New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-29
A STORY OF DOODLE"
GRAVE CHARGES MADE BEFORE NEW
BRUNSWICK ALDERMEN.


SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY GIVEN TO CON-
MITTEE APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO RUMoRs
REGARDING THE PASSAGE OF AN oRDl-
NANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY
RAILWAY COMPANY OF THAT PLACE.
The investigation by committee OF the New
Brunswick Board of Aldermen into the source ard
truth of regarding the use of money and
bribery in securing the passage Of an ordinance
allowing the New-Brunswick City Railway Com
pany substitute electricity for horses as the pro-
polling power of it's brought out sensational
testimony at a sitting of the committee in the
Common Council Chamber OF that city on Tuesday
evening The main witnesses were L. J. Wesse.s,
an airbrake manuac ;urer. engaged in the electrical
business with an office at No. IS Wall-st., this city;
j. Kearny Rice presiding Judge Of the Middesex
County courts, and Milard F. Ross. a wholesale
coa-deaer in New-Brunswick and a son OF ex-
Congressman Mics Ross Democratic National Com
mtteeman Of New-Jersey. The testimony or these
men was fatty contradictory in parts and in the
opinion of citizens the proceeding has resolved itself
into a question OF veracty between witnesses.
The investigation Is the outcome or remark
made by City Treasurer James Nelson at meet
ing of the City Club OF New-Brunswick just before
election to the effect that it would be well for the
club to look into the rumors about bribery. The
members OF the Board OF Aldermen took this re-
mark as an implied nslnuaton that some OF them
had been brbed TO allow the passage OF the ordi-
nance. The committee, consisting OF Aldermen
Howard Reynolds. George 5. Silzer and Harry Nell
son. was accordingly appointed and mas held three
public meetings. for which many subpoenas were
issued Any one was Allowed to testify to knowl-
edge of the bribing OF any Alderman or city officer.
The first sitting barren OF developments. but the
second disclosed compromising testimony. THIS was
given by Charles j. Carpenter and was substantial
~ that Mr. Wesse.s had told him that Judge Rice
had demanded $3.50 as retaining fee AID had further
said that $4,000 in stocks or bonds would be de-
manded by THE boss" meaning Miles Ross. of New
brunswick At this second meeting. also, testimony
was given duplicating William X. Price. collector or
taxes in New Brunswick. In the receipt or SioV"
check from the New-York and Philadelphia Trac-
ton Company. 10 be used in securing right OF way
through the city. These statements produced pro-
found sensation not only in New Brunswick. but
throughout the state. and everybody who had been
directly or indirectly charged or implicated demand
ed to be heard.
THE CHAMBER CROWDED.
The chamber and lobby were crowded throughout
tbe slttng which lasted from 7:3O o'clock until mid
night Joseph ". Rle chairman OF the Executive
Committee OF the NewYOrk and Philadelphia lrac-
ton COMPANY testified that he had gone to New
Brunswick voluntarily to refute certain charges
He believed James Nelson had been mised and that
an Injustice had been done william II. Price and
Miles Ross through the silly remark OF an employe
Of his company Mr. Rel denied emphatically that
a 500 check had been paid TO Mr. Price and said
that the only money spent in New-Brunswck
by anybody connected with the company was Tor
hotel bills J. Henry Darrar, OF Trenton treasurer
OF the company. and sgner OF all checks corrop-
GRATED Mr.. Rie.ls testimony. The cashiers OF inc
National Bank OF New-Jersey the Peoples Ma
tional Bank OF New brunswick and the Broad
Street National Bank OF Trenton asserted that no
certified check for $4,000 had ever been paid by
their banks to Mr.. Price for the company.
William H. Price. superintendent OF the road. tes-
titled that he knew Miles Ross but slightly and
had never asked him for his influence In securing
the franchise Mr. Vessels was next called. and
lust here the exciting and sensational part Of the
session began. Warren Dixon. OF Jersey City. son
OF Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Dixon. nephew
OF William H. Price and brother-in-aw OF Miiiard
+. Ross who present as the counsel or Messrs.
Price and Ross, whispered something to city At
torney Welgel. and at Charles Carpenter OBJ
iccted because he had not been allowed to have
counsel present. Later Mr. Vessels testified that
AT the time he had option on the road contingent
upon his securing the electric franchise He knew
OF no money paid TO any Alderman or city officer,
but money had been paid for the purpose outside
% the Board Of Aldermen. 1t had been paid by
W. II. Price, superintendent OF the road. TO Judge
J. X. Rice The amount $50 and It had been
paid to Judge Rice not retaining fee. but as
individual fee 10 secure proper cooperation ana
needed influence for the passage of tine ordinance.
This was In January. 1893. and Mr. Vessels himself
had paid one-half the money The money. said
Mr. Vessels. positively not for legal services.
A. Q. Keaaby < Sons. OF Newark were the
companys attorneys.
Mr.. Vessels then went on:
For two years have kept absolute silence In
this matter. but am fully prepared to speak now.
and wish to make an accusation against the man
who said that he controlled the CITY Council Of
New Brunswick | am here because my name,
wl,hou. ny knowledge. has been brought into the
matter ana | have come voluntarily
Dr Louis Bever and Willard +. Voorhees, urged
ba @ Ssen imn , r Wesses be allowed to
proceed The committee finally yielded and Mr..
Vessels. continuing said: .
Judge Rice told me that | doing myself
harm IN appearing before the Board of Trade, as
the matter could not be worked that way. lie
demanded $3.50, and said that he must be retained
counsel He said that a party must be seen
the old man. was the party. Judge Rice said he
would talk ii all over with Willard Ross. and that
all right / came to New-Brunswick and saw
Mr. Ross and asked him what was necessary Tor
that stocks and bonds didn't go here that they
wanted something which goes in bank Mr. Ross
told me that could not get the ordinance for
any amount that he wanted it for himself and
associates: that was. in fact not In II, not near
ii. miles away from It,
HE WISHED TO EXPOSE MIR. ROSS.
Mr.. Vessels had then withdrawn entirely from
the company. Mr.. Vessels said that Willard Ross
showed him a paper which were forty bills
then before the Ncw-Jersey Legislature, and on
this paper those that were to be defeated were
checked: that Ross had further said that he had
engineered the coal combine" bill. He had come
10 expose Ross and would have done so before
save for the solicitation of Superintendent William
II. Price. who wanted to get the franchise through
first.
Judge Rice next testified. He reviewed his CON
nection with the New Brunswick City Railway