The sun., 1904-12-23
Liquor Dealers Bribes for
Albany Legislators,
GRAND JURY HAS PROOFS.
To Be Sent to ths Governor,
Senate and Assembly.

"Appllln5 md Shocking way" In Which
nrlbe Fund Was Spent on Members
of Both Houses Barely Indicated, but
Ven Rnowa-Part OF II Dedicated TO
Influencing the Omciai Action OF
One OF the state Departments"--I5S
* rc5cI or Testimony Typewrittcn for
the Information OF Those Concerned
g; tlban,-Indlctments I'm This County
H,t warranted Oath Bound Men
said t, Have Refused TO Testify.
After a careful weighing Of the evidences
accumulated by District Attorney Jerome
IN the last two weeks in regard to stories
that a bribery fund had been collected
hy the Liquor Dealers Association to in
fuence legislation in Albany last winter
the Grand Jury yesterday returned pre-
sentiment finding not only that such fund
had existed, but that some Of it was dedi-
Gated to influencing the official action Of
"one Of the State departments Of the State"
guess which onel, and that large part Of
1t was expended upon various members Of
tne Assembly and Senate in an appalling
and shocking way"
The evidence, the Grand Jury finds, does
not warrant indictments in this county,
but it requests the court to send copies OF
the presentment and also Of the evidence =,
which covers lis typewriter pages, to the
Governor and to both branches of the Legis-
lature at the opening Of the session. The
Grand Jury gives it as its opinion that the
matter is one calling for the serious atten-
ton OF both the executive and legislative
departments
Although the evidence was not made
public yesterday. and probably will not be
unless the Governor or the Legislature
desires it, it is known in a general way how
the money is alleged to have been expended
in Albany. Most of it-there is said to
have been about $50, ,000-was, according to
reports current yesterday, loaned" to
legislators in gambling houses and places
OF worse repute. There we're no !. o. us
given. In other words, the money, it is
alleged, was used in taking the legislators
on series OF most unholy sPrees and pay
ing all expenses. In return for this the
Liquor Dealers Association, IL is under
stood, expected some sort of excise legisla
tion that would modify the Raines law and
not only allow saloons to be kept open at
hours now forbidden but also give them
other privileges, including a reduction of
the license tax.
The presentment was returned to Judge
Cowing In tho Court Of General Sessions
early yesterday afternoon. District Attor-
ney Jerome and several Of the leaders
in the Liquor Dealers Association were in
the court room at the time. Here is the
presentment:
The Grand Jury of the County OF New York,
cnpanelcd for the December. 1904. term of
tho Court of General Sessions of the Peace in
aud for the Cay and County OF New York.
presents to said court that there is in this
ounty an oath bound organization known
a. the Liuucr Dealers' Association which is
lsrt of an organization Of the same name
cg;endinR throughout the state. That il
/; npcars from testimony before us that the
oath and it's construction by the members OF
tie association are such that the members
OF the association consider themselves bound
not to give any information concerning its
anair5 even to the Officers of the law or to
OUTS and that to do so ia u violation OF their
Ddtd.
That in the county OF New York this asso-
. alton ls divided into number Of branches
known as locals. and that the boundaries of
each local are coterminous with the boundaries
0f a police pre- cinct and are changed when
the boundaries of a police precinct are
changed.
That from tins to time this association in
the city OF New York raises money from its
members and applies IL for political purposes.
That in the year 1904. while the State Legis-
lature was in session. this association raised
by an assessment upon its members through
out the State a large sum OF money, which
vas received finally by a committee known
as the legislation committee.
That said legislation committee went fire.
quently TO the city OF Albany while the Lesis-
ature OF the State was In session and took
with it such money In cash.
That this legislation committee allowed
rs disbursing officer TO give considerable
part Of this money to one OF Its members TO
Ise in influencing the oficial action OF one
of the State departments of this State In
an unla way.
That q large part OF this money was. by
his leRislation committee, expended upon
various members OF the then Assembly and
Senate OF the State OF New York and their
riends in an appalling and shocking way.
With the intention OF inhuen cling such mem
oers OF the then Assembly and Senate OF
he State OF New York In the discharge OF
heir oficial duty as members OF the As
,embly or Senate.
That tho foregoing statements are based
ipon sworn testimony before this Grand
Jury, but that the evidence before It does not
warrant the finding Of any indictments for
rimes committed within this county. That
be Grand Jury In OF the opinion that the
matters disclosed by Its Investigation are OF
very grave character and should be brought
o the attention Of the Governor OF this State
md OF each branch Of the Legislature OF this
state. That the Grand Jury presents here
vth TO the court a transcript Of the evidence
AIKEN before IL and requests that upon the
Meeting OF the Legislature OF the State Of
iew York the c,urt will csuss>to be trans |
nitted TO the Governor Of the ate OF New !
FORK and TO each branch Of TN State Legis- |
ature a copy Of this presentment and OF the |
transcript OF evidence submitted herewith.
Respectfully.
EpwARp VAN VALKKNBRho, Foreman.
District Attorney Jerome. addressing the
,ourt, said after the presentment had been
eturned:
As the legal adviser Of the Grand Jury