The Portland daily press., 1881-06-15
AT ALBANY.
The Bribery Charge Investigation.
STILL ANOTHER BALLOT WITHOUT A
CHOICE.

underwent long crOss-examination yesterday
before the special committee at Albany. He
turned out to be poor witness, having in
volved himself in contradictions and weaken
ed the force OF his former statement He ad-
mitted that he tried to entrap Mr.. Sessions in
to giving him written statement of the
reasons why he should vote for Mr.. Depew.
He said that he knew nothing more, personal
ly, of the use of money in this contest.
ALBANY, June 4.-The bribery investiga-
Bradley this forenoon. He said there was no
particular trouble in his district between Ses-
sions and himself All the Republicans did
not endorse Sessions action at Chicago Brad
ley said he might have told Dunnell of the
New York Times that the money was given
him by outside lobbyists, but did not say SO to
Smith OF the Buffalo Courier, or to Miller Of
Chautauqua. Did not remember saying in
Kelsey's cigar store in Clean, Sunday (the 5th)
that there was CONSERVATION in store for the
people in Albany the following week.
Peckham-Did you say that you could get
5000 for voting for Depew?
Bradley-I think 1 did say could get 5000
for voting for Depew and at the same time
please my constituency, but would not do it.
did not say to the postmaster there that !
could get 81 800 to yete for Depew. Did not
say ex-Assemblyman Wheeler that Senators
got $1,000 each for not going into caucus did
say that some of the men got $1,000 each for
signing the call not to go into caucus. Did not
not vote for Conkling again. Did not make
any statement to editor Hill of Olean, about a
big time being expected at Albany. The
statement made in the House was written by
myself in the Speakers room in the Delavan
House the night handed over tho money to
him. Don't think Jones saw or read it before
made the statement in the House. Sharpe
seemed paralyzed when showed him the
money and did not count SO fast as he would.
He finished counting it however before got
through writing my statement.
On direct examination by Mr.. Bangs Mr.
Bradley said: 1 did not want to connect Ses-
sions name with the bribery, or did not until
he came before this committee. Did not say
anything to the editor of the Olean paper to
warrant his statement that startling expos
ures may be expected next week." WHAT I
meant was that Bradley and the Star route ex-
element would be more fully developed. In
the cigar store at Olean made q statement
that could get 5000 for voting for Depew
and at the same time please my continents I
| thought SO for the reason that the lobby at AL
bany was understood to be very energetic. I
| told the postmaster at Knapp's Greek that
could get $4,000 for voting for Depew. I
| thought / could do so from the common 1umor
which prevailed about tho capital remem-
acceptable to our people and might yet give
him lift-a vote. I was trying to evade
| answering anyone in the matter. Am positive
that Sessions offered me $1,000 additional in
case Depew should be elected. No one ever
suggested the idea of my, making q false
l charge against Sessions or anyone else. fore
saw thar every administration man would
| pitch into and abuse me and try to break down
my testimony. never expected to have the
benefit Of the 5000. I never combined or
plotted in getting up false charge against
Senator Sessions. He took the money from his
pants pocket.
| Here the counsel for Sessions rested. I
| By Brooks-In stating that you could get
| 5000 for voting for Depew and $500 for
taking your name off the caucus call, have
| you any belief or knowledge on this subject?
| Bradley have no knowledge on the sub
| ject whatever. I do believe that there are
some members of the Assembly who can be
purchased; think so from newspaper and
street rumors. Don't think that any Senator
| would take $1,000 for his action on the matter
have no personal knowledge. Don't know Of
any person high up or low down to whom inn
proper proposals have been made except in
| this case.
To the chairman-Mr. Sessions had talked
Cornell and Platt. understood from his con-
versation with me that he wanted to talk con-
| fidentially with me. lat one meeting of the
staiwarts I was assigned to the duty Of trying
in getting Independents in.
To Skinner-The Independent stalwarts met
! at Carpenters room in the Delavan House
Thursday night. June 30, for the purpose of a
| caucus. I was active in that caucus. voted
for Fenton awkward that day and the next
day voted for Conkling and Plat.
| Mr.. Bangs said the counsel was now ready to
cross-examine Senator Sessions.
| Eleven o'clock having arrived the hearing
was adjourned until 8 o'clock to-day.
| Before closing Mr.. Bangs, counsel for the
committee, said to Bradley:-"H you know
anything duplicating anybody besides Senator
Sessions no matter how high his rank may be
| or low, no matter whom he has voted for or
| PROPOSES to vote fOr-Wno has made Won or
anybody else any corrupt proposition, just
name the neEson and circumstance"
| Here Bradley replied 1T don't know any
body, with the exception, perhaps, of Mr..
| Young"
After recess Mr.. Sessions was 3cross-examin-
| ed. 1t was elected that he had in former years
visited Albany in the character of lobbyist.
| He admitted several operations in the capaci-
| ty; said he then advocated such bills as he had
received pay for; he had assisted in Washing
ton in one or two matters; never divided any
| thing which he received.
Adjourned until tomorrow