Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-15

session Of the Senatorial Bribery Com.
mittee.
The Testimony Of Senator Bradley Con-
timed.

The Testimony Of Senator Bradley Con.
tinued.
ALBANY. June a. The bribery investiga-
ting committee examined Mr.. Bradley, tnis
morning. :,
He said that there was no particular trouble
in his district between Sessions and himself
All republicans there did not endorse Ses-
sions' action there
Mr.. Bradley said he might have told Dun
nell of the New York Times that the money
was given to him BY outside lobbyists. but
did not saw so to Smith of the Buffalo Cour-
Ter. or TO Miller of Chatauqua; did not re-
member of saving in Kelsey's cigar store In
Olean on Sunday the jth that there was con-
sternation in the store for the people of Al
bany the following week.
Peckham-Did you say that you could get
81 600 BY voting for Depew!
Bradley think 1 did say could get So
900 for voting for Depew and at the same time
please nv constituency, but | would not do
it: did not saw to the postmaster there that
could get 81 500 to vote for Depew; did not
saw to assemblyman Wheeler that the sena-
tors got 81 900 each for not going into the
caucus; did not say that some of the men got
81 900 each for signing the call not to go into
the caucus Did not tell George Austin Of
Allegheny, that would not vote for Conk-
ling again; did not make any statement TO
editor Hill of the Clean, about big time
being expected at Albany. The statement
made in the House was written BY myself in
Speaker Shapes room in the Deleyan House
the night handed the money over to him ::
don't think Jones saw it or read it before |
made the statement in the House. Speaker
Sharpe seemed paralyzed when l gave him
the money, and did not count the money so
fast as would. He finished counting it,
however, before | got through writing my
statement.
On direct investigation by Bangs. Bradley
said he dill not want to connect Sessions
name with the bribery, and did not until he
came before this committee; did not say
anything to the editor of the Orlean paper to
warrant this statement that startling expos
ures may be expected next week" What |
meant was that Brady and the Star Route
excitement would be more fully developed.
In cigar store at Orlean, l made the
statement that could get $1,000 for voting
for Depew and the same time please my con-
stituents thought so for the reason that
the lobby at Albany was understood to be
very energetic; told the postmaster at Knapp
Creek that could get $4,000 for voting for
Depew thought that I could do so from
the common rumor which prevailed about
the capitol; remember talking with Hick-
man; said Rogers was acceptable to our
people and might give him vote. | was
trying to evade the answering of any one in
the matter; am positive that Sessions offered
me $4,000 additional in the case that Depew
was elected.
BRADLEY cOntinued-No one has ever sag
gested the idea of my making false charge
against Sessions or any one else | foresaw
that every administration man would pitch
into and chase me and try to break down my
testimony.
/ never expected to have the benefit of the
5000; never combined or plotted in getting
up a false charge against Senator Sessions.
He took the money from his pants pocket.
Here the counsel rested.
BY Brooks--In stating that you could ge,
$4,000 for voting for Depew, and $500 for
taking your name off the caucus call, had
you any belief or knowledge on this subject.
Bradley had no knowledge on the sub
ject whatever. do believe there are some
members of the Assembly who can be pur-
chased. think so from the newspaper and
street rumors; don't think that any Senator
would take $1,000 for his action on the mat
ter; have no personal knowledge; don't
know of any persons either up or low down
to whom improper proposals have been made,
except in this case.
To chairman-Mr. Sessions had talked to
me about voting for some one other than
Cornell and Plat. l understood from his
conversation with me that he wanted to talk
confidentially with me. AT one meeting OF
the stalwarts, was assigned to the duty of
getting independents in.
Skinner-The independent stalwarts met
at Carpenters room in the Delevan house,
Thursday night, for the purpose of caucus
was active in that caucus. l voted for
Fenton and Wood that day, and the next day
for Conkling and Platt
Bangs said the counsel was ready to cross
examine Senator Sessions.
After recess Sessions was cross examined
1t was elected that he had in former years
visited Albany in the capacity of Lobbyist
He admitted several operations in that capac
ity and said he then advocated such bills as
he received pay for. He had assisted ii
Washington in one or two matters. He
never divided anything which he received
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