New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-01
THE SCHOOL BILL FRAUD.
G. ". ALDRIDGE DENIES AN ACCUSE
TION-LAN METHODS.
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE ]

1BY rELEGRAFH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany. Nav 3I-The investigation Of the
forgery Of the Rochester School law. which was
begun here to-day. may lead 10 Governor Roose-
welt and Acknowledgement Davies both beinr
summoned as witnesses before County Judge
Gregory Of Albany County. since they made a
personal investigation Of the circumstances at
tending the forgery Of the BILL and thus became
acquainted with certain facts which,
Second hand nav be IF great value 10 the
States judicial officers in their endeavor 10 dis
cover the person or persons guilty Of the forgery.
one OF the witnesses mentioned George ".
Aldridge. Of Rochester. former Superintendent
Of Public Works. as having been interested in
the fate Of the school bill Mr.. Aldridge hap
rened 70 he in the city having come here 10
meet Lieutenant Governor Woodruff. He heard
= what the witness said. and al his request the
witness repeated his statement. Mr. Aldridge
then took the witness stand and swore that he
had absolutely no interest in the school bill, and
70 knowledge. direct or indirect. of the forged
bill until after Governor Roosevelt had signed
il and his action had become known.
The chief witness Charles ". Winchester jr..
manager For the legislative printer. testified
thaE re had a conversation with Edward H.
Denniston. index clerk n the Assembly, resi-
dent Of Rochester. from which he was led to be-
lieve that error had been made in the printing
AMI engrossing Of a bill Subsequently he
ceived copy from somewhere for reprint and
d new engross=d cory of Senate Bill No. 1.274.
the Rochester School bill This spurious bill
was printed and was delivered to the Assembly
desk There most of the eight hundred copies Of
the bogus dill thus delivered disappeared. An
Gerson Lawrence who has charge OF the bills
IN the Assembly. testified he did not receive
them. Some one logged them away, and the
only copies Of the forged bill in existence
Is The one the Governor signed and another with
which il was compared in his office.
WITNESSES IN THE CASE
The witnesses in the matter who came before
County Judge Gregory here to-day were Mayor
Carnahan. Hiram H. Edgerton. president Of the
Common Council. Senator Armstrong. Assem-
hlvuan ROden beck Mr.. Noyes Superintendent
q Schools Of Rochester and Edward H Den
niston. all Of Rochester; James s. whipple.
Clerk Of the Senate. and most Of the Senate
employees. William J. Youngs. secretary. and
Amos Knapp messenger Of the Governor: John
T. McDonough. Secretary Of State; c. L. Potter
and Frank B. Gilbert. clerks Of the Statutory
Revision Commission. ard most of the clerks Of
the Assembly. John D. Mason. Of Rome,
Deputy Accomplishment and District Attorney
Dyer. Of Albany, conducted the examination Of
the witnesses. assisted by William J. Youngs.
Senator Armstrong. the first witness. said he
sent copies OF the genuine bill 10 Mr. Townson.
president Of the Board Of Education Of Roches-
ter The first time he had seen the spurious bill
was in the Governors private room May 10.
A number Of words and clauses We're inserted
which were not incorporated in the original bill.
James s. whippe, clerk Of the Senate de-
scribed the methods used in handling legislative
measures. and especially what done with
bills sent TO cities. ike the Rochester bill Mr.
Whtpple's clerks then gave their testimony.
None OF them remembered the Rochester bill.
but IL was clear that bill passes through many
hands while going 10 and from city, and thus
there are many opportunities 70 tarnper with 1t.
John T. McDonough. Secretary Of State, for
n2ally presented the forged bill which is now
ostensibiy a law Of the State-
William J. Youngs and Amos Knapp gave
important testimony
Mr. wINCHEsTER's TESTIMONY
There then came the highly interesting testi-
nony Of Charles NJ. Winchester. jr., the manager
Of the printing house in which legislative bills
are put in type. His testimony indicated clearly
the recklessness Of present legislative methods
and the absence of sufficient guards against such
forgeries have deprived the people Of Roches-
ter OF d needed piece OF legislation this year.
For the sake Of accuracy. a part Of Mr.. Win
chester's astonishing testimony is transcribed
from the official stenographer's report It is
given below:
Q.-You understand that that bill, No. LA, was
printed once at your institution and then reprinted
receiving TIE same number? A.-Yes, sir.
Odd you have conversation with somebody
QGWi55 w " NJ Gro Edward Denniston
IAN you tel about what day that was Al
Q-The Spurious copy was printed after the ses-
sion Of the Legisature2 A--Tes, sir
CT was ordered printed by Mr.. Dennston? A
Q.-Tou had 4 conversation with him? A.-Yes
Q-w-hat was the conversation A-Couldn't
c--W-eII. give US the substance Al was led TO
believe rhat an error was made in the bill
Q-Tou say This was printed after the Legislature
ana you mad a conversation that led you 10 believe
C.-Whar was the conversation? Al was told
C-Told by whom? AR Denniston told me
there was error made in d bin. and that the bill
would De sent right over, and he sent IL over
Q--Do you recoIect who brought II over? A
do you remember receiving It? Al recollect
ceired II. Il finally came 70 me.
G-You say finally this bill came &c you. What
bin ike that. 7 didn't open il.
Q.-N9w. whether or no the $40 copies Of his
changed bill were delivered 10 any one, you don't
know A-They were delivered.
C-Abolr how iong after The Legislature ad-
fer-'S-o1S - ~oT{IdIi- no BAUM III MI
Q-Lsn'- there anything in your Office show
niston@ A--No. sir
No RECEIPT FOR THIS BILL
c.-Then the boy who delivered the bogus bill
q Tae Assembly cd not get receipt for that
- -t-tI ne same NUMBER because We nave
= understanding that all bills where the printer
nIInber. and 90 nor get receipt because OF that
80 80 you mean 70 say you made a mistake? A.
@-fo9 We're ed TO believe that the printer made
AZ error or -==--IAat was my understanding
rom Dennistor2 A-Yes. sir.
was an error IN the bill.
s-AsiL