The evening world. Newspaper, December 30, 1902, Page 1

NEP ESTIS SPORTING NEWS ON PAGE 6. _————— PRICE ONE CENT. SECRET ATTEMPT 10 ENDL” CRUSH FAILS. Star-Chamber Conference Between the) State Railroad Commissioners and Manhattan Officials, Results in No Agreement, and All Are Pledged Not to Divulge Proceedings. Chairman Cole Had Announced at the Public Hearing that a Plan for Relief in Three Days was Under Considera- tion,'and Frightened Railroad Of- ficials Had Promised Reform. The secret conference between the Manhattan officials and the State Board of Railroad Commissioners at the Fifth Avenue Hotel this efternoon, which Chairman Cole promised was going to get New York out of this awful jamming and crowding on the “L” trains within three days, came to nothing. After an hour’s talk General Manager Skitt, Assistant Manager Smith and Counsel Charles A. Gardner came out of the room. They declined to ord and at once left the hotel. Chairman Cole elso refused to talk. 5 been agreed between the railroad people and the Commitesion, id, “to say nothing about the conference; nothing at all.” “Why is that?” he was asked. t is for the good of the public “How?" “Well, we are getting down to bed rock now and talk will do no good, There will be other conferences probably, and perhaps ouier public hear- inga if we think they are necessary.” ~ ‘The secret conference was held after the public hearing in the City Maii hed been shut off because Chairman Cole announced that he had @ plan thet was going to solve the whole problem within three days, Tho “L" people, who had become frightened at the popular demon- tion against their {nefficient management, hastened to consent to go Nieto the conference. Through Counsel Gardner they had already promised to make reforms that might be feasible and it was expected that the con- ference would lead to great things, SCARED “L” MEN PROMISED RELIEF AT PUBLIC MEETING. ° Before the conference between Rallroad Commissioners and the road officials was held there was a pud- Mlle hearing at the City Hall, in which Bome plain truths were spoken to the Commissioners about the “L" road man- ‘agement and the jamming In its cars. So flerce was the outpouring of public @enunciation that the Manhattan ofM- clals announced their willingness to con- fer with the Commissioners. Chairman Cole made a speech declar- ing that the Railroad Commissioners dad under consideration a plan to give relief In three days. A Promine of Rellef. “We shall be glad to recelve the as- sistance the people can give, and would like to hear of their grievances in their respective localities. ‘As we understand the matter, It is A question of immediate relief. We HAVE A PLAN IN MIND THAT WILL AFFORD 1EF IN TWO OR THREE DAYS, and to that end we announce that we will hold a pdelim- inary conference with the Manhattan Toad officials this afternoon. “We thank the people and the press for the agitation in this matter. It affords the board a moral support. If the board fails in affording the relief asked it will accept all the responstbil- ity. We wish to say that at some future time we will ask the Manhattan oificials to produce their books and records and we will put them under oath to answer questions, The Metropolitan Street Rail- way Association will also be notified in due time. probably to-morrow.” Before making this speech Mr. Cole had interrupted the proceedings to re- mark that the “L/' officials would be eailed upon to suggest some plan to meet the public requirements, Lawyer W. H. Gardner said the Manh ay and willing to confer with the Commission and do everything tn their power to correct alleged abuses and improve the eervice. ‘1 will ask," interrupted Mr. Cole, “if Gupt. Skitt is willing to take the stand and make answer to or make a proposl- Mon of any sore” skitt Not Quite Ready. “No-o,"" hesitated Lawyer Gardner, “I don't think are quite ready to go ficials were ‘The committees representing the Mer- chants’ Association to-day w Committee on Franchises and /Tran: portation—Willlam F, King, Chairma: gonn C, Hames, Henry R. Towne, George 1. Duval and S. C. Mead, Seoretary, Executive Committee of the Legal ‘Committee Assoclated with the Assogin- tlon—Theron G. Strong, Chairman; John R. Delafield, George E. Morse, Bert Hanson, George H. Gilman, William H. Shepard, Edward R. Finch, Nedumburg, E. W. Tyler