New-York tribune., 1895-12-12
JOHN L. BAILEY UNDER FIRE.
HIS SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY DENIED BY
HIS FATHER.


THE CAMDEN INVESTIGATION PUTS THE ACCUSED
CITY OFFICIALS on THEIR METTLE-oNE EN-
COUNCILMAN ADMITS TRYING TO GET
STOCK IN THE LIGHTING COMPANY.
camden. \. J.. Dec II (SpeciaD.--John l.. Bailey
who last week swore that stock OF the Camden
Lighting and Heating Company went to certain
members OF the City Council In consideration OF the
valuable electric lighting contract win the CITY,
was subjected to a scorchng cross-examinaton To-
d,v Not only were his statements positively de-
MED by officials of the company and by the Council
mon involved but his own father gave the lie direct
10 yourg Bailey's assertions. He was on the stand
the greater part OF the day. and his first move was
to recall the most important feature OF the testi-
monv he gave last week. He said soon az he
began his testimony that he was unable 10 Tx the
date of the transfer of stock by his father to
Councilman Rex 'in trust" and he would like ali
that mart of his testimony relating TO the time OF
the transfer to be stricken out The commissioners
decided that this should not be done. Mr. Bleakley,
the counsel wanted to question the witness in re-
gard to tax money paid by his father. William T.
Rarev to City Counsel J. willard Morgan. but the
commissioners decided that this should be deferred
until Mr. Morgan's return to the city.
Ex-Judge Armstrong, president of and counsel
for the Camden Lighting and Heating Company,
,hen took the witness in hand and subjected him
IN a
ment by the company as a clerk, and OF the ire
ouent meetings Of the Board OF Directors at No 1oS
Afarket-st He thought 1t was IN the spring OF 1881
or 1ssS that the meetings were held 1t was before
the company secured contract for lighting the
citv Mr. Armstrong the witness said. presided at
some of these meetings. At one there was state
ment that a Councilman had Jumped the traces
and II was left TO Mr.. Armstrong to see nim
ANOTHER COUNCILMAN INVOLVED.
"ybo was this Councilman who was said to have
;,mued the traces?" asked ex-Judge Armstrong.
Harry Moffett." was the prompt repE.
.Was this before the municipal lighting contract
was awarded"
Yes, sir
After vainlv endeavorng to get the witness to fix
definitely the time of this and other meetings when
the city contract was under discussion, ex-Judse
Armstrong said he would like to call witnesses on
behalf of the company he represented. but the Com
mssioners ruled out such testimony
When Fred A. Rex the ex-Councilman. now one
Of the leading attorneys OF the city and counsel
for the officials under investigation got hold OF
Railey he WINGED. Mr.. Rex at once began to ques-
ton him as to the alleged transfer OF STOCK Ill
trust for Councimen." Bailey said the STOCK was
in the rollng-op desk of his father' VINO was
treasurer Of the Camden Lighting ana hea'hs
Company lie had seen IT prior TO that time In the
safe.
Whose name was on the stock asked rex
II did not notice" replied the witness
lie said he knew IT the Lighting Compahys'
because he familiar with the color % ana ana Im 10Tm
OF the stock certificates. the amount, or.e or .ne1
name in which 1t was issued but he sa" 1t ha"ae'
Following this admission Rex started In on sen.
that the witness. Bailey had tried to extort money
from members of the Camden Lighting .l anu
the Camden Gas Light Company. Bailey admitted
that he had gone TO the Office OF e. exSherr n Bae tha
investigation and spoke about his testimony Mr
BarG In ne s snd b Gg h bat o fU he ar had paid for
his stock in the lighting company ana had ho'hns
In answer to specific questions Bailey denied that
'sH He also denied that he met Frank Krkbrde after
the visit 10 Bards office and said If he did NOT get
City Counsel Morgan, but denied that he intmated
TO him that If he had sufficient mo ney he would so
away.
MANY THINGS TO ACCOUNT FOR.
The witness admitted that he had received $50
from Benjamin f. Archer president of the Cam
den Gas Light Company. This was about three
months ago. lie had borrowed the money to get
some machines out of an express Office. He had given
denied saying to ex-Councmsn Arthur Bedell that
he had information in regard 10 the lighting con
h fire exngusheT D m ali e the e He
also denied telling Bedell to ex-Sherin Baird
''Did you say to Arthur T3elell that President
Archer, OF the Camden Gaslight Company, had
ever saw in your life. and that it to be yours
il YOU testified under oath. before these Commits
s!oners as 10 what you knew OF the elec.ric-light
ing contract" asked Rex.
NO sir; never had any conversation with him
as TO my testimony in this investigation" Bailey
answered.
He admitted that money had been offered him to
make affidavit in regard to HE knowledge OF the
lighting contract. This was seven years ago Mr..
Rex then asked Bailey when he last in jail,
but the question was objected to. although Mr. Rex
said he could produce authorities sustain it, The
Commissioners will rule upon Il at to-morrow's
session.
HE NEVER GOT THE STOCK.
Ex-Councilmar William Il. Dorrell was then
called. lie chairman OF the Lighting Com
mi,tee OF the city Council In 1sss when the first
lighting contract awarded the Camden
Lighting and Heating Company. but he never got
any stock. as Bailey had testified. After the
tract was awarded he saw William T. Bailey. the
treasurer Of the company, and asked about some
stock. but Mr.. Bailey referred him to Mr.. Rex. He
saw Mr.. Rex. but never got any stock He said
too, that ne had seen the mysterious Mr Mullen.
who was apparently the promoter Of the enterprise
and "he said he thought ought to have some of
the stock and that was entitled to IT."
Mr. Rex took the oath as witness and swore that
office OF William T. Bailey while he treasurer
stock from him, either for himself or in trust for
others. and that he knew absolutely nothing about
any M stock going s, to any member Of the CITY Coun-
OF the company long before II put in d bid to the
Council, bni that he had purchased 1t outright and
a debt before he had anything at all to do with the
award of the contract.
By eX-Postmaster William I. Bailey. who absolute
ly repudiated the testimony OF his son. and ae-
Rex or any other member Of the Council any stock
or any other consideration at any time or under
any circumstances.
FREEHILL GETS TEN YEARS
Frank Freehll. who shot Alfred T. Jewell. a spe-
cia policeman, in Railway in March last and v.ho