The Jersey City news., 1906-04-04
Senate Committee Opens the
Investigation Demanded
by the Accused Senators
Shinn and Martens
KRIMxE TELLS HIS STORY
WILLIAM coRB1N FOR THE
sTATE AND ROBERT HUD-
sPETH FOR THE DEFENDANTS
EXAMINE THE WITNESSES
NOT PROVEN, THE LIKELY
VERDICT
Especial 10 "The Jersey city News !

Especial to "The Jersey City News.')
TRENTON, April 4, 1906.At II
O'clock this morning the Senate Commit
tee on Judiciary began an investigation
Of the charges that Senators Shinn, of
Ocean County, and Mariens, of Hunter
don, had attempted to extort S4O0 from
Philip Krimke, President of the New
jersey Pawnbrokers' Association, to hold
up two bills affecting the pawnbrokers'
interests William H Corbin, of Jersey
City, acted as counsel for the committee
and put the various witnesses through a
gruelling examination. while ex-senator
Robert S. Hudspeth looked after the in
terests of the two accused Senators. 1t
will probably be several days before the
inquisition is concluded and decision
rendered
Whatever decision reached by the Ju-
dietary Committee must be transmitted
and ratified by the Senate before it can
be adopted. The consensus of opinion is
that the committee will return a white
washing report to the effect that although
Senator's Shinn and Martens were aecus-
ed of having attempted to extort $400
from Krimke, the charge was unsubstan-
tiated and therefore the accused Senators
should be exonerated.
There is scarcely anybody at the State
Capitol who believe, that Krimke's 5
charges will be substantiated by the tes-
timony of other witnesses. In a word,
the whole case seems to hinge upon how
much credence the Judiciary Committee
will give Krimke's evidence. Krimke
viii charge that both Senators Shinn and
Martens asked him for money to hold u2
the pawnbrokers' bill. while the accused
Senators will stoutly deny such state
ment.
Among the witnesses summoned to-day
were: Philip Krimke, who made the
charges; Fred. Kissam, who, it is afleg-
ed, caused the strike bill to be introduced
by Senator Shinn through Senator Mar
tens. and who, it is also charged. paved
the way for meeting between Krinlke
and the Senator's; Daniel Cohen. Ho-
boken pawnbroker, who with Isaac May
er, another pawnbroker, Of jersey City,
introduced Krinrke to Nissan; City At
torney Malcolm MacLear. of Newark
who. as counsel for Krimke had arrang-
ed to pay the money. to Senators Shinn
and Martens with marked bills. but
whose plans were frustrated by the pub
lication of the story in a Newark news
paper.
Krmke was the first witness called.
He told about being notified by Daniel
CohelR of Hoboken, that Fred. Kissam
had told him (Cohen) that two bills af-
fecting the pawnbrokers had been intro
duced in the Senate and that he was adj
vised to see Senators Shim and Martens
and fix it with them to hold up these
bills. He saidl when he went to Trenton
with Cohen and Mayer, he was introduc
ed to Kissam, whom they met in the
State House corridor. Thorugh Kissam,
Krimke said he was intro luced to Senas
tors Shinn and Martens whom he met in
committee room alongside of President
Bradley's office and back of the Senate
Chamber When he spoke to Shinn
about the bills he alleged that the Ocean
Senator told him that. it could be fixed
with money. First. he said. Shinn de-
manded 81 900 for Martens and himself
and finally came down to 500, or $500
for each. 1t was the Understanding be-
tween them when they parted that the
money was to be paid the next day
(Tuesday) Instead of returning to
Trenton. Krilnke said. he consulted with
City Attorney MacLear and was advised
not to pay the moliey. Exposure of the
scheme to extort money from him then
sfollnwed