New-York tribune., 1920-05-12
Craig Hearing,
Halts as Court
Limits Queries
Counsel for Comptroller OBJ
jects to Ruling Against
Questions Relating to
Carrison's Appointment
Adjourned Until Monday
Testimony of B. r. L. Re-
ceiver Interrupted by
Continuous Wrangling

Contempt proceedings against City
Comptroller Craig before Judge Mayer
in the United States District Court
terminated abruptly yesterday after
noon. The break occurred when Ed
mond L. Mooney, counsel for the
Comptroller, abandoned cross examina-
tion of Lindley M. Garrison, receiver
for the B. r. T. and other lines, after
the court had refused to permit Mr.
Mooney to question Mr.. Garrison as to
the causes leading up to his appoint
ment as receiver by Judge Mayer. The
court adjourned the hearing until next
Monday.
Mr.. Garrison is a witness for the
government He took the stand after
newspaper reporters had testified that
the letter Craig wrote to Public Serv-
ice Commissioner Nixon, upon which
the contempt charges are based, was
given early publicity after the traction
conference October 6, 1919.
George Y. Van Nalkenburg, stcnog-
rapher Of the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment. testified that Craig had
dictated the letter to him; that he had
taken the original into the board room
while a session was in progress. hand
ed it to Craig, who requested him to
read it aloud and that when he had
concluded the reading of the letter
Mayor Hylan, present with other mem
bers Of the board. said "that's hot
stuff"
Craig Signature Established
Thercupon. Van Nalkenburg contin-
ued, Craig signed the latter. A carbon
copy was "tilcd with other traction docu
ments." and he and Secretary Charles
f. kerrigan Of the Board Of Finance
rushed the original letter to Mr. Nixon.
Mr. Garrison took the stand shortly
after 4 o'clock and was able, through
out forty-Gve minutes Of legal wran-
Mooney, TO answer but three questions
Moneys interrogatories were shut off
by the court in sustaining the numerous
objections of the government.
After saying that he had been ap
pointed receiver of the B. R. T. Dccem-
ber 81, 1918, and that his appointment
has been made permanent and to cover
other lines of street railways in Jan
uary, 1919 Mr.. Garrison was asked by
Mr.. Matthews if he had ever, at any
time, denied the officials Of the City of
New York access to original or other
sources Of information in his posses
(
Mr.. Mooney objected to this question
on the ground that there was no con-
nection between such a question and the
matter before the court The objection
was ovcrrulcd, but Mr.. Garrison was
permitted to testify that he had never
denied Controller Craig, Or any other
| proper official. the right of access to
matters of information in his posses
| ION.
Questioned on His Appointment
On. cross ss-eXamination Mr.. Mooney
asked MIR. Garrison if he knew why
he had been appointed receiver for
the B. r. 7. by Judge Mayer. He re-
| piled that he did not He said that
he had talked over his proposed ap-
! pointment with j. Horace Harding, but
he did not know how his appointment
had been brought about and that he
! never before had been appointed 20
any position by Judge Mayer.
"Were you surprised when you were
appointed % Mr. Mooney asked.
An objection to this question was
I sustained, as was one 10 the ques-
tion:
"Do you know that the Judge cx-
! pressed his pleasure at getting man
Of your ability for the position ?"
Thls last ruling aroused the ire Of
I Mr. Mooney.
"If this examination is going to be
conducted,' ne said. "in order to pro
tect noted individuals by volley of
objections. | want 10 know it, | want
to know the means which led up to
this appointm ent-if not, I'm through. -"
Judge Mayer sustained United
State Attorney Matthews's view Of the
issues, and Mr.. Mooney said, ~ aban-
don this cross-eXami ma tion.' The court
thercupon declared the hearing ad-
journed.