New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-21
He Saw Mayor Before
S t. J mes Jaunt,
Thompson Learns.
NEW FREEDMAN
LETTER FOUND
Mitchell Says He Never
Saw Offer to Build Sub
way Without City Money.

Until yesterday e was generally be
lieved and there was neither evidence
nor testimony 10 prove to the contrary
that Theodore p. Shonts, president
Of the lnterborough, and Mayor Gaynor
were utter strangers until they met on
April %, 1910, az the Mayors home in
st. James. II was on this trip tha,
Mirabeau l.. Towns acted as courier
and companion 70 the lnterborough
president.
Mr.. Shonts admitted Yesterday az
ter documentary proof was advanced
proving the fact-thst on April 10, FIVE
days before the St. Jane. visit, he
visited Mayor Gaynor at the City Hall
in company with the then chairman
OF the Public Service Commission,
William r. Wilcox. Mr.. Wilcox, who
was under subpoena before the commit
tee. sat an attentive listener 10 Mr.
Shonts's testimony.
The testimony concerning the St.
James trip showed that on the way 20
Mayor Gaynor's home Mr.. Shonts made
a detour OF twenty-five miles 20 call OIL
Edwin Hawley, who has since died
Mr. Shonts said he did not remember
what he talked TO MIR. Hswley about,
and could not even recall II it was con
cerning the subway contracts.
Shonts Again on Stand.
In the same connection two other
important dates were fixed yesterday
One was April u. 1910. This vas two
days after the visit OF Mr.. Shonts 20
Mayor Gaynor at the City Hall. On
that day the Interborough directors
met. and among others present was
Edwin Hawley Also in attendance
was Delaney Nicoll, counsel TO Nj.
Shonts and to the Interborough
At this meeting the board passed a
resolution empowering the executive
committee, Of which Mr.. Shonts was
chairman, TO act as it saw ft with re-
spect TO any subway matters. This
resolution gave them full power TO
make any sort of contract with the
city without the board OF directors hsv-
ing TO pass on their action.
The second date was April O.. 1910.
This was three days after the Shonts
three hours talk with the Mayor at st.
James. A. which said Mr.. Shonts he
won over tho Mayor TO the Inter
borough's side. !, was eight days after
Mr.. Shonts's talk with tho Mayor in
the City Hall.
Commitments and Obligations.
On April % the proposal 70 third
track the ~" lines was made TO the
board of directors. II was In connec-
ton with this proposal two years later
that Mr. Shonts is alleged to have said
that he incurred certain commitments
and obligations in putting through the
dual subway contracts. This much Mr.
Shonts admits. But he denies he said
that the S2,OOO,OOO profit in the contract
would not go TO his friend. John +.
stevens. 20 whom he wanted the cor
tract awarded. but 10 pay off these
commitments and obligations.
No effort was made by either Senator
Thompson. or counsel to the committee
Frank Moss. TO prove that the so-called
informal proposal Of Mr.. Shonts 20
build the subways with lnterborough
money was a public record. This will
probably be attempted on Friday.
Besides Mr.. Shonts. Mayor Mitchell
and Controller Prendergsst were wit
nesses before the committee yesterday.
To Controller Prendergast was shown
this proposal, which was dated March
%. 1910. He said he did not see II
before. although its contentt might
have been discussed by Mr. Wilcox
with him at the time.
Mayor Mitchell said he never saw It
Continued on page ). column !