New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-08
SAYS THAT OIL MEN
SEEK TO DESTROY HIM
Indicted "Bagman' Accuses
Condit of Conspiracy, but
Doesn't Fear Result.
CALLS BROTHER CRAZY
Testimony Against Him, He Says.
Was Purely Imaginative-John
B. Stanchfield for Defence.

b. Stanchfleld Tor Defence.
James K. Mcclure, ex-Mayor of Syra-
cuse and former Democratic State Com
mittee chairman. who left New York IN
November for South America, when
there was considerab BILE talk Of indict-
ing him for soliciting campaign contri-
buttons for the Democratic party from
corporations holding state road and
canal contracts, is back in New York,
bidding defiance TO all who are against
him. He says the indictment found
against him during his absence is the
result Of a conspiracy.
Mcclure, looking little tired after
his hurried trip from Havana, where
he was when he learned of the indict-
ment alleging that he solicited cam
paign contribution from Fillmore Con-
dit, the New York representative of the
Union Oil Company OF California, re-
ceived newspaper men in his home in
New Rochelle.
II there was any belief in the minos
OF District Attorney Whitman and
those who are probing the acts OF Me-
CURE and his associates that he would
follow the example of his brother
George, who confessed when faced with
possible indictment for perjury, i
was dissipated by the ex-legislative
agent Of the asphalt trust"
MCGUIRE repudiatcd the suggestion
that he fed the city With Thomas w
Hassett, who left New York at the
same time with him Hassett was in
terested. he said. like himself. in con-
tracts in Santo Domingo. He said he
last saw Hassett on the Havana steam
er when he disembarked from her at
Key West. He said he did not know
where Hassett is now.
The grand jury will take up Has
sett's case Wednesday. According 10
Madison r. Aldrich, OF Poughkeepsie.
he was forced to pay Hassett $3.50 10
get final payment Of S17.5o0 from the
State Highway Department in the
spring Of 1912. when Hassett was sec
retary to State Engineer Bensel.
DON'T Fear the Outcome.
In un istal.lble terms Mcguire let It
be known that he would stand pat, ana
added that he had no fear Of the out
come.
Being indicted is no new thing TO
me-" said Mr.. Mcclure. in the sitting
room OF his home in Elm street. New
Rochelle. When Colonel Roosevelt
as Governor and l was Mayor IF
Syracuse the Governor called an ex-
traordinary grand ju: and brought an
extraordinary lawyer from oyster Bay
to prosecute me. They indicted ME for
malfeasance In office, but the judge got
disguised with the case and threw Il
out, after the jury failed TO agree; and
I'll get out Of this case with clean
skirts. too
Mcclure accused the oil asphalt in
terests, who have long been fighting the
natural asphalt interests, which he rep
resented in Albany from 1900 to 1911,
with being back of his indictment. de
charged, but his accusations were gem
eral, that the oil asphalt interests had
sent men TO him to try TO win him over
to their side saying that il he did the
affidavit Of Condit, which with the tes-
timony OF McGuire's brother George,
led TO his indictment. would be de-
stroyed.
Il refused their offer" said MCGUIRE.
'and hence their charges"
He said tn. his brother George was
weak mentally and physically when he
testified before the grand jury. and
added that he was broken down in
body and mind at present. He said
that his condition was such that the
family had him confined TO a hotel
under the care Of trained nurse. He
would not say at what hotel.
Ex-Mayor MCGUIRE said that of late
his brother has shown signs of weak
ening mentality, assailing his closest
friends wantonly, and that his testi-
mony against him was purely imagina-
tive.
While MCGUIRE was unsparing in his
attacks on those he alleges conspired
against him, he would not go into de-
tails, and rested his case for the pres
ent on a typewriter statement, which
he refused To be questioned about "un-
til after he had seen his lawyer"
He has retained John B. Stanchheld,
whose campaign for Governor he man
aged. He will go to his office to-day.
and accompanied by his counsel. who
has been retained by his family in
his absence. will surrender himself at
the Criminal Courts Building, where he
will plead not guilty to the indictment.
Bail has been arranged for. so that he
will not be locked up.
In his statement he said: "All the
charges against me arc a desperate at