The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-05-17
,IIaE HISTORY OF THE CASE.


legheuy county Riot bill--perhaps, more
correctly speaking the bill to- idemnify the
Pennsylvania r. r. Co. for losses sustained
by tho riot in 1877 But httle note was
made vi the subject, publiclyrin this county
until Friday Of last week, when the follow
ing charge against one of our prominent
ncn' appeared in the Philadelphia Pi,Hes, as
She evidence Of Hon. Mich Cassiday, Of this
county, before the Investigation Committee
Representative Cassidy, Of Carbon, said
that dDring the discussion on the riot bill,
Alex. W. Leisenring, president of the First
National Bank OF Mauch Chunk, came here
and was introduced TO him by his colleague.
Leisenring inquired as TO the prospects of
the bill, as he was going to buy some Penn
sylvania Railroad stock Witness and his
colleague (Zern) told him they didn't know,
they were opposed to the bill and advised
hun ~ inquire of Elisha Davis He went
10 Davis, who wouldn't tell him anything.
At the Bolton House Lesenring asked wit
ness to vote for the bill. He replied no, that
he thought the bill was wrong and couldn't
vote for 1t, as he was sworn ~ do right as a
member OF the House. Leisenring said that
wouldn't trouble his (Leisenring's) con-
science. lie went on to say that he expect
ed to make $4,000 by stock speculation if
the bill passed. He would buy two thous-
and shares of Pennsylvania stock and make
$1,000 by the rise. If Cassidy and his col
league would vote for this bill he would give
them half OF the profits. Witness replied
that he couldn't do it, and alterward told
his colleague about 1t.
In response to the above charge, made by
Hon. Michael Cassidy, Mr.. A. W. Leisen-
ring, makes the following explanation and
partial denial of Mr.. Cassdy's statement.
went to Harrisburg to solicit an appoint
ment for personal friend. dropped into
the House, where Dr. Zern, recognizing me,
procured a seat, at the same time beckonng
TO Mr.. Cassidy, to whom | was introduced,
as had no previous acquaintance with him.
The riot bill was then under discussion |
told both Zern and Cassidy that | would
like TO know the fate of the bill that il
knew it would pass would invest in Penna.
r. r. and make few thousand dollars out
of it. | told them il either would give me
the information ii day or two before its pas
sage would give them good 'divy' for the
information. Both replied that they were
opposed to the bill and had no information
from its friends what its ultimate fate would
be. They suggested that perhaps | could
get the information from Elisha DAVIS. /
| went to Davis who told me bluntly that
both your members are opposed to the bill,
and ] can't give yeu any information as to
its fate | returned TO Zern and Cassidy,
when DR.. Zern volunteered to see Mr..
Frauncc, Democrat, from Philadelphia, who
favored the bill, and see what information
could be had from him. That ended the
interview there. In the evening met Quay
at the tea table. Quay asked me whether !
could get our members to go for the riot bill.
told him | could not, as both were op-
posed to it, and | was opposed to it also. |
told him the Pennsylvania Il. r. Co. had
treated me badly, and didn't propose to do
them any favors. After tea Mr. Boyle of
the Gazette, who happened to be in Harris
burg, and | strolled about the city and
dropped in at the Bolton House, where we
met Cassidy, and all three of us sat down
and for an hour or more we talked about
different matters. About 10 O'Clock DIR.
zern joined us. | mentioned again in sub
stance what said in the House in the after
noon, but don't think l said | would give
any fixed sum for the information about
the passage fthe bill. II Cassidy is under
the impression that | wanted to offer him
81 1000 for his vote he is simply laborng
under de'usion. Do you suppose | would
offer him that nmnunt UI money for his vote,
and do you suppose for a moment that il
wanted to do such a thing would go to a
man whose election | opposed and with
whom had no previous acquaintance? The
idea is absurd and the only reason can as
sign for Cassidy saying what he did, is that
he wants TO make for himself some cheap
political capital at home.
Next follows a short statement to the same
effect from Mr.. E. NJ. Boyle, who was pres
ent at the meeting between Mr.. Leisenring
and Mr.. Cassidy at the Bolton House in the
evening We have heard il reported that
Boyle denies being in Harrisburg in the in
terest of the riot bill, and that he was simply
looking up the Australian Anthracite Kan
garoo bill, with view to securing its passage,
with an appropriation of $4,000 to pay his
expenses To the Antipodes as commissioner
from this statesSE He says in regard to the
interview at tAs Bolton House:
was spresept whcu instrumentation took
place betwefh Mr.. Leiscsl "a and Mr.. Cas-
sidy AZ ID Bolton House. lid not hear
any ofef money for vote. Mr. Leisen
ring sniHa& would pay something to know
whethetthe riot bill would pass, as he could
make something out of stock speculation.
heard Of no offer of any of the profits Of
such speculation for Mr.. Cassidy's voc. !
This is followed by a correspondent in Har-
risburg writing to the Times as follows:
The statement of Alexander W. Lcisenring
is fatty eontradicted by Representative
Cassidy, of Carbon. He firmly reiterates
the statement that Leisenring approached
him as sworn by him in his testimony last
week, Representative ZeTn, Of Carbon, will,
II is believed, tell similar story to that of
his colleague, as the two were interviewed
the sasqs day by Leisenrng.
And bw comes the sworn statement of
r HonlJ e. Zern, as made before the Investi-
eating Nemmittee on Tuesday. 1t fully
csrrsbk Tea the statement made by Cassidy
va sgAt The evidence as it appeared in the
tcollplftsof OF the Times on Wednesday morn
Ing
= RSpresentative Zern, of Carbon, confirm
ed substantially the story of his colleague,
Cassidy, with regard to the approaches made
10 the latter, by A. d. Leisenriug, of Mauch
Chunk, as to the support of the bill with
view 10 a stock speculation. Leisenrng
asked witness as to the probable fate of the
bill, and said he was anxious to know, be-
cause its passage would send Pennsylvania
stock up and he could make something out
OF it, Ii witness would give him the points
in advance they would divide the profits
accruing from the rise in stock. Zern re-
piled that he and his colleague were oppos-
ed u the bill and We're not in a position 70
give him any points. He referred him TO
Faunce or Davis, who were friendly to the
measure. Later in the day Leisenrng saw
him again at his hotel, and requested pri-
vate conversation. Meanwhile Leisenriug
saw Davis and reported that the latter would
not give him any points because the Car
bon members were opposed 10 the bill. At
this interview, which took place in the par
lor Of the Bolton House, Leisenring renewed
his proposition in more definite terms, and
including as beneficiary Cassidy, whom
he asked witness TO see. The proposition
now made was if he and Cassidy would vote
for the bill Lesenring would divide with
them the profits made by rise IN stock. He
said he couldn't get the points he desired
from Davis, unless they voted FOR the bill
that he expected 10 make anywhere from
So 900 TO 81 900 by the operation. He could