Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-10
ALBANY.
The Committee Appointed TO In
Vestlgate Meet this
Morning.


members being present. Speaker
Sharpe, the first witness called, was
sworn and said l know Samuel H.
Bradley. l had an interview with
him, night before last, at the DelaVan
house, about nine o'clock, in my room.
No one was present except Bradley
and Jones, a member of the republi-
can state committee. Bradley and
Jones came into the room together,
and Bradley said he had an important
thing to say to me. He said that he
had been approached, a little while
ago, and was offered money to vote for
Depew. / asked him if he had the
money. He said yes, he was given
money. He then said that he wanted
me to take it. | asked him why, and
he said, as chief officer of the house
be preferred to give it to me. He said
he was in doubt whether to make a
statement in the house or in the joint
convention. He wanted my advice,
and | did not want to give it. My
impression is that he asked Jones
whether he should tell who gave it
to him. He told me it was the senator
from his district (Sessious) He then
gave me the money. | counted it.;
there was $2OO0-three $500 and ten
$50 bills. (The speaker here handed
over the money to the chairmsn.) l
put the money in that envelope and
put it in my pocket. l counted the
money again before went to bed and
counted it again. in the morning. l
carefully examined the bills. These
are the same bills. There are three
$500 treasury notes. (Witness then
detailed the numbers and series of the
bills.)
Mr.. Brooks moved that the money
be deposited with the comptroller to
be held for final disposal by the speak
er. Carried.
Witness-I had no Other interview
with Bradley than l have stated, nor
at all on that day other than related.
Mr.. Jones said he thought it to be
Bradley's duty to do as he was doing.
There was no reason for Bradley to
think | was in the room from Z to 8.
| was in the room receiving persons.
1t was known at the hotel | was there.
| was not there specially to receive
Bradley"
Mr.. Pecklam inquired what deci-
sion the committee had reached as to
counsel for Senator Sessions.
Chairman-Thc committee has no
counsel.
Mr.. Skinner said the committee had
decided to allow counsel.
Cross examined: Speaker Sharpe
| did not give Bradley any advice
telling him that while | did not want
to take the money, still l thought he
had right to leave it with me. When
| took the money | asked him if he
had mingled the money with any
other. He said he had not. He
asked Jones if he ought to tell
from whom he had received the
money, and | think Jones told him he
ought to. Bradley then said it was
the senator from his district (Ses-
sions). He then asked me if | would
recognize hin, on the floor in the as
sembly the next day, He asked when
it would be in order, and | told him
at any time. did not advise him to
see Sessions in the morning. l did
not see him again until | saw him in
the house. The room interview took
place in General Arthur's room.
was there receiving callers. Bradley
and Jones were the only ones in the
room at the time, and they stayed
only FIVE or ten minutes. was at Vice
President Arthur's room simply to re-
ceive calls. These callers came on gen.
eral business. The senatorial question
was spoken Of
Mr.. Smith, of Senator Sessions
counsel-Why did you ask Bradley if
that was the identical money!
Mr.. Sharpe-I know Of no reason
for asking that question.
Mr.. Smith-Did you ever ask such
question before?
Mr.. ShNrpe-I never had such a
case before,
MIR. Omlth-W my did you take a
memorandum of the bills?
Mr.. Sharpe-I have no reason ex
cept that to a lawyer it would be rea-
sonable to take particular memoran.
dunn. l spoke of the matter to Gen
eral Arthur within halfan hour. He
is the first man | communicated it to.
He was alone. did not speak of il
to any one else that night. Jones is
called "0rsini." He comes from the
Cattaraugus district. lie was mem
Der of the republican state COMMITTEES
He is supporter Of Conkling. There
was no prearrangement by which |
made the statement from the chair
| oo,.cb borot t;,yo oc p.a H.. .l.a.....s