New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-28
SubpGnaS Controller S
Realty Expert on Letter
from Mayors File.
DIRECTOR OF B. R. T.
CALLED AS WITNESS
Oakman Denies Discussing Sub
way Matters with Gaynor-
Guards Freedman Accounts.

Senator George F. Thompson. chair
man Of the Legislative Investigating
Committee. intimated yesterday that
something important" had been round
in the letters obtained from the files
in the Mayors Office The committee
has had difficulty in inspecting these
files recently. because Mayor Mitchell
refused 70 allow Harry Klein, an inves-
,igator for the committee, TO examine
them. The Mayor explained yesterday
that the COMMITTEES could have anything
q wanted. but that he would not allow
Mr.. Klein TO see them, because he
didn't like him"
The name OF Charles OMalley' an
employe in the Controllers Office, was
mentioned yesterday by Senator
Thompson in connection with the i'm
portant find in letters previously OBJ
tanned from the Mayors Office.
Vacation Thought Sudden"
"The information we want is cor
respondence flo containing letters
which had 70 DO with the activities Of
an employe Of the Controllers Office
named Charles OMalley," said Sena-
tor Thompson. "OMalley is a real es-
tate expert and confidential employe."
A subpoena was issued for 0'Malley
p and dispatched by messenger TO Alex
ander Bay, y. Y, where he is spending
his vacation. Senator Thompson SAID
this was the first vacation O'Malley had
taken in seven years and he regarded
its "suddenness" as important
Walter G. Oakman, director Of the
BROOKLYN Rapid Transit Company, and
many other corporations, testified yes
terday. His name was frequently men
toned in relation TO the negotiations
for the dual subway contracts and as
an executor of the will of the late An
drew Freedman, Of the lnterborougn
board of directors. Mr.. Oakman said
ne formerly was a director OF the In
terborough and the Manhattan g. Hud-
son Company, which operates the Hud-
son River tubes. He resigned from the
other transit companies when their In
terests conAicted. He had stood
aside" in the discussion about subway
matters except TO attend meetings OF
the B. r. T. board.
Guards Freedman Accounts.
Frank Moss. counsel TO the commit
tee, started to question the witness
about Mr.. Freedman's bank accounts.
"As a trustee and executor | object
10 turning loose the committee or any
one else on a general foraging expedi-
ton into Mr. Freedman's affairs SAID
Mr. Oakman.
Mr.. Moss explained that hundreds Of
Freedman checks. amounting 20 hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, had
merely been drawn to bearer" and
that they ought 70 be traced. as Mr..
Freedman was a director of the Inter
borough. Mr.. Oakman replied that he
had no papers of Mr.. Freedman bearing
upon subway matters, except reports
of board meetings, etc. which were IA
niliar to the committee.
= did Mr. Freedman have bank &C
count in London, or in any other part
Of Europe ?" asked Mr.. Moss.
"The only bank account he had out
side of this state was in New Jersey"
replied the witness.
Mr.. Oakman did not remember dis
cussing subway matters with Mayor
Gaynor or Controller Prendergast dur
ing the subway negotiations. He
couldn't recall that committee or
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company's di-
rectors, consisting of Anthony Brady,
Colonel Williams and himself, had ever
been designated 20 call on Mayor Gay
nor. as Mr.. Moss intimated He said
ne remembered discussing with the d.
rectors of that company. the desirabili-
w of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
many entering Manhattan, some time
before the proposition was made in
connection with the dual system nego-
tiations.
"B. r. T. Eager TO Help City"
Didn't you and your associates con-
slider Mr. McAneny, when member OF
the Board of Estimate, favorable 10
the B. K. T. interests" asked Mr.. Moss.
eve thought 10 would be for the ben
EFT Of the city for the B. r. T. 10 entes
Manhattan. Mr. McAneny seemed to
agree with US" was the reply.
Mayor Gaynor had been considered
N favorable TO the Interborough plan, the
u witness said. but he had not inquired
about the attitude Of Controller Prem
dergast or other members of the Board
Of Estimate.
Mr. Oakman did not agree with Mr.
Moss that the offer Of the Hudson and
Manhattan Company 10 build and OPP
crate subway system when the dead
lock existed between the PETERBOROUGH
Is. r. T. negotiations with the Public
Service Commission and city officials
had been made as a friendly Office to
the other transit companies TO force
the hand Of the Public Service Com
mission and the city officials.
- should think. rather, IL was mere
ly an ambitious suggestion by some OF
the directors of that company" said