New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-12

w dS any 'AN'
timer"
mo. I was alone in the office
Mcclure was in apparent terror be-
fore Whitmans onslaught. He squirmed
around as if attempting to physically
dodge the questions, and his replles'
while clearly spoken, grew weaker and
weaker.
Balks on Contributions.
Mr.. Wise sat facing him. just in
front of the witness stand, and evil
IDENTIFY. like Whitman. believing that
Mcclure, having finally started was
going TO go through his entire story
But with the confession as TO the tele-
gram disposed of Mcclure took dill
ferent tack when Mr. Whitman began
TO follow that up with line of ques-
lions in regard TO the list of big cam
paign fund contributions from con-
tractors which Hennessy had sworn
Mcclure gave to him.
He admitted the conference in the
Hotel Utica with Hennessy, but STOOD
by his previous testimony that he had
not given Hernessy the names.
Did Hennessy make notes While you
were talking TO him." Whitman de-
manded.
THE testimony that l gave on that
as / remember it, was correct NC
CURE murmured stubbornly.
Did YOU give him the names OF any
contractors who had contributed?
Mcclure was silent for a long min
ute. and then began TO repeat MS
previous answer but Mr.. Whitman cut
him off, and Mr.. Wise suggested that
further inquiry be left for ia'er
session.
Mr.. Whitman quizzed the witness
about his acquaintance with Everett
Fowler, and Mcclure admitted that he
had known Fowler by sight for several
years.
The witness was in such nervous
state by this time that Mr.. Wise in
tervened, and after conference be-
tween Wise, Whitman and Judge Nc
Adoo. Mcclure was permitted TO leave
the stand and the courtroom. He col
lapsed in the anteroom. and was not
able to leave the building until after
he had been attended by physician
AS he stepped into the room adjoining
the court he sank into a chair, and,
covering his face weakly with his hand
kerchief, he sobbed like child.
McGuire's admissions as to the tele-
gram are believed by the District At
torney to be extremely important 1t
is not that the telegram itself offers
any great addition to the evidence al
ready adduced, but McGuire's admis-
sion of authorship opens the way to
further queries, which unquestionably
will result in a widespread exposure
of the campaign fund graft of which
he has detailed knowledge.
Suicide Effort Denied.
At his home last night Mr.. Wise was
asked as to the rumor that Mcclure had
made an effort to commit suicide. lie
said the report was absolutely false.
In the time that l was with him, -
said his counsel, "he did not make any
kuCn effort. ne ItpDll lndI he lIlrO u
commit suicide while l was not presen,
also believe TO be absolutely false.
did not know Mr.. Mcclure until l was
called into the case to-day. lie is very
sick man. and is under the care of q
physician"
II was recalled yesterday when Mr.
Wise appeared as counsel to Mcclure
that the former United States Attorney
was the lawyer selected by Hennessy and
Governor Sulzer to prosecute the entire
batch of graft cases Of various kinds
canal, highway. state buildings, prisons
and campaign funds. which Hennessy's
investigations revealed Hennessy, In his
campaign speeches. said that Wise
thought the Job so important public
service that he had offered TO DO the work
for nothing when Sulzer explained &c
him that he was without funds because
the Tammany Legislature had cut of
his contingent fund.
The District Attorneys Office was IN
clined to look upon McGuire's breakdown
yesterday as indicative Of the prospective
breakdown of the entire wall of defence
delay and denial which for time threat
ened to balk the John Doe inquiry.
Another indication of the same char.
acter was seen yesterday In the manner
In which Henry T. Burgard. of Buffalo
came TO the support Of Hennessy. Bur
gard had a long conference with Mr.
Whitman yesterday morning, and while
IL was understood that he provided the
Prosecutor with a large amount of val
liable information. they reached an agree
ment that Burgard should not be re-
ouired to go on the witness stand
Will Be Used ss Lever.
Burgard's information will be used by
the District Attorney as lever on GER
tain contractors and political collectors
whom he named. but Mr.. Whitman doe:
not want to put the Buffalo mans story
into circulation from the witness stanc
for fear 1t will result merely In givinl
warning 10 the men involved, and thus
giving them time TO establish alibis.
Bureard himself belittled his part in th'