New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-15
ASKED ABOUT BRIBERY.
Mr.. WARDMAN EXAMINED.
Editor Refuses to Disclose Sources
of Lobbying Story.
IsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.I


to force him 20 disclose the sources from which
he obtained information to justify the publica-
ton in his paper of the charge that bribery and
lobbying Cor Justice Hooker were going on here.
Mr.. Wardman declared that the ethics Of the
newspaper profession prevented him from dis
closing the sources Of the information his paper
received in confidence. The examination Of Mr..
Wardman was conducted by Assemblyman
Arthur c. Wade the former attorney Of Justice
Hooker, who ives frequently advised by ex-
Justice Goodrich. John B. Stanchfield and other
Of the counsel of the respondent justice.
Mr.. Wardman when examined declared that
he had been told on information he believed
that the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Com
pany for which one of Justice Hooker's at
torneys Lewis E. Carr, is attorney. was re-
sponsible for the attempt at bribery. When
Mr. Wardman was asked to reveal the
names OF the legislators who had supplied
this information to his Office and had declined
the Lieutenant Governor put the question OK
compelling him to a vote, and the joint AS
sembIy declared by vote of 90 to % that he
should answer.
Mr. Wardman testified that he had not been
in the office when the story which was called
into question had been written. but away on his
vacation, that he did not know who wrote It,
would not tell If he did and would not compel
claring that the ethics of the newspaper profess
sion forbade this. So much he testified when
examined by Senator Bracket, who lead the
witness to the point where he asked him those
sources from which he had obtained the in
formation which led him to believe the article
was true. The witness declined to continue, ana
held out even after the joint assembly had voted
to compel him to testify. Then Senator Bracket
rested.
Assemblyman Wade. of Chautauqua, took
the floor, and for half an hour he sub
iected Mr. Wardman to sharp examination
Mr.. Wade stood near Justice Hooker, and ex-
Justice Goodrich and others Of Justice Hookers
attorneys prompted him. But Mr.. Wade failed
to force Mr.. Wardman to betray his suoorol-
mates, and finally he desisted, and Mr.. Wardman
was directed to command his managing editor
John A. Hennessey, who was in charge when
the story was printed, to reveal the author
When the legislature met again Assemblyman
Wade appeared as a witness called by the at
torneys defending Justice Hooker. After this
and after the regular trial had proceeded Ior
some time, Mr.. Wardman was again called be-
fore the bar OF the House and asked If he had
demanded from Mr.. Hennessy the name OF the
author OF the article.
'I have" was the calm response
what was his answer?' asked Mr.. Wade.
else was the reply.
Mr.. Wade then attempted to force the witness
to confess that he had advised Mr.. Hennessy
not to tell, but he failed completely in this
'eDfd you talk with any one about the case7"
he asked.
Eyes; one man said to me, They bad
lot In there are they not?' L said didn't think
so; that some of them were honest; some OF
them my good friends; that many of them
whom didn't know believed to be honest"
After more efforts to force Mr.. Wardman to
reveal his sources OF information. Mr.. Wade
reeled off a list of questions to most of
which Mr. Wardman declined to reply. They
were of this character:
do you believe any member of this legislature
has been bribed in this natter"
Il do"
win you state the names of any such?'
Il must decline
Mr.. Wade suddenly shifted his tack and asked
the witness TO name the men of THE Press
who wrote for it regularly. Mr.. Wardman
named Mr.. Bullock.
Where is hep
"Oh, he lives in New-York. but he has been
in London for the last six weeks" was the re-
ply,
or imprisonment for contempt had failed, Mr..
Wade desisred ard Senator John Raines, who
had originally introduced the resolution that
brought Mr. Wardman before the joint session.
moved that the witness be excused, but directed
to appear Monday night intimating that in
the mean time the legislature would, through It's
leaders, decide how to deal with so serious a
case This motion opposed by Assembly
man Leslie ]. TOmpkins, OF New-York, who pro-
tested the whole proceeding, declaring that
in the last regular session charges OF a
much graver nature than that contained in the
offending article had been printed in every
newspaper in New-Yor without challenge and
rIdiculing the whole performance. In spite OF
Mr. Tompkins's opposition the resolution passed.
Earlier in the proceedings Mr.. Tompkins had
urged that the Editor of The NeWburg News"
which declared it to be the duty of the Orange
County representatives to vote for Justice
Hooker's acquittaI, be summoned before the bar
luton was suppressed.
MIR. Stanchheld at the opening of the session
mace formal motion that the investigation be
discontinued, on the ground that the prosecu-
ton had failed to prove it's case Lieutenant
Governor Bruce denied the motion without put
ting it to q vote. At the openfng of his speech
the senior attorney for the defence complained
bitterly OF the newspaper criticism of his client
We believe" Mr. stanchfeld said, that to
the harmony Of the executive legislative and
Judicial branches Of the government There
should not be such removal without the safe
guard Of judicial trial"
He denied that the removal OF a Judge from
Office did not involve punishment and that the
people would merely be taking back that which
they gave Justice HoOker's removal he held
would be punishment of the severest kind in
volving political. financial and social suffering
Justice HookeTs attorney then developed the
argument that these proceedings were unlaw-
full, because his client was accused Of Infamous
crimes" conspiracy to defraud the government
and the State, and that such crimes could he
punished only by court of impeachment or
after indictment by a grand jury.
Assemblyman Wade testified about the farnous
Wirtner Judgment, entered by Justice Truman
c. White in a case in which citizen of DIM
kirk brought action to prevent the city from
leasing certain city property to Justice Hooker
and state Tax Commissioner Lester F. Stearns
as joint owner OF the Dunkirk postoffica build
ing Tax Commissioner Stearns characterized
as absolutely untrue" the charge that he and
the defendant and others had consDired