New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-14
RAINES TESTIMONY ALL IN.
THE DrrrNsE OF THE PRESS" TO THE
SENATOR'S LIBEL SUIT BEGINS.
A HANDSOME CROP OF pENIA1s SECURED FHo@
THE cposs-ExAMINATIoN OF THE PLAIN
TIFF-s WITNESSES sENAToR COG

THE cposs-rxAMINAr1oN OF THE PLAIN
TIrF-s NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COG
oEsHAI1 ON THE STAND
rv,e ubeI anti brought by Senator John Raines
against the propretors OF Tho New-York Press
IN recover $4,000 damages for article considered
by him TO impute that ne was squared py INC
New-York fremen TO secure the passage VI III.
Firemen's Salaries bill and tho officers amehomen'
TO H. was again In the Supreme Court yesterday
before Justice Mao1ean and jury The nearing
OF testimony for the plaintiff was continued the
first witnsss called being Thomas II. Bennett, a
LAWYER of Canandaisua He testified TO the good
character OF Senator Raines. whom he said ne han
known all his life reputable and honorable
man, highly esteemed In his constituency.
In cross examinaton De Lancey Nicoll, FOR the
defence handed the witness pamphlet entitled
The History OF a Legislative Shame, TO which
was added tho coupst:
Ill farss tho land. to fastening Ills a prey
Where wealth aooumuAtss and men decay
Mr.. Nioo asked the witness II he had seen mo
pamphlet before. After looking 1t over carefully
Mr. Bennett gravely denied all knowledge OF It's ex-
i,tsnce The pamphlet had reference to the meas
ure providing for the consolidation Of gas com
nanies In New-York City. and showed Senator
Rainess connection with measure to that ehect
introduced In the Senate IN 1885. Tho witness also
denied that ne had ever before seen secoho
pamphlet produced which described Senator Raines
as a member of the Black Horse Cavalry an or
aanization formed for the purpose OF getting up
strike bills.
The next witness was Walter n Knapp. ex-
County Court Judge OF Ontario County lie also
testified TO the character of Senator Raines as
public Official but when asked by Mr.. Nicon IL ne
had not heard things dcrogatory to the character
OF tho plaintiff in connection with the Ives Fooi
bill mentioned he answered afiirmativeiy' he was
asked but expressed entire ignorance as 10 how the
no liza IN
posed on the Western Union Telegraph Company
the General Street Railway BILL the bill to reduce
telephone charges in NswYork City, tho bill to no
duce fares on the elevated railroads. and the Dill
for cle impeachment OF Judge Westbrook
The Rev Charles ]. Clausen. rector Of the Epis-
oopaI Church In Canandaigua; Simon s. Worcester,
OF Canandagua. and Samuel d. Willard. of Geneva
NJ v t.stiasd TO the Senator's standing In that
community Mr. Willard said that Senator Raines
helped to secure him the postmastership In Geneva
Gabriel G. Lezer. a Canandaigus cothier. kne"
nothing politically Of Senator Raines. and was ex-
cus4d Herman F. Fox. who through the instru-
mentality Of Senator Raines secured and held va
rious political Offices In Geneva within tho last ton
years was tho last upstate witness His tsst-
nony was Ike that of tho others
MORE FIREMEN TESTIFY
uor.r,sn W. + Colby. OF the New-York Fire De-
hartmann WAS next called Like his comrades. at
previous hearings Of the suit. he denied all Kho"i-
edge OF the existence of q corruption FUND dc did
not know Louis r. Payn. he testified, but had seen
him. The witness said he was present at the ON
GERS meeting In Clarendon Hall on March T. 1895.
IN his capacity treasurer OF tho Ohloers AS
ISOLATION and collected thereat the u assessment
levted on its membero in accordance with the con-
stitution Of that body. Under Characterization
by Mr. Nicol. however he said he could not recall
any single incident subject that had been intro
duced discussed considered at that meeting
q orad uag
the introduction by Senator Robertson OF tho ON
GERS amendment to the Firernens Salaries bill In tho
Senate The witness said he turned over the treas
urer's book 10 Captain John j. Burns. tho presi-
dent of the association after the March meet
ing referred He had not seen 1t SINCE nor did
he know where II was at present
Captain Frank W. Gooderson, tr. the next witness,
WAS not positive whether not he attended
the meeting on March 1896 but he. too, denied the
existence Of q corruption fund, and asserted IN
the most emphatic manner that any payment OF
money 70 persons at Albany for legislative pur-
noses was without his personal knowledge In re-
direct examination Captain Gooderson admitted
having been delegated as the representative Oh
Battalion No. 1B 10 collect 81 month assessHehe
from tho nremen within that battalion. ASKED ~
name ono Of the fremen from whom ne gathered
the etipuated assessment the witness recalled the
name OF Fireman Reed Of Engine Company NO. %.
ION that OCCASION did you not hear Reed say.
Here comes tho man for the money 10 be used In
raising our salaries?" Mr.. Nicon asked
mo. sir; did not" replied the witness.
How much money did Reed give your"
zone dollar.
Are you sure about thatr'
The next witness called for the plapuG was Cap,
Committee OF the Officers Association. Captain
eheE ss s na5 ne Ye9 W " ADy wA to Sa e
per cent tax provision In the Firernens salaries
bill on that occasion. the witness said, he did not
uAa a her RaiueS COggeSndll
ertson in Albany. but sald he was introduced ~
Payn he said In the Senate library, and felt like
thanking him for the interest manifested by him in
'ns But didn't YOU thank Slm said Mr. Nlco
Il did not. sir; but viii repeat that felt very
TSe meeting dDt with Mr Payn place the wit
testified, two days after the meeting on March
the tHia In'0" "a' DIG" frequently ''''''' " '
TSAg Ah R RsS s of .pse
in ne Of the IN n. T0r IF tie
he said was from information obtained through
the newspapers The witness also denied all knowl-
edge OF a corruption fund.
CORRUPTION FUND TALES DENIED.
After recess testimony of this kind
given by Captains Thomas Sullivan. Thomas +.
Connolly and John J. Smith
do you know Daniel J. Conway. of Engine Com
pany No. ST.. Mr. Nicol inquired Of Captain Smith.
Il do. SIR replied the captain.
Did you have a conversation with Conway on
the salary subjectY
DID you talk with him about the Firemen's bill
being stuck in the Cities Committee OF the Sen
ate?'
mo, str: never made any remark of that kind"
Did you say you knew why 1t Was stuck there?"
mo. sir
And did you reply. We'll. there II will stickT"
Did you tell Conway that there was a sum
placed anywhere"
mo sir never said so 20 anybody"
Did you finally say to Conway. We'll. you know
very well that all those people are not up there
for their health. and they want the necessary"
meaning the legislators at Albany"
NO, sir"
Did you tell Conway that Lou Payn was hand
ling the money!
NO sir.
DO you know SheridanT'
"Yes, sir"
Was Sheridan present at the conversation be-
NO sir: / think he was in the cellar IN the en-