Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-18
BENNETT DENIES 1T.
Says All Of Lawson's Testimony
Is Simply False.
Witnesses Swear That Lawson Money
Was offered Against Bennett.
Libel Suit Testimony Ended-Arqu-
ments viii Begin, Today.

Boston. April 1.-THE defence in she
Observation-Disclosures Lynn Item case, hay-
ing rested, yesterday, the plaintiff be-
gan his rrbuttHl in the court. TODAY.
The first witness was james NJ. Swift
ger of Lynn, who testified that in 1898
he had Il conversation with the de-
PENDANT. Donohue, in which the latter
asked witness to assist Him in knock
ing Bennett out" for which service he
was offered $500. Witness declined
the offer ana told Donohue that he was
friendly tG Bennett. Witness testified
that he asked Donohue: What is the
matter with Brnnett?" to which Dono-
hue replied: Bennett is all right. but
he has abused a friend of mine" Wit
ness asked him if the friend was Tom
Lawson ana he had received an an
sWer in the affirmative.
In 1899, Witness had another CONVEX
sation with Donohue, he said, when he
was again asked to assist in defeating
Benn Ut for the Speakership This
time Donohuc offered to write him II
check for $4,000 if he would agree. Wit
ness said he declined this offer also
ON cross-eXamination, Mr.. Switzer
to Mr.. Bennett, but although he remem-
bercd distinctly his conversation with
Donohuc he said he could not remem-
her what Bennett said to him at that
time.
Attorney Storey put in evidence pur-
porting to have been signed by O. +.
Ross. the witness arrested on charge
of perjury on the stand, attesting to
the truth Of the charges contained in
the article written by him for the Cot
ton and Wool Reporter, who presumed
to attacks upon his former employer,
f. T. AtteauX- He also put in the sig
nature of Ross secured, yesterday.
Judge Bishop explained to the jury that
this affidavit was put in solely for the
purpose of affecting the credibility of
the witness Ross.
Eight witnesses We're then sworn, in
Guiding Mrs. Bennett, the wife of the
plaintiff, and John A. Devine, a real
estate man of Boston. Mr.. Devine is I
justice of the peace. 1t is his name APP
pears on the paper to which Witness
Ross sWore. He had not the remotest
recollection Of Ross coming to him, but
identified his own signature and sur
missed that the transaction must have
taken place.
W. A. Clark, Mr.. BENEFITS advertis-
ing agent, said he had never gone to
Mr.. AtteauX saying that the articles
on 'bribing dyers' would be stopped if
he increased his advertisement.
Mr.. Bennett, the plaintiff, being re-
called. said he had never seen Mr.. lie
Pike nor had anything to do with the
articles printed about him. He had
never had an interview with Mr.. Dom
ohue either in the fremont House or
in the Parker House. He had never
spoken to Mr.. Addicks in his office nor
at a conference with him as testified.
Nothing of the kind related by Mr..
Lawson about an editorial against Mr..
Blood written by him ever occurred.
There was no editorial written, no
threat of killing him, nothing true in
the whole testimony of Mr.. Lawson on
this point.
Ii the letter he had sent to Mr.. Law
son by Mr.. Clark he had asked Mr..
Lawson to buy his bonds in the Grand
Rivers 90. Lawson had come to his
office and said: Bennett, | don't know
what shoes | stand in and I've put 4
third mortgage on my house. | think
we'd better pull out of Grand Rivers,
but just now 1 can't buy anything.
Witness told him he hoped he'd pull
out all right and that he sympathiZed
with him.
Mr. Bennett denied certain CONVEX
CONTINUED on page ~