New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-02
Lawyer for Dock Concern
Defes Moss with: Il
Refuse to Answer.
WHY GAYNOR SHIFTED
REMAINS UNSOLVED
v.rderhilt and Belmont May Be
Asked To-day How City OFF,
Gals Were Won Over.


,,acient influence 20 swing water
f-o,t deal between the city and the
p-oooklyn Dock Company 20 the ad-
,,,,are OF the latter ended yester-
6av-temporarily anyway-when the
eommittce hit a stone wall
The stone wall was Joseph s. Auer-
b.eb Of the law firm Of Davies. Auer-
bach & Cornell. counsel 10 the dock
company
Mr.. Auerbach refused TO answer the
euestions put to him by Frank Moss
claiming the matter in question was
no, germane to the committees in
curry.
Mr.. Auerbach made a statement TO
this effect and then added:
"A suggestion was made for add
,onal counsel during the negotiations.
T. was unfavorably received and the
matter was dropped there
LAWYER Refuses TO Answer.
After several questions we're asked,
Nr Auerbach admitted the suggestion
was made 70 him. but he wouldn't say
who made it or VINO was suggested
"Who was the additional COUNSEL"
OF decline to answer"
what was the amount Of compen-
satNn mentioned
same answer-decline 70 answer
"To whom did you communicate this
information"
same answer
"Dd YOU ever see Mayor Mitchell? ,"
Here Mr. Auerbach abandoned his
s.ereotyped answers and asked if this
was the last question, promising TO
answer 10 if 1t was. Mr.. Moss wouldn't
tell him.
"Nr Hardness testified yesterday"
said Mr. Moss, chat some one had seen
Mayor Mitchell and mentioned a certain
name 60 the Mayor. | merely desire to
trace this individual who interviewed
That is why ] ask that question. l don't
intend TO lug any names into this
matter
Mr. Moss then reframed his ques-
ton, and asked;
Mitchell on any phase of this matter ."
as that the last question: asked
Mr. Auerbach.
up 20 this point, yes"
Mr. Auerbach again refused to an
swer. He then left the stand. Before
leaving the room he said:
IN answer ~ your last question, and
This is going 10 be my last answer,
whether that is your last question or
not | will answer 10. didn't see the
Mayor
Libel Actions Reynolds's Threat.
Senator Thompson said that the com
mittee would take up the dock com
pany matter in executive session to-
day.
Ex-senator William II. Reynolds,
whose name was connected with the
affair at Wednesdays session of the
committee, in an interview at his Of
flee yesterday. said that he had in
structed his lawyers to bring libel
actions against the men responsible
FOR linking his name with the case.
ITS a damnable lie." exclaimed Mr.
Reynolds. ITS most outrageous, and
intend to spend my last dollar. if
necessary, TO prosecute those respon-
s.ble.'
Senator Thompson said that if any
man in his town had been mentioned in
the way ex-senator Reynolds had been
he would be clamoring for a chance
10 be heard before his committee.
"But Senator Reynolds hasn't come
here but the witness stand is waiting
for him if he does"
Fairfax Landstreot, chairman of the
Board Of Directors of the dock COM
pany, was the man who testified re-
gsrding ex-senator Reynolds.
Another witness yesterday was
Francis de c. Sullivan, a director of
the marlborough. As on the previous
day he was asked why the late Mayor
GayuOr and Controller Prendergast
10
'he dual subway situation in favor Of
the marlborough
marlborough Man Quizzed.
Mr. Moss read extracts from the
Mayors public speeches, letters and
magazine articles attacking the Inter
borough and its officials for their
stand IN the subway situation. Then
hc asked Mr.. Sullivan:
How did you induce the Mayor TO
cat his words in public?"
why DO you ask me that? ?" said Mr.
Sullivan.
That you should know what changed
his mind" said Mr. Moss you repre-
sent the second largest stakeholder an
The InterborouCh-M Morton
=. Plant, and you ought TO know what
was done 70 beat down the opposition
Of those two strong men, Mayor Gaynor
ana controller IrendergaSt ! GU nave
said that you would have given Nj.
shonts S25OOO0 bonus instead of $780,
600. What was IL for?"
Because he had handled a difficult
proposition"
Didn't you want TO know how their
opposition was removed, how II vas
done? We're you afraid II might be
embarrassing If you asked"
No, certainly not
Nr. Moss declared he would ask
every marlborough official how the
oiy officials were won over.
so the close Of the session Mr.. Moss
exhibited a check for $500 made out
by the late Andrew Freedman IN favor
Of Frank Hedley, vice-president of the
marlborough. II was dated November
3. 1910. On its face it bore this eX
panatory note: con account Of twenty
acres participation Gun Hill Road and
White Plains Avenue"
August Belmont and Cornelius Van
derbit will be called by the Thompson
committee to-day TO tell what they
know about the dual subway contracts.
Dr. Vanderbilt was called and sworn
Yesterday but not examined He will
90 on the stand in the afternoon. Mr..
Belmont Will be witness this morn
ing.