100 



\ 



which requires my attention. I do not urge the committee to do vio- 

 lence to themselves, but still if you can do it, it will accommodate me 

 to either finish now or adjourn over to next week. 



Mr. Hitt. — I will change the motion to adjourn to Tuesday evening, 

 at 7.30, if that suits you. 



The Witness. — Any time. 



The motion to adjourn prevailed and the committee adjourned. 



Albany, N. Y., Febrmiry 10, 1891, 7.30 p. m. 



The committee met pursuant to adjournment, the following mem- 

 bers being present: Chairman Ryan, Messrs. Connolly, Davie, Hitt, 

 Cameron, Dempsey, Bush, Lane, Dickinson and Brown. 



Mr. Hessbebg. — Mr. Chairman, a few moments ago the announce- 

 ment was made, and communicated to the counsel for the commission- 

 ers in this investigation, that Mr. Abner L. Train, their private secre- 

 tary, who was appointed to that position at the time of the organization 

 of the commission, and who has ever since that time acted in the 

 capacity of secretary, died at about 3 o'clock this afternoon. I under- 

 stand, on the part of the counsel for the committee, that he is ready to 

 proceed, and I can say, on behalf of the commission and their counsel, 

 that We are also ready to proceed, but we deem it our duty to commu- 

 nicate that fact to the committee, and say that, in all justice, we 

 believe ^hat an adjournment ought to be granted until after the 

 funeral of the deceased. Mr. Train, if not a relativa of one member 

 of the commission, was at least the confidential and warm and inti- 

 mate friend of that member of the commission, and was upon friendly 

 terms with all the other members. The commission itself is in no 

 frame of mind to proceed this evening' under those circumstances, nor 

 are the counsel for the commission, unless the committee insists upon 

 proceeding. As I have stated, we think the mere statement of the 

 facts will be sufficient to warrant the committee in granting an 

 adjournment till after the funeral. 



Mr. Hitt. — When is the funeral? 



Mr. Hessbebg. — I do not think it has been announced. He is not a 

 resident of this city. If a resident, this is not his home. I have been 

 informed his friends and relatives have been communicated with, and 

 I presume the funeral will occur in the course of two or three days. 



Chairman Ryan. — In view of the sad intelligence which has been 

 communicated to the committee by the counsel I would like to confer 

 with the committee in executive session for a few moments. 



The committee then went into executive session and on opening the 

 doors the chairman said: 