and Francis 2%. Butler, Secretary. ‘Members of the Office Staff of the Mer chants’ Association of New York—8, c, Mead, Assistant Seoretary; Frederick B. H. D. Dumont, H. D. Lock- wood, N. Flanter and F, F. Woodward, Denial of » sensation, Commissioner Cole opened the hear- After mentioning the purport of the meeting he said that some of the members of the Board had been sadly misquoted. “Myvelf, for instance. I was quoted 4s saying that the officials of a detain road ought to be shot for permitting certain things to happen on their road, I never saia such & thing. If I did I Would be waft to be a member of this board. Another member was quoted aa saying that this board had no power to locate stations, remove them, recom- mend schedules and additional facili- tles. ‘This gentleman was also mis- iene He did not make such a state- William caviiliam King, Chairman of the portation, esterday, at Ww! Tand pledged himself to ‘correct many of the abuses now existin ‘Theron G. Strong, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Legal Com- mittee of the Merchants’ Kesoctation, addressed ed the Conan teeter: ( (eaopheed toy a in th history thet the the ‘elevated Tow this ety nave een conducted tn and parsimonious ghee They y have been insufficiently Mrhted and ed. They have been overcrowrled, dangerous to lite. and limb. They are unclean. ‘They are inconven public end shameful t “We don't pave’ to produce vevidan Ank ae ‘one. these re. all teniary to the cond tion, hat and have preva: you to call the srg ‘ot these bave the te for that—to see whether “ea are ving the public the service they h to’ expect. “The powers of, this bos: Bre not so ample as those of the meats lature, bug It should not be necessary for us to go that far." Many Asnociations Repre: At the conclusion of Mr. Strong's ad- dress Mr. Cole saked if any other as- fociations deaired to be hear ‘The Bronx rexonted by Tax iM ‘axpayera’ Alli. Bronx, Untted Real Estate swoolation: Harlem Property 3 Woman's Health Protec- feph L. O'Brien: North, Blade Board of ‘Made, represented by Albert D. Davis Citizens Unton; Womane Health’ Protec: tive Assoclation. represented by Mrs. John Judge; Twenty-third Ward Prop. erty Owners’ Association, 1 ore ha uy ‘Merchants’ all asked A ready to present its case to-day. revary Meade sald that th een time since last Frid sorry that t) had derstanding, Chairman’ King sald SWhat we want is the same service throughout the day as we recelve dur- ing the rush hours. wie we should not have {t, to hear the rail That is whi mn William H. Bhet rd a was no question that Board had ample (Continued on Second Page.) VAN COT re | Titus when he handed him the warrants: The lon Books Open to All.’’ NEW YORK, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1902. RUINED bY DEFAULTER. Postmaster ‘Had Invested Every Dollar He Had in the World inthe National Mercantile Agency. TWO ARRESTED FOR FORGERY Wealthy Secretary - Treasurer | Willis T. Gridley and Miss! Edna Ranney, His Bookkeep- | er, Are Changed with Defalca-| tion of $21,126.21. Postmaster Van Cott, according to a statement given out by his attorney, Charles A. Hess, this afternoon Is prac- ‘tleally ruined by defnications in the National Mercantile Agency, of which he ts President, and for which Willias T. Gridley, the secretary and treasurer of the company, and Miss Edna Ranney, head bookkeeper under him, were ar- rested to-day. a very wealthy man ond mother fs raputed to own the bu'k of an estate worth several millions. Gridley was arrested in the office of the agency, No. 271 Broadway, to-day, and Miss Ranney at her home in Syracuse, Central OMice Detectives Burke and Lin- flen made the arrest. They are charged by Postmaster Cor- nellus Van Cott in warrants issued by Magistrate Pool, with ‘‘mak...g false en- tires and erasures in the books of tha company whereby a defalcation of $21,- 126.21 was concealed.’’ That amount ts specified, but Capt. Titus Ihief of tectives, sald the total amount involved would be considerably more, Detective Linden left for Syracuse to bring Miss Ranney to this’ city. On the train which is bringing her here she sali "f am Innocent of any wrongdoing, and I can't understand why I am brought into the disgrace of belng ar- rested. I know absolutely nothiog about the case. \ Cott » Ruined M Charles A. Hess, of the law firm of Hess & Holstein, of No. 60 Pine street, attorneys for Mr. Van Cott, made the following statemen| “This has been a most unfortunate affair for Mr. Van Cott; every dollar that he had In the world has been paid out by him to meet the obilgations for which he was morally and perhaps legally responsible, although, the de- fendant, Gridley, is equally lable, and who, being financtally responsible and well able to pay, refuses to make good his share of the lability. Mr. Van Cott, netther directly nor Indirectly, benefited in this scheme to the extent of @ single dollar, and never even re- celved any part of hia salary, which was fixed at $5,000 a year. The Najional Mercantile Agency was established In September, 1899, with a capital of $600,006, for the purpose of doing a business similar to that operated by Dun and Bradstreet. Cor- nellus Van Cott, was made President of the company, he having investet more than the others. Gridley, who came with the highest references, was elected Secretary and Treasurer, and was to manage the business. F, W. Catlin, nephew of Gen. B, F. Tracy, was ap- Pointed assistant treasurer, it being un- derstood that his uncle had Invested a considerable eum and had placed Catlin In the business to watch the methods pursued, Postmaster Van Cott told Capt. of Profit. r the company has been ing largely in negotiable paper, and course of this it was necessary MEN KNOCKED DOWN BY HORSE. Aged Mrs. Kutner Seriously In- jured and Mrs. Tobin and Daughter Painfully Hurt by Careless Driver. CAUGHT AFTER A CHASE. Mrs. J. Kutner, of the Mt, Kisco flats, One Hundred and Twenty-third street and Seventh avenue, was knocked down and dangerous hurt this afternoon by a horse driven by Edward of No. 696 Union avenue, Bronx. She sus- | tained internal injuries in addition @ fractured arm and a scalp wound With her at the time and also knocked down were Mrs, Henry R. Tobin and her daughter Julia, fourteen years old, of the same address, Mrs. Tobin badly bruised, but was not dangerously hurt. Julia was not much hurt. @rom the report made oy the police Sweeney was guilty of criminal care- lenaness. He was driving his horse up Beventh avenue hitched to small ex- ercise cart. The three women wero Sweeney, to o Issue many promissory notes. ¥rom Ime to time Mr. Gridley came to me and had me indoree these notes. We had figures that a profitable business was being done until Gridley made his report a few weeks ago for the year. It showed that instead of having a profit of $18,000, which I had figured on, I owed tne com- pany $2,000. “When Gridley and Miss Ranney went to their homes in Syracuse to spend the holidays, I had expert accountants put to work on the boks and they have re- ported to me that under the date of July 31 last, certain erasures id substitu- tons occur in the books which cover up a shortage of $21,126.21." Potmaster Van Cott was in the Centre Street Court when Gridley was brought in. Mr, Van Cott was represented by Attorney Charles Hess and Mr. Gridley Called Attorney Morris K, Price. By request of counsel, the hearing was secret In Mag‘atrate Pool's Svnon thoy amorged, “Aivern auinctes strate Pool announced: ‘Oh ‘the advice of counsel on both aides thei will a ne s PRB H SHY gives to at th T have held pan on spares Bo 19h the eatin P. M., fn th the Fourth District Bossa cin to @ onll in ti While. ‘ats attorney. | poles tore crossing at One Hundred and Twenty- fourth street and when a few yards from them Sweeney 4s alleged to have whipped up his horse, The mettlesome animal sprang forward and knocked all three of the pedestrians down. The |tache, wheels ran over Mrs, Kutner's body. Sweenoy, seeing what he had done, applied the whip to his horse and tried to get away, but he was caught aft a ohase and put under arrest by Mount- ed Potice.san Curtin. Mrs, Kutner and Mrs. Tobin were taken to a drug store, from which a call was sent to J. Hood Wright Hospital for an ambulance. They were both re- moved there. The surgeons expressed fears for the recovery of Mrs, Kutner. who Is eixty-six years old and not very strong. WEATHER FORECAST. Forecast for the thirty-stx hours ending at 8 P.M. W. @ay for New York City vieinity: Fair CROWN: PRINCESS LOUISE, WHOSE ELOPEMENT MAY CAUSE THE DEATH OF SAXONY’S AGED EN STARVING, DIES GAZING AT FOOD Ragged and Haggard, This