The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-04-26
BENNY SILYERTNA U THE MAN
Who Offered Representative Thompson
 of East Haven n Bribe.

| "ho oheTcu INeprebentuLlveA thompson | of East Haven n Bribe. l The statement made a few days age
 by Representative Edward Foote
 Thompson, of East Haven, a member of
 the railroad committee of the general
 assembly, that an attempt had been | made to bribe him to vote for Q favor able report on the petition of the Fair Haven & Westville Railroad company for permission to extend tracks to Der by has occasioned much comment throughout the tsate.
 Yesterday Benjamin Silverthau, of this city, who has taken considerable interest in public affairs in recent years, announced that he was probably the man referred to by MT. Thompson when the latter said that New Haven man called upon him last Monday morning and offered to see that he would get a liberal purse if he would vote for the granting of the petition.
 MT. Silverthau said that on the morn- ing in question he was on his way from Branford to New Haven by trolley car and that when he was passing MT. Thompson's house he saw MT. Thompson moving the lawn. Thinking that it would be good opportunity to talk with the member of the railroad com mlttee concerning the Derby extension MT. Silverthau allghted from the car and engaged in conversation with MT. Thompson.
 He said yesterday that he told Mr. Thompson that If the latter would help out the merchants of New Haven they would never forget him and that they would probably give him g present some time" MT. Silverthau declined to say whether or not he was authorized by anyone to make the offer, It is authoritatively stated that he did not represent the citizens committee.
 Yesterday afternoon MT. Thompson said that MT. Silverthau was the man to whom he referred as having offered him a bribe
 State Attorney Williams sent the fol- lowing letter to Representative Thomp- son yesterday:
 My Dear Sir: Our attention has been called to the Derby News published in Derby this morning in which appears to be quoted letter to the New Haven Leader dated at Hartford, April "A, in which you are quoted as saying:
 "Mr. Thompson was in an indignant frame of mind and declared that he should carry the matter into the courts for the purpose of exposing those con- cerned in the attempted bribery
 MT Thompson says that last Mon- day morning while he was busy now ing his farm, a New Haven man called upon him and among other things said, If you will favor the extension of the trolley tracks to Derby, I can assure you that liberal purse will be made up for you If you are quoted correctly an offense has been. committed In the county and town of East Haven, of a very serious nature, affecting public in- terests. I hasten to advise you that the superior court, criminal side, is now in session and if proof Is accessi- ble of the commission of such an of fence as is understood in the quota ton above, I shall esteem 1t favor If you would disclose to me at the ear l fest moment such information as you possess to the end that I might take proper action to bring the transgressor to justice.
 If you will indicate to me by tele- graph, at my expense, or in any other way when and where you may be ready to give the information I will 1t once dispatch representative to you. I shall be in the superior court, New Haven, during court hours to-day md tomorrow, Very respectfully yours,
 William H. Williams
 States Attorney"
 Later in the day MT. Thompson tele- ,honed to State Attorney Williams at | New Haven the information which had | ,een requested. State Attorney Williams yesterday af- | ernoon declined to discuss the alleged | ttempted bribery.
 The affair so far as MT. Silverthau Is | oncerned is looked upon as huge joke | " those who know that gentleman. Ie has frequently appeared before | committees at city hall and many ime he has entertained audiences there y his loquacity and arguments. Benny" seems quite proud of the ex- ensive notoriety he has suddenly at- aimed and is more entertaining in his