New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-30
NEW-JERSEY LEGISLATURE.
ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY.


FERED MONEY TO VOTE FOR SENATE BILL NO
1G7.
lFRoN TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNEl
TRENTON. N. j., March 29.-Senate bill No.
1G7 confirming railroad riparian titles brought up
In the House Of Assembly this afternoon and discussed
Tor n time AS a motion TO adjourn was being voted
upon, Assemblyman Shnn Dem.), Of Atlantic County,
arose and sent to the clerks desk the following
statement Of attempt to bribe him to vote for the
bill:
New-Jersey-Mercer County, S.:
Joseph H. shinn. being duly sworn, his ooth saith
tn that he Is member of the General Assembly OF this
state from the County OF Atlantic; that during Monday
night, 9th inst. he was called upon by q man we'll
known TO him. who said that he had to talk about
senate bill No 167, and during the conversation he
offered this depOnent $500 TO vote for Senate bill
i67 over the Governors veto that this deponent
ilsgd and he was then asked to call at certain room
on Tuesday morning, 2Sth inst, at halfpast o'clock,
Dr d mot mot 90 and later he was % met by the G
s at the the @ as agreed that hs then
uggpn upon, william McAdoo, from, the County
stated. II was agreed that If any offers OF money
were made TO this deponent for his vote bill
whole affair exposed in the House Of Assembly; that
while this deponent was in his seat he was told that
where he found the party first referred to In ths~ada
viz who said that he had mathematical problem 70 sub
stated that donbe the amount might make chi him apsWer
at which the party who submitted the problem stated
that the other members who were voting for the bill only
received $780, except those who were engaged as
attorneys for the bill, but that lie would SEQ
me again; that this deponent then went to his
seat ard remained short time when he was
again called by messenger, who informed him that
party wanted to see him that this depOnent then went
out and found the party there who had submitted the
mathematical problem, and he submitted again in the
following shape "As your vote TO 167 20 200 10
Your answer that this deponent answered All right
Il the money Is left in my dinner time That after
this deponcnt returned to his again. he told he
was wanted again. ana on gong out was told that he
would get $500 in his room at dinner time and $500 AZ
ter me bill was passed hat he would get II all now but
that the party who furnished had used more among
others than he expected. This deponent said All right"
and on going to his room in his hotel after the adjourn
ment he sat down. when nan came there with pack
age saying he was instructed to give i to Mr. shnn
that it contained five one hundred dollar bills, which
this deponent still has In his possession
Sworn and subscribed before me- this 29h of March.
ALLEN l. MCDERMoTT, Master in Chancery New-Jer-
sey.
An intense sensation prevailed in the House when
the affidavit was made, although its existence had
been known TO few persons for hour or two. Mem
bers who had favored adjournment changed their
votes and the motion to adjourn lost. Mr. Gator,
OF Hudson moved for Committee OF Investigation, and
Speaker Dunn Nir Lawrence in the chair,
moved 10 amend by postponing consideration Of
the bill until the committee reported. The
amendment was accepted, and Speaker Dunn
then made flaming speech, declaring his belief in the
virgin purity of each and every member and advocating
the resolution Mr. Robertson the part of the advo
Gates OF the b declared in the unequivocal terms
his desire for full investigation and a clear under
standing to the efforts used to pass the bill He hoped
the resolution to adjourn sine die on Friday, which
passed this morning would be rescnded in order to give
the committee time properly to perform its work He
said he certainly did not want the bill considered until
the matter looked into thoroughly.
While the discussion continued, Mr. Shinn walked
about the House with easy and satisfied manner. He
said he did to tell who made the offer. He was
a,Ih n nat
to give his unless forced He showed the money
in 800 bills which he kept carefully wrapped in paper
in his pocket He mentioned two men who he said were
not the persons who brbed him. One of the brbers had
talked with him, and had made the arrangements
while the other had simply handed him the
money. He had told AssembyInan McAdoo about it,
and NcAdoO had advised him to get hold Of the money
which, he said he intended to keep for the present He
aferward stated that he would tell the whole story at
The resolution to have the Investigation was adopted
and Messrs. Gator Fielder McAdoo, Baker, CASTOR,
Flynn and ParrOtt appointed az the committee
The report directed he ready by 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning, and the committee vas authorized TO
employ stenOgapher. The House then adjourned till
tomorrow the bill lying until that time. 1t is said
that the investigation will not delay final adjournment
The excitement over the exposures grew during the
the evening; large crowd gathered in the Assembly
Chamber, where the investigation took place Mr. Shnn
five 90 bank notes on PhadeIpha banks. one green
back series A. No 81 $685. and silver certificate series
was widely discussed and it was generally believed that
the charges fully sustained the bill would be de-
feated This the certain as the measure had
Assemblyman shinn is the Democrat who bolted the
assaied by the Democrats. He is engaged the real
estate business in Atlantic City. Before the session
witnesses stenographers and reporters The gallery
however, was OPEN Assemblyman shinn was the first
in addition the name OF me person
This T nH PROVED mtSe s be P SSan
as lobbyist Trenton this winter CrOmmer told him
that other members were only getting 5000, except
rgf
playing draw poker, 20 cents ante c. Barcalow repre-
senting the Pennsylvania Railroad once told witness
board bill and something beside This was soon after the
Governor had vetoed the bill witness had never been
about because he believed McAdoo to be an honest
man He not approached on the first passage OF the
hill and he then voted for it, He could not say why he
did inform the House Immediately about the attempt
at bribery. He never saw Crommer and BarcaloW TO-
geIher, and the latter never approached him on any
James Brown, waiter, Judge Charles T. Reed Of
Camden, Asscmblyman Pennington, DOorkeeper Smith
and William Ii. Brown corrobOraed details OF shinns
statements to the time and place. Assemblyman |
Conyery testified that Baker, Jersey city con
tractor had suggested that witness intended 10 vote
for the BILL lie might as well get some money lie % un
road. Mr. Barcaow nad argued with hun, but had |
made no improper approaches. -. u., o. su.. mon
toned was arrested ana brought back lie testified that
he had been in Trenton for four weeks nad no III
ment. Witness asked n number OF pointed ques- |
tons but made general denial Inc Witness @ G % &
prletor OF the Arlington Hotel, Cape May He has not
vet been found. The committee sat until after md-
night
GENERAL LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
PROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rRIBUNE.l
TRENTON, n. j., March 29.-The Assembly |
this morning adopted tho Senate resolution to adjourn
sine die on Friday at noon. The Democratic caucus
passed upon the measure, aud the action OF the House
was OF course pefunctory The scene for the remaining
Iavs in the Assembly promises to be exciting and
used The Sneaker Is not calculated to exert q strong
Influence IN the House, and when it escapes from
his control there may be trouble. Among the
r,ottera still unacted upon In the |