Man Rivetied His Glance on Merry Feasters in Restaurant and Dropped Dead. ‘WORE NO COAT AND NO HAT. A man of swarthy wearing a closely about thirty dressed only in a brown flannel shirt open at the neck, a pair of thin black trousers and shoes without soles, 5 gerd along Elm street street this after- noon, stopped at the Subway trench at complexion and | White street and gazed wistfully at the workmen eating thelr lunches. Watchman Willlam H Kane, em- ployed by (he Subway contractors, who was standing nearby, was atruck by the man's haggard appearance and hungry look, and asked him if he was cold. The man looked at him, dazed, and staggered over to the eldewalk, where there are two restaurants close togeth- er. First he stopped before one restau- rant, and, swaying from mide to aide. seemed to be reading the bill of fare. Then he passed on to the other restau- rant and read its bill of fare. Meanwhile Policeman Stephenson, of the Tombs squad, had his atten:ion called to the man by Watchman and they both were on the point of go- Ing over to him and offering him food when he opened the door of one restan- raet and looked In on the hundreds of diners seated at the table Then he staggered back to the street and fell to the sidewalk dead, Coroner's Phyaiclan O'Hanlon, who ex- amined the man a few minutes, inter, he died of starvation. His body was faker to's staple at No. Ta len creer and from. there to the morgue, Dr. O'Hanlon gave the opinion that the man was a sk‘iled mechanic. The card of Dr. Polchinsky, of No. Mi Fast Broadway, was found fn the pocket of his trousers, ‘MILLIONAIRES’ CHECKS SEIZED AT CANFIELD’S HELD BY JEROME It was said in the District-Attorney’s office this afternoon| that Mr. Jerome has in his possession several checks signed by millionaires which were taken from Canfield’s place in the raid and that the public prosecutor would be able to put the screw: on many of the alleged gamblers patrons by means of these’ chesks. When questioned about them this afternoon Mr. Jerome sim- ply said: “| did not take any out of the place.” He would not deny, however, that there were some such checks in his pos- session. BUNCH OF BANANAS + S UP SURFACE ROADS. A truck marked “For sale” and laden with 150 bunches of| green bananas fresh fro’ Postmaster Van incuas the ee Marie t ft now," ee ae do wa ‘charge’ ie jue Gay tatr; ight to fresh west to southwest winds, hsidiea tae Need be Nite an § Centre street near Pearl m a Cuban steamship broke down in at 5 o’clock this evening and delayed) several lines of cars about twenty minutes. ——— LATE RESULTS AT NEW CRLEANS. p Fifth Race—John Peters 1, Harry MoDaniel 2, Scorpio, 3. the Crown Princess She Was in Love. oe His Health Has Grown Steadily Worse Sir ce Ran Away to S land with the French Tutor with His Mental Condition Also Is of Such N. that His Family Has Grave Fears for and They Have Summoned an Physician. here for consultation with the Court Although diagnosed as influenza, Crown Princess, which, in connection had a depressing effect on the King’s BPRLIN, Dec. %.—King George of Saxony has ordered the preparation of fa full, official account of the elopement | of the Crown Princess Louise and the cirowmetances lending up to tt for the Saxon people, among whom the most fantastic stories are in circulation to the detriment of the royal house, especiaily with reference to the future King. The scandal is undermining, ac- cording to some opinions, the people’: Joyalty and res,pect for the throne. The dynasty being Catholic and the DIVORCE DRESDEN. Saxony, Dec, 90.—King George has appointed a special court of seven judges to try the sult for divorce which the Crown Prince has decided to Institute against the Crown Princess, PARIS, Dec. 30.