New-York tribune., 1892-01-08
COLLINS AFTER A SEAT.
HIS CONTEST AGAINST SENATOR DERBY
TRIVIAL TESTIMONY GIVEN BY HIS WITNESSES
BEFORE THE PRIVILEGES AND ELEc-
ToYs COMMITTEE AT ALBANY.


that he wanted the Democratic Senators TO 10 quick
in oustng the legally elected senator because he
wanted to begin drawing his salary on next Wednes-
day. This was one Of the cases which went 20 the
Court OF Appeals the Others being the Sherwood
Peck and Deane cases; and the unanimous opinion Of
that court, composed Of five Democrnc two Re
publican judges, was that the case had no place in
court: In other words that Collins and his Demo.
cratic associates had presented evidence sufficient
b disturb senator Derby's election.
Iut Collins not satisfied with this.
lie is of Edward Murphys heelers, and Murphy
had promised him the besides this the Democrats
want twenty votes In the Senate, so that they can act
upon all legislation Independently Of the Rev Dr.
Edwards, who was induced to into the Organization
and 10 vote with them 80. in Response to Colllns's
demand for haste and the Democrats desire to OBJ
tain complete control OF the senate quickly
possible, the Committee on Privileges and Eeo ton, ap
pointed by Lieutenant Governor Sheehan met in the
Senate Chamber this morning to 20 through the form
OF taking testimony on which to recommend Senator
Derby's dismissal ana the seating of Collins. II the
case could be heard by a fair and honest court the
testimony given by Collns's witnesses this morning
would In ,Sef be sufficient u throw it out. 10 was
rldiculously weak and silly. and not OF the wit
nesses who testified for Collins gave evidence that
Substantiated one Of the charges that Collins had
made
The first witness called by Colllnss attorney was
F. f. Barnes fom IIoosict Falls. lie said that he
was lawyer; but If he handles his H. court as
poorly as he handled himself - witness lie cannot
win many suits for his clients lie was a watcher
at the polls in the interest of Roswell J.. Flower, be-
sides which he handled the Democratic money on
election day. His direct testimony WAS based solely
| on guc'swcrk, hearsay and Imagination 1t consisted
in sweeping charges OF bribery. fraud and lntmlda-
ton: but, before George Wellington, senator Derby's
| attorney, got through with him, Collins angry
enough 10 choke him, and the Democratic members OF
the committee admitted that there was nothing damag
| Ing 10 senator Derby.
| lie makes tired was the way one Of the
Democratic senators expressed Il. The witness ad
| mlttcd that one he could no: tell who had told
him that the Republican workers pcdded ballots within
80 feet OF the polls but az the same time he con
cssed that-for most Of the day-hc was In the room
where the voting going on.
DO you know whether or not there were any
| Democratic workers in the room that day?, was
asked.
"wen. don't know. l was in and around there all
| day. was his answer. Then he testified that he
paid William Cronin and John Riley ~ each to come
from schenectady and vote the Democratic ticket. lie
| had written to them. promising them that amount.
| Did they go 10 Republicans. too. and ask for
money for their votes - asked Mr.. Wellington
| $50. they Democrats" Here the witness
branchcd OF into long dissertation bribery, con
Guiding with the remarkable crtion that nobody was
| Fcc rom bllb'rN, NJ matter row hlgh up lie was
When Mr.. Wellington took mp the OF money by
| him. Barnes became extremely nervous, and CON
radiced himself repeatedly.
You handled the Democratic money, did you not ~
asked
Well, don't know. l lad some money! he
answered.
| Q-Ddnt you give ont the on Election Day ?
A.-Weli. YES, out
| Q-Whorc diI you The money! AIN Troy.
GLOW much dl you haycl Al don't know; il
might haSe been 5000 500.
o-who gave you the money! A.-Nobody l found Il:
| o-wherc' An Troy
| Q-whero Troy Am a room just as 1 would
| rnd any bundle.
At this the witness snickercd knowingly rs though
| he had made Il bright answer.
Who gave you that money ~ thundered Mr. yelling
| ton.
| "I-I-I-" stammcrcd the lawyer. now thoroughly
infused and frightened. lie got further. for an
objection TO the question. which was sustained by
partisan vote Of the committee. relieved him from
| answering It and telling who In Troy gave him the
| money 10 spnd. Collins who wa, in the room be-
came extremely pale when IL looked though the
| vluc~, would h. compelled tell who gave him the
| money. when the witncs, asked II he knew Of
any money being used TO keep Republicans from
voting he at first answered that he did but at
a warning look from one OF Collnss lawyers, he
quickly changed hi answer to the negative. On
hi, direct examination he had said that the who
1
works were not allowed vote. T:ut
thi, assertion he modified considerably by saying that
some II them did not vote
Don't you Il, a Awycr know that every man has
a right to leave his work to vote election day -
! asked Mr.. Wellington.
We'll. suppose II was a legal hJIlday.n was the
answer
But now. as a lawyer. don't you know that
man hn, two hours time In which to - persisted
Mr. Wellington.
"No DON'T the witness answered
Charle, f.. Cunningham, also from llooSck justice
Of tho peace member of the Town Board and Dem
ocratc watcher at the polls. the second witness.
His direct testimony consisted mainly In declarations
that the Republican workers were especially active In
hi, district. one time a number OF Republicans
crowded into the polling place. but this WAS in order
10 protest against allowing Democrats 10 accompany
voters into the booths. On cross examination the wit
ness said that the election district usually went Re-
publican BY - majority. Frank stevens. one of tho
proprleors Of a large paper factory he said, took
SER ballot from to lOk nj il, and then tore
H. mn and gave the voter another. The witness dill
NOT see any money paid by either the Democrats or
the Republicans.
The third witnes, was John Campbell also of
Iioo,ck Falls. Ills direct evidence was mainly given
70 show that the works OF the Walter A. Wood
Mower and Reaper Company were purposcly closed
on that day to prevent the men from coming out
TO vote The witness based this allegation upon the
fact that the vote for Collins in his district fell
on Nv enty or twenty five votes and thai witness could
not get into the shop. on cross examination Camp
bell admitted thai the shop had recently been started
ND after having been closed for II long time. While
hes was in Mr. Wellngon's hands he said that Walter
T. Warren. who had politics, was at present a'
the head of the corporation that now controlled the
shop The witness said that many oil the men dd
not care to come out to vote, although majority ol
thcn, ver, Democrats. This witness said that he did
NOT know that any of the heads of departments tried
TO keep tho mcn in the shop during the day Campbell
snw no money used during the election by either
party lie said that ten or eleven split ballots
ver, voted but he afterwuid reduced that number
TO six eight.
lanes Doughery. Democratic Inspector OF Elec-
or for thc Fifth Election District OF lloosck Falls,
bod f,m nd