The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-12

KUSER SUES SKlRM
The Colonel Says He Paid
a S., 900 Note the Senator
Won't Give Up.
HOW THE ROW BEGAN
The Kusers Think Skirm Should
Not Have Let the Senate In
yestigation Hit Them.
HOW THE ROW BEGAN
Specfal to the Jerscv oitv Ye,r,.


TRENTON. Feb 12. 1S96-The real
"a use OF the bitter feud between Senator
Wlilam IL. Skirm of Mercer and Colonel
+ALuhony X. Kuser. aide-de-camp on Gov.
erhor Griggs' staff was brought to light
Yesterday when the Colonel obtained from
Nlce-Chancelior Bird an order restraining
nun, the Senator, from disposine of q
note for 5000
When the Kusers became associated
WIN the Senate investigation, because OF
Jonn L. Kuser's connection with the
herman printing contracts. the Kusers
thought that Senator Skirrn as a meu-
Der OF the State Investigating COMMITTEES.
could have saved John L. Kuser from
such unpleasant notoriety by preyentins
the development of the facts. Instead.
John L. Kuser had to spend considerable
money to defend an Indictment found
asainst him and other printers, on which
charge all We're acquitted.
When Colonel SSirm came I'D for re.
eleotion as State Senator. Colonel Kuser.
and in fact. all of the several Kusers.
started out to defeat the Senator The
husers are interested in Trenton brew
cry the Trenton Traction Company and
many other corporations. all of which
We're turned against skirm. but the Sena-
tor was elected by $500 plurality, the
greatest which was ever given a candidate
in Mercer county. and double the number
given to him three years ago.
SATISFIED WITH HIS VINDICATION.
The Senator was satisfied with his
vindieation. Colonel Kuser had served
on the personal staff of Governor Albeit
and Governor Werts, and he was reap-
pointed on the staff of Governor Griggs.
were much chagrined at this honor given
to Democrat who tried hard to defeat
the Republican ticket last fall. but the
Colonel had the influence behind him and
he won.
The Republicans took their medicine
and decided that they would prevent
Colonel Kuser from succeeding himself
as member of the State Board of AS
SCISSORS, for his successor must by law
be Democrat Colonel Kuser was given
to understand by Governor Griggs that
he could have the appointment. He de-
cided yesterday not to accept. because
he had learned that Senator Skirm had
1t all fixed with some of his Senatorial
colleagues to hang up his nomination
and prevent his confirmation Such a
course would have given the Colonel
more noforiety than he cared to have
at the present time, so he thanked the
Governor and withdrew, announcing that
he is out of polirlcs. Today comes 81
Senator Skirm, who is prominent lay.
man OF the Methodist Conference and
superintendent of the largest Sunday
school in the city, is put under the sus-,
pieion Of being about to dispose of a
5000 note and 5000 worth of stock in
the Trenton Brewing Company. Whflej
to bring about an issue, it is a new
phase of a political fight.
Colonel Kluser recites in his bill that
on March %, 1893, Colonel Kuser became
indebted to Senator Skirm for 5000 In
a business transaction. To pay the debt
Colonel KArser gave a note of 5000. with
worth of Trenton Brewing Company 8
stock. On October 5. 1898 Senator Skirm
agreed for the payment of the note by.
Colonel Kuser paying into the treasury
of the PENNSYLVANIA and New Jersey
Power Company 5000 in cash. and upon
the payment of this amount the note
and collateral were to be returned to-
Colonel Kuser.
/ Colonel Kuser paid the amount agreed
( upon on October IL. The note and col-
lateral not having been returned BY the
24th of October, Colonel Kuser made de-
mand for them; the Senator admitted
the business of the claim. but was too
busy then to hunt up the papers. Sew
eral other demands were made without
any better results.
Skirm .'wilfully and without cause re-
fuses to surrender the property and that
he Is advised that If the notA is not
transferred to a third party h& would
.be compelled to pay 1t again, and fur@
| ther, that he is apprehensive that Sena<
tor Skfrm may dispose of the note.
Senator Skirm was seen yesterday and
he said he was perfectly willing to re-
turn the note and collateral. He said
| that he did not return the papers be-
cause when requested to do so he hap
pened to be busy, and the papers We're
| with some others which would require
"a search of half an hour.
10 c1id hn
| defend the suit, as he would gladly res
turn the note, it having been paid. He
| prompted the Colonel to drag the matter
into the courts.