New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-11
CHARGES PLOT
THREATS MADE, HE SAYS.
Tells Horc La1Cyer's agents Tried to
Force HIM to Resign.
[By relegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany, Jan. 1O.-At the hearing held by At
torney General Mayer to-day on the charges
preferred by Frank White a tax lawyer, against
John J. Merrill, chief clerk in the Corporation
Tax Bureau, Mr. Merrill gave most astounding
testimony. He declared that he had been hound
ed by representatives of "a committee of Demo-
cratic and Republican lawyers" who told him
that he would better resign or he'd have things
done to him" He quoted Controller Kelsey. his
superior, saying:
This looks like dirty backmailing scheme"
Two agents made these threats to him. ne
said. first a man, and few days later a woman.
He was also called up over the telephone and
asked what he was going to do about it.
While he was giving his testimony, Mr.. Mer-
rilI became extremely egitated. Several times
he had to stop to gain compOsure, and once
when he declared, they wouldn't even let me
bury my dead in peace" he almost tainted, ana
had to be excused for time. His friends say
that since the charges have been filed against
him the anxiety has told on him heavily.
FRIEND IN BUREAU.
second feature of the examination, hardly
less sensational than this, was the fact that
Frank White who preferred the charges, had an
acquaintance inside the bureau. This was Frank
C. vinton, who was examined. He said that he
might have given Mr.. White the information ne
asked for but he could not recall any details OF
such an occurrence Part of the investigation
is to find out how certain figures Incorporated III
Mr.. Whites charges were obtained.
! Most of the day was devoted to the examina-
lion of Mr. Merrill. He denied specifically every
charge made by Mr. White, save One-that
change had been made in the address Of cor
poration as written on the report. While under
examination by his lawyer, Mr.. Carr, he de-
clared that in no case had anything influenced
him In arri1 Ing at his decision regarding the TAX
excent the facts set forth in the corporation re-
port.
1t was the examination by Attorney General
n5aver however which brought out the testi-
rnony about the threats.
.4or N5ax, 10 was told to get out, things
would banpen to me-" Merrill said. ION April
"a before that a Mr.. Davis had come to me ana
said he represented committee of Democratic
and Republican lawyers II by the 1olo"lhs
Monday was not out of the department ne
safd charges would be brought against me. The
papers in New-York would print theIn' ne salu'
the Governor would be brought into the case
and there would be a big investigation IKE 'lo
insurance investigation. So far, 1t has all hap
pened," added Mr.. Merrill pltterly e@ceP' 'ie
investigation by the legislature
"I went to Controller Kelsey and told him all
about ,t" he went on. He said TO me: 1t looks
like a dirty blackmailing scheme. won't take
# up.' A little while after that was called TO-
the telephone and some one said to me; 1hls is
Mr. Davis What are you going to do about IL!
"r said that hadn't made any promise to get
ont and didn't expect TO. Then he said the case
could be presented to the grand jury. told him
to go ahead and present it to the jury II he
uented TO Two nights after that woman
co,lad on me- Just at that time L received
TELEGRAM from Haverhill. Mass, saying that
MY
MR.. MERRILL AGITATED.
Mr. Merrill had been getting more and more
agita+ed as he went with his testimony All
+hts noint he threw down a rubber band which
ha had been twisting in his fingers and. his face
twtching, asked to be excused for moment
He went outside took a drink of Ice water,
walked around for a minute anu 'hel "ei4' JAIN
to the witness stand.
oI only want to say" he declared. that
u-..n.+ allowed to bury my dead without inter-
ference"
Did Mr. White threaten you? asked the At
torney General
No he did not" answered Merrill out ne
+oIa me that he wasn't going to have his busi- |
nsss ruined He said he had already lost two
thirds of 1t through these mer--rneanlns hlimer
o,d the others he mentioned in his charges
NJ y,nton said that he knew Mr. White and
Ma totted with him many times about corpora
+t, botb In the office and outside. Mr.. White
had asked him questions about many corpora
tons He said he could not remember what
he had told Mr.. White
Mr. Merrill, on the stand, said that two doors
leading TO room where certain corporations
rsnorts earlier than 1901 are kept were so
warmed that they could not be locked. The safety
of these documents was endangered thereby, he
said.
The Attorney General put into the records cir
culars sent out customers soliciting their busl-
ness by Mr. White and Mr.. Kilmer These cir
cp,ars said that the lawyers had especial facili-
ttss for transacting tax business because of de-
tailed knowledge of the procedure in the Cor
poratton Tax Bureau. Mr. Whites circular
said also that he could give convincing assur-
ance" of his ability.
The investigation was finished late to-day. The
Attorney General said he would announce his
finding IN a week two.