The Portland daily press., 1881-06-11
AT ALBANY.
Investigating the Bribery Charges
DEPEW'S VOTE STEADILY INCREAS-
ING.
Depew Denies the Charge of Irregularity


investigate the alleged bribery case met at $40.
all the members being present.
Speaker Sharpe was the first witness. He
was sworn and said:-I know Samuel FL. Brad
ley had an interview with him night before
last at the Deavan House about 8 o'clock in
my room; no one present except Bradley and
Mr.. Jones, member of the Republican State
committee; Bradley and Jones came into the
room together, and Bradley said he had an i'm
portant thing to say to me; said he had been
approached a little while ago and was offered
money to vote for Mr.. Depew; [ asked him If
he had any money; he said yes, he was given
money; he then said he wanted me to take il:
1 asked him why, and he said, as chief officer
of the House, he preferred to give it to me; he
said he was in doubt whether to make state
ment in the House or in joint convention he
wanted my advice, and did not want to give
it; my impression is that he asked Mr.. Jones
whether he should tell who gave 1t to him; he
told me it was the Senator from his district
(Sessions); he then gave me the money; L
counted it; there was $1,000 three $500 and ten
$50 bills; the Speaker handed over the money
to the chairman of the committee; L put the
money In that envelope and put 1t in my pock-
ct; counted the money again before l went
to bed and counted it again in the morning; L
carefully examined the bills; 3these are the
same bills; there are three $500 Treasury
notes. Witness detailed the numbers and Sc
ries of the bills.
Mr.. Brooks moved that the money be depos-
tied with the Comptroller, to be held for final
disposal by the Speaker. Carried.
Witness-I had no other interview with Mr..
Bradley than have stated, nor at all on that
day other than related
To Mr.. Skinner-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 to 9; was in the room re-
ceiving persons; it was known at the hotel
that was there; was not there specially to re-
ceive Bradley.
Mr.. Peckham inquired what decision the
committee had reached as to counsel for Sena-
tor Sessions.
Chairman-The committee has no counsel.
Mr.. Skinner said the committee had decided
to allow counsel.
Mr.. Peckham cross-examined Speaker Sharpe.
did not give Bradley any advice, telling him
that while did not want to take the money,
still 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 had re-
ceived the money, and think Jones told him
he ought to; Bradley then said it was the Sen
| ator from his district, Mr.. Sessions; he then
| asked me if I would recognize him on the floor
| in the Assembly the next day; he asked whe n
| it would be in order, and 1 told him at any
| time; did not advise him to see MIR. Sessions
| in the morning; did not see him again until
| saw him in the House; the room the inter-
| view took place in was Gen. 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 seven minutes
| To ex-Speaker Smith, of Sessions counsel
I was at Vice Presidents Arthur's room sim
ply to receive calls; these callers came on gen.
| eral business: the Senatorial question was
| spoken of.
| Mr.. Smith-Why did you ask Bradley if
| that was the identical money?
| Sharpe-I know of no reason for asking the
| question.
Smith-Did you ever ask such a question be-
fore?
| Sharpe-I never had such case before.
Smith-Why did you take memorandum of
| the bills?
Sharpe-I have no reason, except that to a
lawyer it would be reasonable to take partic-
| ular memorandum.
To SMITH spoke of the matter to General
Arthur within half an honr; he was the first
| man L communicated it to; he was alone; /
did not speak of it to any one else that night;
Jones is named Orsini; he comes from the Cat
taraugus district; he was member of the Re-
| publican State committee; he is supporter of
| Conkling; there was no Encouragement by
| which made statement from the chair cor
| roborative of Bradley's statement; it was not
| my duty to do SO, but as Bradley had said he
gave the money to me I deemed it my duty to
say that the statement was correct
10 the chairman-My impression now is that
| Jones is not now member of the Republican
| State committee.
Speaker Sharpe here left the stand.
Senator Williams was called and sworn. He
related having seen Senator Sessions and AS
semblyman Bradley at the Kenmore Hotel
! night before last he had no conversation what
| ever about the Senatorial election with either;
did not see either after or before I spoke to
Senator Sessions, and walked toward my room.
The committee adjourned to p. m. this eve
| ming.
In the evening the investigation met again.
Afterilong discussion the cross-examination of
Bradley, who brought the charge against SEN
ator Sessions, was postponed until tomorrow.
when he will be represented by counsel.
James Armstrong, the Assemblyman who
| stated in the House he had been approached
regarding his vote improperly, was then sworn
and testified he was approached week before
last concerning the election of United States
Senator by man whose name he understood
was Edwards, who offered him money to vote
against Conkling. This Armstrong refused.
| Adjourned until to-morrow