New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-16
cOI-GHLIN WAS THE MAN.
HE APPROACHED" SEIBERT.
COMMENTS WHICH HE ADVANCED
FOR AMENDING THE BUFFALO
POLICE BILL.
rury WERE AMBIGUOUsLY woRDED. But AS
sruRIYMAN GERST GATHERED FROM Sci
BERTS REPORT THAT $1,000 WAS THE
PRICE OF A VOTE FOR THE
DESIRED AMENDMENT.
DESIRED AMENDMENT.
INV TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUHr


my TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRiBUNr
,uo,v Feb l5-Wilam +. Sheehan cannot be
.,"ased tonight with the testimony that was given
- ,ho senate Judiciary Committee to-day upon
~, recent alleged attempt bride Erie County
Assemblymen nor can the people OF the STATE reau
without dismay the testimony OF the Assenoiymen
themselves 1t is apparent that some po"eriu
influence was at work TO induce the Erie county
representatives TO betray their constituents. IL
faiIed but the Buffalo Police Bill passed In the
Assembly by Only sixtyeight votes and two OF these
were unex pec,edly given by Democrats. Then fol-
Lowell an audacious attempt TO induce certain Re-
publican Senators to desert their party and kill
the bill. This also has failed. and the Buffalo Home
Rule bin is in the hands OF Governor Flower
The testimony given by the five Erie County AS
semblymen and by newspaper correspondents
showed that some member Of the "Sheehan gang.
as Assemblyman Seibert says. approached him In
the lobby of the Assembly Chamber and attempted
70 persuade him to favor amendment prolong-
ing the of Office of the sheehan Police Com
mssioners OF Buffalo until after the coming No
vember election. AS an inducement Tor him thus
10 betray the people OF Buffalo virtually unopposed
reelection offered him Substantially, this
vas bride OF 1900. the salary Assemblyman
receives Moreover. some words were used TO him
which, taken in one sense. might be interpreted as
proffer OF money. Whatever was Assemblyman
Seibert's understanding of them. something re-
rlarkable followed. Mr.. Sebert sounded each of
the other four Erie County Republican Assemblymen
as 20 whether or not he would support such an
amendment.
Furthermore Mr. Seibert left the distinct i'm
press!on upon the mind of Assemblyman Gerst that
he would receive $1,000 II he should vote for the
suggested amendment of the bill upon the mind
Of Assemblyman Whitte that there was something
in It. for those who would vote for the amend
ment: and upon the mind Of Assemblyman Schoepfin
that money was offered for those who would vote
for the amendment. Lastly Mr.. Braun testified
that Mr.. Sebert had told him about the amend
men: the Sheehan Democrats wished TO make. and
had said: IL looks TO as II they were willing
TO pay for it,
one OF the most interesting features OF the day
was the action of Lieutenant Governor Sheehan in
bringing forward the sole Buffalo Sheehan Demo
crat In me Assembly. "Corny' Coughn. who
represents Sheehans old Assembly district. as the
man with whom Assemblyman Seibert held the
conversation about supporting the amendment. Mr..
Coughn denied that during this conversation he
had said anything about money. He made the
highly important statement. however. that he had
asked Seibert II he would like to come back 10 the
Assembly again.
Assemblyman Gerst frankly said that Assembly
man Seibert to him with proposition from
Mr. Cough.in 10 vote for the amendment. and that
1t in the OF this talk that he gained the
idea that 5000 would be paid for votes for
such amendment.
The Senate judiciary Committee in the SEN
Senator O'Connor. and the other members, Senator's
Saxton.- Mcmahon .Lexow: Parker and Pound ahe
Braun Cierst and Cough,in were all in attendance.
Senators Lamy and Persons. Of Erie County were
The first witness called was Assembyman Seiber
Just he came forward TO take the oath. he said:
that a member of the Assembly do not recog-
nize the right of this committee TO summon me as
.'That is understood" said Senator Saxton
Senator ocSn9or then asked Mr. sebs ne to give
to persuade him to vote for The am amend s
ridor with reference to this bin. not ready
him; . .aS' ,s.. ss s,, 80, .s., -.
Seibert replied: Il will state as nearly as posi-
en s 'H to this Biz and he got taking to me
hshsr n ss %an no 9s o as as sHp so
at the same time he thought could put it In
sesp s ana this A coming s fall we could elect KepuD
lican Mayor: and that 1t would be to our Interest
the incoming si Mayor appoint the new Poce com,
mi'sonsrs tod him that as as KepH6iSesn di
my duty. on account Of pledges made to our people.
my no psope and to y s in !" d him
That did not think could conscientiously do IT,
en- ways that we Would be benefited and he thought
4 could induce some of the rest Of the mem;
* could max make thin things Kind Of easy for u.s. '
II understand that was to select the man
easy for me to come back here for another term.
From what could understand of the drift Of the
talk il intmated that money could be had Il
we OF the Erie County delegation wanted IT,"
h Ee d@ %aks to
non. did you say to them that money had been
Assemblyman Seibert replied; The thing was
put in such way that could not swear that
&& f Ger 81 H and 70 %T. whittss" n.n ~
Will you state" asked Senator O.connor as
"That is where / am at a loss" answered Mr..
Seibert II paid no particular attention TO what
said and now cannot recall IT," ..,
by this person in connection with the prefer Of
money? asked Senator O'Connor
moro ow sae hsS1 %hs he said to me
thought that If money would have done IT, we could
senator saxton then said; Mr. seibert, did You
n9 v y1"r hal, Gr E,b ihs man ia the
% iSsS sgf '0nVs's''''" "" "1' VIZ" '''' ' " "
IBID You give them that part Of IT from which
ca SaV you '1f reca any %nsusge used which Con-
veyed 10 your mind the IDEA that money was 10 De
YOU mean, them simply say that you gathered
from his manner that you could have money IL
yes answered Mr. seibert, decisiyely.
Senator Lexow then said to the witness: your our
recollection is however that when you stated ne
fact that money could be o1d? ., e. nsvered
II did not pay much attention. 70 IL, ahsWeicu
Mr. Seibert lie then said ne had heard that other
persons had been approached. An Erie County
member" he said stated that he mad heard an
Assernbyman not from Erie County. inquire II the
Erie men could be reached ~
Mr. Gerst," replied Mr.. Seibert - . 49,,
Senator OConnor then took the witness In mana
s.Niu Won he said. that any one APP
preached you and offered you money In reference 10
this biil?'' -, c.,. ga. a..
~ will swear" answered Mr.. Seibert. TO the
statement that have made IN reference fs 10 naming
DO Won decline to give the name OF the man
ives I do " answered Mr. Seibert. firmly. ,
In reply 10 questions of the committee. he said;
81 told MIR Cerst and Mr.. Whittet about H. am
pretty sure that the man mentioned the names Vi
Gerst and Braun. . ..,. ,-..a, r.o..,
this person that wanted to induce you TO vote Tor
this amendment tina, among other Things the!
would take care of you next fall. DID you not
know that IL was a breach Of your privileges as an
Assemblyman, and that II was your duty 10 report
II 10 the Assembly, that that person might DE