The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-13
ASSEMBLY HAS BRIBE STORY.
TESTIMONY BEF0RE THE GRAND
,JTRY RECEIVED YESTERDAY

Didn't Bribe. but Loaned various
sums TO Members, "a Ten spot Here
and Twenty spot There" and Enter
tanned Them nj Questionable Houses.
ArBAvY. Jan l2-The testimony taken
bv District Attorney Jerome before the
New York county Grand jury in relation TO
the doingl Of thu Liquor Dealers Associa-
,+on legislative committee with members
of the Legislature in this city at the last
lassion of the Legislature was received
in the Assembly to-day and referred 10 the
Judiciary COMMITTEES. The testimony is
not Of such startling nature a. was sup
posed. Few names are mentioned in The
testimony
The most sensational reference made is
that the legislative committee. through
mt l.indngcr, the former president OF
tine State association, had handed over to
one Goodwin $4,000. This money was
n he used to soften the State excise do
rartment in regard TO cases pending against
members OF the Liquor Dealers Association.
Iindtnger testified that Goodwin said
that be- Ind paid out that money, and az
consequence some Of the cases had been
dropped Goodwin has since died. He
was Republican. and, according to Lin
dneer. was supposed to have some influence
with the party leaders and especially with
tho STATE excise department. LindInger
testified TO having loaned various sums
If money To members Of the Legislature,
Ilt couldn't remember the names, and
tie money was not returned.
Tho largest amount he thought that had
hecu loaned" was to George Bechtel. the
Democratic member of Assembly from
Richmond Borough last year. Another
admission was the raising Of 5000 in the
fan Of 1903 which was paid over TO the
Democratic State committee TO help elect
Democratic Assemblvmen to help the
liquor dealers
Nr Lindinger testified that last year
So go or $4,000 had been raised by the
associations officers to get necessary
- ation He was the disbursing agent Of
the legislative committee That committee
was composed Of himself, NJ. J Kane. VI F.
Farley Of Manhattan borough, William
nuee Of Brooklyn and George Mullen of
Buffalo He said the reason he had given
the 1900 TO Goodwin was that the latter
said he could make connections for the
dropping Of cases pending in the state ex-
cse department.
tie staten lNdN NfNOtlN III itAl iNlAlfitb
good service and had got relief in some
cases. which We're dropped He testified
10 entertaining members Of the Legislature
Nv taking them 10 houses OF prostitution
and drinking VINE with the inmates. he
U.ndinger always settling the bills. He
also took them o gambling houses and pool
rooms in Albany and loaned them money.
ten spot here and twenty spot there,
be said and ne er rot il back
Al private examination by Mr.. Jerome
Llndinger testified that Goodwin had told
him that he had given one McGonigle 81 600
and that be was to have received 5000.
Martin ] Kane Of 1921 Third avenue,
who is now the president Of the State assoc
cation. corroborated LndinGer in regard
to the Goodwin matter. but said all he
knew about 1t was what Lindinger had told
him He said the Legislative committee
was 70 spend the money in creating a good
impression and securing a good feeling by
entertaining the members Of tho Legsla-
turo.
William Duge Of Brooklyn said that no
money had been given TO the members OF
the legislature; il was only loaned. He
didn't know very much what was done.
te said except what Lindinger had told
him He said Lindinger would take the
legislators to the poolrooms and gambling
rooms and had heard him say after coming
out II Macs gambling house that he
dindngeri was loser 500. Iindinger
Ind testified that he never gambled He
declared thH Liquor Dealers Association
was an oath-bound organization.
Mr. Jerome asked DuRe If the Governor
tOdell was present at the conference,
tni he replied that he was not. Duge
MISC testified TO the liquor dealers commit
too having entertained Chairman Plank OF
the Assembly Excise Committee at the
ilo'o' Ton Eyck. saying
We had something o eat and wine WIS
foRIug around the whole evening.
he na- asked If Mr. Plank had ever ac-
c1fHuaUlad them on their expeditions In
i'ft1ien places. He said that the only
wav hey entertained Plank was by giving
bin lo'> Of wine
Lu.rger vas very anxious to impress
upon iHe District Attorney that the money
he had turned over 70 the Legislators was
only ~ HE nature OF loan, adding Not
= bride. Mr. jerome
A-semoNman Plank explains his con
rertiou with the committee by saying that
ono night last winter he dropped into the
len EvCk and there met Lindinger. who
sad n speak with him. They sat down
table ana smoked cigar. he says
q bad some ginger ale or other light drink
raf i, all the entertaining, he says, that
Fo received from The liquor dealers repre-
natives here
be matter viii not come before the
Albany county Grand jury in lis present
--ape A. there Is nothir1 upon which 10
secure an Indictment
Coy ggins TODAY made statement
" regard 10 the presenimeut After re-
Ne~.2 The report Of the Grand jury. tie
Governor treats Of the matter as follows:
:, Witnesses Who were members Of the New
Aei6 state Liquor Dealers Association and
81 ~ ~p-cailed committee On legislation
esii1ed before the Grand jury that in the
% part 81 the wear 1904 a fund OF S22 900
or $4,000 vas collected from the members
~ r. association and placed in the hands
or SID committee and its chairman, for the
alb god purpose Of influencing legislation
ahi administration on matters affecting the
H4H0r 'rafii,
Tho evidence tends to establish that this
ilnG was In part expended by the committee
n' Albany and q -ewhere. by various dis
equitable II not Illegal methods, and In
id't divided among the members Of the
committee. tut no evidence was given tend
ing To- establish that any public officer re-
'.lNed ~ requested or was offered anything
81 value or personal advantage for per
forming or emitting 10 perform any official
ACT or with tho express or implied under
-'anding that hl- official action or omission
!, tci "1r 20 be IN any degree influenced
'h''ehv. or that any official act was in