The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-11
BOSS" COX IN
 A BAD LIGHT Tried to Influence Judg- ment of Court. TESTIMONY OF THE JURISTS Two Swear That He Asked For a
 Verdict. A Third Ayers that the Former Repub- Iican Leader Requested Merely
 Just Opinion on Law
 and Evidence.

Cincinnati, March to-Two Judges of the Circuit Court, in testimony be- fore the Drake Investigating commit tee of the State Senate, this morning charged that George B. Cox, formerly Republican leader in Hamilton County, had tried to influence the judgment of that court in a suit involving a $200,000 bond. while a third judge testified that Cox had simply asked him that the case be given a fair and impartial hearing when it came up on an appeal
 This testimony came at the close of a day devoted to testimony regarding the purchase of turnpikes, much of 1t of comparatively minor importance The Judges of the Circuit Court had been subpoenaed as Witnesses. the general understanding being that they were to appear because of personal interest in one or another of the turnpikes. The examination, however, took an entirely different turn.
 Judge Fernidand Jelke. Jr., of the Circuit Court, was the first witness. Att torney Roetting called attention to the suit brought in 1890 by the city against the Lane and Bodiey Company and the American Bonding Company, for $500 GOO for an alleged default as contractor in building the city water works. in which the lower court had given judgment for $23S,712, and said: T want to ask you if an effort was made to influence the judgment of your court in the final disposition of this case?'
 Testimony of JelIxe.
 Judge Jelke replied T called on MT Cox in his office. Mir. Cox said to me: Judge, that Lane and Bodley case is coming up for hearing in your court wish you would find some way of reversing it.
 T said MT. Cox, that case will be tried on It's record, just like any other ease,"
 What did MT. Cox say in reply?"
 There was very little said. He said he had been one of my associates on the bench. My impression was that he was not pleased"
 Judge Jelke said that the case had finally been decided; that he voted to affirm the lower court.
 Judge Griffin, of the circuit court. followed Judge Jelke, and testified:
 'Mr Cox sent for me, Mr. Cox said I wish you could see your way clear to reversing this, because the Lane and BodIey Company Is a large concern and unless a compromise Is obtained they will be compelled to go into bank ruptcy.'
 T told Mir. Cox the case would go on trial. Cox did not tell me to find some way to reverse it. He wanted to know If l could find my way clear. This Is all recall now
 Different Story of Swing.
 Judge Peter F. Swing of the. circu.s court testified that he remembered the case against the Lane and Bodley Com pany and the American Bonding Com pany. He said:
 MT. Cox said to me there was some talk of a compromise and he wanted our court to give it full and fair consideration. He said nothing to me about having a desire that the case be reversed. T told him that I would give 1t full consideration; that followed without me telling him.
 Some time after that Judge Jelke said there was something about the case that he did not like. rold him if there was anything wrong that we ought to decide the case. He did not make it that strong. I never made any investigation of the matter. The case terminated m or court by Judge Jelke saying that he was unalterably op. posed to reversing it and that 1 was unalterably opposed to affirming it After that I had nothing at all to do with the case. MT. Cox did not inti- mate in any way that he had any in- terest in the Lane and Bodley Conn panV."