New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-14
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
.. Auemps to Bribe the Attorney "enerai o."
Sse the Canal Bill.
r,omtbc Albany state Register, July H.


the Canal Bill
r,op, the Albany state Register, July II.
NJ Townsend, from the select commit
a.. supoin,ed to investigate certain matteIs ~
s;cn Ia an alleged attempt 10 brIoe the Atorney oe
S~si made a written report thereon, winch ne reao,
p shr Honora1le ihs Assembly:
The Select Committee appointed under the reSolti-
mon OF the House. passed the seventh day OF July IN
ssant. and which is IN the words following -
Whfreas Honorable Noble Eldersin !, reported IN
ss 1ssn, - HrSs' s T. s na'S day o JS Mr Eders was
avaIe that this bull 90 pass without dotting an or
ss sss rumpos nth sneTe-and mgh, dooms-
day and could get no amendment IL could not De done
m was 10 pass bill had already passed the Senate, re-
sfranlng General aans, bringing an nune
Sss ,ns M Il hs ss had Sssl MF +
ed to det from bringing an ~ ancton o sganst tas o
ne aa eod no soo the
passage Of this bill by the House He offered 70
man could stand up here and deny-tha that officer had
been offered slO0o0 If he would not bring INJUNCTION
against this bill Laughter Still there we're those here
Who gong to pass the bill Notwithstanding all tnese
TAersjors reso,ped That committee Of FIVE be appoint
Cd by the Char investigate the charge that the
Hitee have power send for persons and papers and 70
the under oath and tina, the committee
they report to this deayRepor That AT
their request the Hon Noble s. Ederkn appeared before
nes unit the morning Of the on lns which granted
That the hour which the adjournment hed be
peared and was examined before the committee and hrs
examination taken in writing BY the chairman IN the
words following:
Present-Messrs. Townsend, Briggs, Heath, Mau
nee, and Curtis.
Mr. Noble S Elderkin present
Question. Will you sta'e what yOu know relative
10 the subject OF the investigation Of this Committed
Answer presume in "a legal point OF view,
could say know nothing onlyknow what nave
heard from what call good authority
o. Will YOU state whether you have been Informed
by apy persen that brIbe Of 10000 or any other
sum, has been offered to the Attorney General II
90, by whom were you informed, ana "heh '-dhi
what was sand 10 you
A. TO the first part of the question J answer
have as hereinafter eX, lained by the AuOfney-Dch-
erai himself don't know When prcci.eiy, oul sllce
this extra session commenced. The Atlofney-Gen-
eral said 10 me what the person cecnng sad 10 mn,
the Attorney General that he had The promise oi "A
contract of $500C00-of half million contract, was
the word and that they dare not cheat hiIn that II
he, the Attorney General-i may not use exactly the
words of the Attorney but you viii get the
idea-woud let this thing alone, bring no injunction,
he would give him quarter OF that contract that
be need not advance any money, nor turn ms hahu
ever, and he would guarantee that quarter OF the
contract should be worth 10 mten thousand dollars
q. Did the AtioU cy-Ccncrai state "Do MADE thlS
proposition to him
A. lie did not The Attorney General went on to
say that the person an old and particular person
al friend, and that after he asccralnct that he could
not succeed III buying hun. he begged OF him not to
mention his name, and that he sad to him that he
would not mention his name, but that he should the
circumstance, and Offer and attempt
q. Did the Attorney General request you 10 com
municate the circumstances to the House
A. No, sir he did not.
q. Did you ask his permission 10 communicate
A. asked him If he was willing that il should be
made known he SAID that he had no objections.
O. Did the Attorney General lnlora you OF Wiit
political party was the person making thus oher
A. lie did he said he was wing
q. Did be say when the offer was mace
A. lie told me the same day that the offer had
been madethat was during the hrs two weeks oi
the session.
O. .Do you know from anything the Attorney Gen
eral -d, from any other source, or nom your own
knowledge, who made the offer spoken oi
A. do not.
O. Have you any further knowledge or lnlorina-
lion than you have stated ON tins examination respect
g the truth OF the charge oontaineIiny yomremarks,
qaOtcd in the resolutions
A. No, sir.
the name OF the person making the offer, ami where
he resided
A. don't rccolloct whether | asked him his name
directly | think did say this because there
were Others present at the time the first conversation
was had some one may have asked hiIn me ques-
zion, but the question was put 10 hm VINO II Was
and he said he not at liberty To tell for he had
sa,d to the man he would not expose HIM. think ne
said where he fesided-in the Western plrl Oi the
State, think.
z. Who were present at The hist "ohN NefaAil"A s""
referred tol
A. cannot now state don't remember who was
present at the first conversation at some cohNerSa
NOn Mr.. Dart had been present he roomihg "'th
nc and the Attorney General ia The next room 10
us think others were present ] cannot name
them.
Nv kIr Curtis-Q. DID the Attorney General Siy
that he had commenced or contemplated any pro
cccdings against the person Who made tle oics Tor
the attempt at bribery
A. 4 do not recolicct hearing the Attorney General
say ANYTHING on that subject his answer 10 the per
son was after the otter maic-tht he was sur
priscd thai he would mako an ohcr Cd That k'nl to
hun TINT there was not money cnOughin tie canals
90 buy HIM he said that he dl0 not believe the man
intended 10 commit a crime or DO wrong.
NoRLE :. ELpERkIN.
Taken and sworn this IN lay of July, I'd 1881.
JoHS }. roNNsgNp, Chairman.
The Committee further report that tho cX'mna-
NOn az kir EldcrAin having been concluded, the
committee were dcSirous of examining rs witness,
Mr. Lew :. Chat6cld the Attorney General but Mr.
Chat6eld. although duly SlmmOned refused 10 dp-
pear before the t00uuttCC 10 tcsuV. Ihefcnpnn
The Committee directed that the testimony OF NJ.
EldeIkin should be reported 10 The House, All oi
which Is respectfully submitted
ionS j. Tow NsENp, Chairman select Com
Mr. 4. stated that he had wIltt,a - tac Attorney
General. desiring his attendance before the Commit
ice and had received communlc cation oi a very pc
culiar charactcr which he would send 10 ,hc llcrN
desk, that II igM be read TO the House.