—Princess Loulse An- toinette, the fugitive wife of the Crown Prince of Saxony, and her companion, M. Giron, who are stopping at one of the leading hotels in Zurich, consented to rerelve there a correspondent in oder to correct many mlsrepresenta- tlons to which they have been subjected. ‘The correspordent senda to the Parle edition of the New York Herald the story of the Interview, which ls sub- stantially as follows’ ‘The Princess did most of the talking, speaking with the utmost frankness of her home life and the causes which led to her abandoning her husband and chil- dren for her youthful lover, “M, Gtron is the only man I have ever met whom I felt I could love—whom I must love,” she sald. “It was a ques- tion of mutual love and affinity which made my life impossible without him.” t was not a coup de tete, madam?” asked. “Not in the least. I had plenty of time to think it over. I have known M. Giron a year end was a great deal with him last summer, I would not alter any- thing. I am perfectly happy and con- tent." A Marriage of Convenience. What do you say, Princess, with ref erence to the charges of recklessly breaking up your household To this cams the somewhat pathetic story of the usual court "marriage de convenance. “As you know,” said the Princess, “we ladies of royal families are married, so to speak, without our consent, It Is true I was twenty-one at the time of my marriage, My father was quite set upon ft. My mother's greatest wish was to see it. I was told how grand it would be to become a queen, and I unwillingly yielded. * My husband and myself were of ex- tly opposite dispositions, he rouga and gruff, a military oMficer, with no time or thought for sentiment. The Count was Intensely Catholic.” “But you are Catholle, of course?” “Yes,” replied Her Imperial Highn was a dull and hard life in that court.” “And yourself, Princess?" nh," she replied, smiling. “I am 2n Avstrain, which {3 quite a different thing. You may Imagine what It was. I was not even allowed to have an It is feared that he cannot surviv “put I am exceedingly broad mineded. It} DRESDEN, Dec. 30.—Prof. Gurschmann, of Leipsic, has been physicians regarding the King’s 00 dition, which gives much concern to his far:liy. , His Majesty's condition has worse duting the last few days, due to excitement over the elopement with his great age and mental condition. e. people Protestant, the affair’ » Utllized for sectarian controversy. ie King’s statement, doubtless, ie the line indicated in the in supplied to the newspapers tat Jeanwig, that the” chown ieincesss had long been The ntoriee of iit-treatment on ea of her husband, of oppressive ceremonial and of her are classed as inventions, JUDGES NAMED TO SIT IN PROCEEDINGS, How miserable that life was!" Princess shuddered at the thougt tried so hard to bear It; yes, far suke of my darling children, adore. “I also hesitated for the sake of @ Saxon people, whom I love deeply, they me. Yet, when the time | when I found M. Giron and him, I felt that I could bear the tion no longer. I fully realized how ts rible it would be, the Prince my children”—here the Princess's filed with tears—‘without thelr ma, my people 80 shockag, weighed all the wicked things would be said of me, as they are said now in the press. Ills Too Heavy, | “But all that could not alter my lution. The {lls of my lfe at the were too’ great to bear.” ‘Ard now?’ asked ti "she replied, developments—waiting to see what wi come from Dresden; but such must need be arranged aslewly,’ “You, of course, ate prepared, 7 Catholic. He will, I fear, never! I am naturally very much put the false position in which 1 aaa ivi lwith M. Giron, but it is not int vo Bitaoe of our parts. tea Sym ae £0, requlete sitzation, by marrying | technicalities of the Ia ae Would you eae your Movement 1 ves Te was,’ e_ replied, brought about by a compl cumstances which ie course Impossible: it has bee mn mentioned, am talse “veportn, that roma of were concerned In my epartacs, is absolutely untrue, the: uaintance ‘of Mile, Giron last you he is a charming girl, but : was solely the result of eire penate dit. PRINCESS’S JEWELS __ NOW IN BRUSSELS, LONDON, Dec. 30.—Facts the jewels of the Crown Prine D Saxony, the whereabouts of whieh Jin doubt, are told by @ corr Prof, Giron, former and Dow neva, sent them § Keepl ing. companion at that city for. safe eket arrt russel sed to ‘Giron's b carried a heavy duty the brotl fused to accept it and pay nes opinion, I loved my children, dut could not bring them up as I wished. “Between my husband and myself there was no bond of sympathy, lle was a typical rough officer, on erent. was full of Heals, often wondering how dangerous it would be if geome man I could love were to napeert ary amount, r The authoritios In the ordinal of business should have returneg) parcel ko the sender. as 08 | ar The inference tn thet § Government, na renee OF the dawele va ia the iatere them in the of Saxony.