The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-09
BRIBERY IN TIE SENATE.

The Committee on the Charges Against Sen.
ator wood at the st. Nicholas Hotel
Tweed, Hank Smith and Waiter Roche
Present WiGnesses-A Secret Session
Greeley to be Ground in the Mill.
The committee appointed by the Senate To In
vestigate the charges of bribery against Senator
Wood held their first session yesterday morning. at
eleven O'Clock, at the st. Nicholas Hotel. owing
to the absence OF Senators LORD and Allen they ad
journed until three O'Clock In the afternoon with
out beginning any examination, although William
NJ Tweed and Henry Smith, two of the principal
witnesses, were present promptly at the
time. The resolution oil the Senate authorizes any
one Of the committee to proceed to Investigate
without the aid or concurrence OF The others
Senator Ames the chairman, determined therefore
not TO wait later than the afternoon for the re-
mainder OF the committee to make their appear
ance 1t being known that Senator Lord Is some
what indispOsed, and has not visited the Senate
Chamber In some weeks
The lobbies and corridors OF the hotel In she
vicinity OF the committees room were crowded IN
the forenoon by d large NUMBER OF
CURIOUS AND ANXIOUS INDIVIDUALS,
the former III most cases dsinterested wOuld-be
spectators, and the latter the friends and hencnmen
been SO prominent In the lortuitous career OF Tam
many, and VINO were TO testify the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth before tlils COM
mittee. There was, no doubt, some lear
that the disclosures to he wrung from them
would be quite as DANGEROUS if such a
as to that OF the accused senator. IL can be
imagined, then, that the pOstponcment OF the
opening OF the inquisiti0n 0ccasioned pleasing
DISAPPOINTMENT to those who watched the demeanor
OF their wbilom leaders with anxious trepidaton
senator Tweed and Hank smith went away arm
IN arm.
So much OF the committee as was tntact-namey,
panied by SergeantatArms Loomis, Senator Wood
and several reporters. senator Allen was expected
TO arrive. He maze ms appearance at about half
past three and SAID that he mad been detained his
way from his nome In the country by an accident
happening to the tram IN consequence OF the heavy
snow. With commendable humanity Chairman Ames
recommended the travel-tred legislator to partake
OF dinner before attending TO the committee. While
waitlng for him Walter Rocne, Hank smith and
William M. Tweed dropped In one by one. Inc most
courteous salutations TOOK place, and the party In
found reverie. ON the part OF The reporters II was
mostly the latter sort oil occupation.
HANK SMITH AND WALTER ROCHE
held whispered intercourse In the corner OF one
room, anu were afterward Joined by Tweed. his
beaming countenance never lost It's supremacy anita
Die EXPRESSION. some one remarked
.This seems to be the era OF Investigations"
Eyes, answered the venerable Boss, ''it seems to
ana ne hs % smith wer
introduced to Senator Allen when he entered the
room. placing That gentleman under some empar-
ct the ex.priests OF the .King." He seemed actu-
ated by q strained feeling OF decacy.
Chairman AMES announced that after c0nsulta-
ton with his colleague, senator Alien, 1t was de-
cided to hold
THE SESSION IN SECRET.
he said that the members Of the committee cared
nothing ABOUT II themselves, but that portion OF the
investigation which had been held In Albany mad
not been published and as In II great many im-
portant facts were disclosed, some Of which might
serve TO explain others which might appear IN the
evidence taken here, which otherwise might preju-
dice the people against the accused. II was but lar
10 him that all should remain secret until printed
in pamphlet form after Its presentation TO the
Senate Mr. Allen had requested that II should be
SO, aud the committee conformed TO his wishes, but
1t was from no interest OF their own. The repre-
sentatives OF the press were then desired 10 retire.
which they aid most cheerfuly.
The committee was then duly organized, the
stenographers sworn not TO make public the pro-
ceedings and the examination formally began.
THE TESTIMONY
elcIted II Is SAID, Is OF an important character
Mr.. Tweeds especially. MI. Roche was also ex-
amined, and what these two witnesses know, or at
least what they dvulged, about the charges against
Wood IS said 10 be OF such character as TO 60
great way IN his favor
Jay Gould called upon the members Of the CON-
mittee last night, and will probably be examined
to-day, and also Hank Smith. 1t IL expected that
Mr.. Horace Greeley Will be subpGnaed TO answer
for his broad accusations. He visited Mr.. Samuel
J. Tiden last evening at the SC. Nicholas. Several
other witnesses Will also very likely be required
appear. The committee adjourned Ut about six