The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-04-10
Bribery Charees Heard.

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Charges Of attempted extortion for the
killing of Objectionable bills made recently
by Philip Krimke. of Newark, president
Of the New Jersey State Pawnbroker's As
ISOLATION, against Senator George L. shinn,
of Ocean county, Republican, and Sena-
tor George F. Martens, of Hunterdon, a
Democrat, were sifted ON Wednesday by
the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which
Senator Thomas ]. Hillery, the Admins
tration leader, is the chairman. The in
quiry took up the full day, the Senate
adjourning its session for the purpose.
The committees inquiry was conducted
by Counselor William II. Corbin, while
ex-senator Robert A. Hudspeth appeared
for Shinn and Martens.
The mornings session Of the inquiry was
devoted to the committees side and the af-
ternoon was given over to the defense.
Endeavoring to show that the measures
in question were not "strike bills" Mr.
Hudspeth called number of labor leaders,
who testified that the bills were good ones
and had been Endorsed by labor organ
izations. Among these witnesses were
Charles May, of Hackensack, and Samuel
Botterill, of East Orange.
Alex p Maxwell, Newark lawyer, tes-
titled that he had prepared for the Trades
Council, which he represents, bill similar
to one of the Shinn- Martens measures, as
meeting the reform requirements of me
chanics, whose tools are often stolen and
pawned.
Messrs. Shinn and Martens went on the
stand in their own behalf and denied en-
phatically the statements made by Krimke.
They had talked with him concerning the
bills, they said, and told him the measures
were good ones and would be passed, but
neither he nor they had made any mention
of money.
The first witness was Senator Alderman,
of Union county. fellow member with
Sh1nn and Martens on the Committee on
Labor and Industry. which body had
charge Of the pawnbrokers' bills. He said
80 far as he knew there had been no meet
ing of the committee to consider these bills,
and that he did not know they were to be
reported. When they were reported he
suggested an amendment to one of the
measures restoring it to the wording of an
old law. Mr.. Shinn made no objection te
the amendment.
Mr.. Corbin then offered In evidence q
copy of Krimke's affidavit, copy of the pa
per that published the first story of the al
legged attempt at extortion. Mr. Hudspetl
objected to this and demanded a copy
Of Krimke's affidavit. A copy of the aft
davit was then produced by Mr.. Corbin.
i Former Assemblyman John Howell
of Essex. testified to having had talk will
Frederick Nissan about the two pawnbro
kers' bills. He said Nissan told him tina
Shinn had introduced the measures, but b,
was not sure whether Nissan had said h
(Kissam) had brought them to Trenton.
, Krimke was then placed on the stand
He told of having read about the bills il
the newspapers. He declared that unde
such measures 1t would be impossible 70
pawnbroker to make living.
He said he met Senators Shinn and Mar
tens week before, and when aske,
what was done he related the allegation
set forth in his affidavit.
On cross examination by ex Senate
Hudspeth Krimke said that this was hi
, first experience with matters of legislation
he said the Pawnbrokers' Association wa
formed shortly after he first saw the bill
in question.
| On further cross-examination Krimke dc
clsred that it was Nissan who had told hir
that 1t would take $500 to defeat the bills
and not Cohen. az his af1davit had shown
3 The next witness was Malcolm MacLeal
{ counsel for the Pawnbrokers' Association
| who had prepared the Krimke affidavit.
John ]. Farrell, the Neso0rk News re
} porter, said that when he got the affidavit
he went to see Senator Shinn. His test
, mony on this point follows:
n asked Senator Shinn If 1t was true tha
he had told Krimke that $400 would b
; necessary to kill the bills He said, Eyes
"AA1e Va Aos 0ohC0 AAnA w III buO ObuC
q man was and he said Senator Martens
r Then he asked me what l was driving q
and told him. He said, 1.-THE Who'll
thing is lie." said, why you just &C
: mitted that it was true" He said it wa
false, but that he had agreed to FIX the bill
f Later saw Senator Martens and aske
:. him about the affair. He said there We
: nothing in it.
Frederick Nissan was next sworl
He Ia clerk Of the Jersey City Street an
Water Board. He said that the bills hs
been given him by former Assemblymal
Morris Marks, of Hudson county. 3
!, gave the bills to Senator Martens for intr,
u duction. He said Cohen first spoke to hi
: about the bills and also declared that /
u did not know what was back of then
;. He did not know what reason Marks hs
= for wanting them passed. An to the NEE
OF the pawnbroker and the Senators, Ri
sam said he knew nothing. He had merel
5 introduced the men. He declared that |
had no interest in the bills beyond the fa'
that he kept general oversight over a
, legislation that affects Hudson county.
Simon Cohen, Hoboken pawnbroke
:. testified that he had told Nissan If /
would look after the interest of the paw
brokers SO far as these two bills were col
Vt cerned he would give him $780, TIL
]. practically concluded the testimony for tt
Q committee.
t There was no session Of the Senate du
!. ing the Investigation. and most of the Sen,
o tors were present as interested spectator
+ After the Senate convened on Thursda
b the Judiciary Committee made its repor
0 1t states that the charges are not sustaine
by the evidence.
! The report is signed by the three men
e bers of the committee, Senators Hillery
Wakelee and Minturn.
Il In the report the Senators, after review
e ing the evidence, say:
8 ION the main charge the question is be
tween the veracity of the two Senators O
! the one side and Mr.. Krimke on the Other
ut should be further said that Mr. Krim
5 kes testimony with reference to the fact
leading up to the final interview with til
Senators is not sustained by the evidenc
of the other witnesses who were sworn
They were pawnbrokers who had come Z
Trenton with Mr.. Krimke and others an,
were cognizant of what passed up to tn
time of the introduction of Mr.. Krimke t.
the Senators. They not only do not sup
port Mr.. Krimke, but in several respect
contradict him.
Much of the testimony produced befor
the committee related to the conduct of Mr.
Nissan and two other persons who Her