulzer as to
ANY personal expenses in connection with
the campaign or in connection with any
thing"
Would you have taken that check to
him n he had not been candidate for
Office queried Stanchfeldi
81 don't think that's a fair question"
said the witness, and when Judge cullen
directed him to answer he finally re-
piled ut is impossible for me to say at
this time"
William F. Houghton. paving teller
Of the Colonial branch Of the Equitable
Trust Company. swore to cashing the.
Croker check for Colwell. whom he knew
intimately, on October 81