New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-16
Company's Confidential Man
Ready, After Warning, to
Answer Grand Jury
Questions.
NEW TRAIL IN GRAFT HUNT
District Attorney Hears Two
Aldermen offered to Sell In
fuence" for So, That
Had To Be Split
Among Members.

Joe" Nendig. former layer Of odds.
as he himself termed it, and more re-
Gently confidential agent for the Yellow
Taxicab Company. who provoked a
near-riot in the grand jury yesterday
by his refusals TO answer questions
concerning his dealings with James G.
Wallace. jr.. chief of the Mayors bu-
reau of licenses. said last night that
when he goes before the the inqusitors
again this morning he will give any in
formatio asked for.
Vendig was warned yesterday when
he left the grand jury room after an
extra long session that if he persisted
in his attitude of defiance he would he
taken before Justice Seabury in con-
tempt Of court proceedings. He was
directed TO return this morning, and
will then be taken over the same
ground covered in the quizzing yester-
day
Il have been advised that have TO
answer their questions" said Nendig
last night and now that l know that
! will answer anything they ask me
when l go down there tomorrow. I
took the ground that my relations with
Wallace and Maritime were private
business relations. but will tell what
ever they want to know about them"
The MARITIME" referred to is Samuel
Maritime. who has charge of the COM
plant bureau, under Wallace.
Questions Anger Vendig.
Vendig corrected Mr. Du Vivier
when the Assistant District Attorney
referred to him as a "bookmaker." and
said he had been a layer of Odds He
used to be in the lobster business. he
said but insisted that was before he
had anything to do with aldermen He
got thoroughly angry at the inference
TO he drawn from some of the ques
tions fired at him by Mr.. Du Viyier and
engaged in arguments with members
Of the grand jury when he tried 10 base
his refusal TO answer on the ground
that his dealings with Wallace and
-NdTuHle were PllNdtc p"SIiiVo9 ioi"
lions"
Assistant District Attorney Du
Vivier had investigators out last night
looking for a chauffeur formerly en-
ployed by the Yellow Taxicab Com
pany who is wanted as a grand jury
witness. This phase of the inquiry, it
was understood, developed from infor-
nation brought TO the District Attor-
ney yesterday to the effect that on a
taxi Joy ride in which one represent
alive of the company and two alder
men participated arrangements were
completed for the payment Of money
in return for aldermanic influence.
According TO the story the two alder
men met the representative Of the taxi
cab company one night in the early part
Of April and. after single round Of
drinks, entered a touring car and drove
through Central Park.
Job" Would Cost $4,000.
As the story came TO the District At
torney the aldermen finally told the
companys man that the lob" would
cost $1,000, because the money had 10
be split up.
Albert Z. Hull. committee clerk of
the Board of Aldermen, who admitted
10 a Tribune reporter on Wednesday
night that he had attended two very
fine dinners with wine and other trim
rnings" furnished by officials of the
Yellow Taxicab Company, was pro-
spective witness yesterday, but on ac-
count Of the long drawn out struggle
with Vendig, the grand jury put Hull
over until to-day.
Jesse Judson, assistant treasurer
Maxwell Rhine, in charge of the billing
department; Benjamin T. Schaeffer,
credit man, and Charles Pflumm, a
clerk. all of the Yellow Taxicab Com
pany. were the other witnesses exam
ined yesterday.
Edwin r. Banta. former confidential
agent Of the Yellow Taxicab Company,
whose evidence furnished the basis for
the present investigation. told Mr.. Du
Vivier yesterday that the company
spends about $4,000 a year in tips 10
telephone operators, elevator and hall
boys in hotels and apartment houses
for their services in getting orders for
taxicabs. Each call for a cab sent in
from these sources, Banta said, gets
tip of at least IL cents, and from >
o'clock in the morning to o'clock in
the afternoon. duh hours in the taxicab
business. the tip is 80 cents.
According to Banta, Inspector John
f. Dwyer was one of the only police
officials with whom he had come in
contact who would not accept favors
from the taxicab people.