The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-25
FORGED TELEGRAM DEFEATED BILL Cassidy Springs Sensation by Explaining Failure to Sup
 port Anti Gam
 bling.
IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURES
Telegraph Operator Inserted Word Not in Message from New York Congressman msiructing Him
 to Back Hughes.

Albany, N, Y, April 24,-It is al- most a certainty that the ant-race track gambling bills will he passed at the extra session of the legislature in May
 Senator Owen Cassidy of Schuyler county, one of the eight republicans who voted against the bills in the regular session. will, in response to the overwhelming sentiment of his district, and on the advice of Con gressman ]. sloat Fassett, the local leader, change his vote to the afiir- native.
 This change is the result of a most sensational discovery made by Senator Cassidy that telegram sent to him from Washington hy Congress man Fassett was falsihed in trans mission
 The telegram naturally aroused suspicion that friends of President Roosevelt were working against Gov ernor Hughes and trying to defeat his most Important measure
 During the fight on the anti-racc track gambling bills Senator Cassidy was one of tho few mon who refused to take sides, When the fight became so close that 1t was apparent a single vote would be decisive, the interest ir Senator Cassidy's attitude became widespread.
 On the day of the vote Cassidy re ceived telegram from Congressman Fassett in Washington. He therefor, voted against the bills, and their fat, was sealed.
 l The telegram that Cassidy received i advised him to vote against tho bills but now it turns out that Congress man Fassett wished Senator Cassid, | to stand by Governor Hughes an, support the bills The telegram wa! l changed somewhere between tn capitol in Washington and the capito in Albany, so that when Senator Gas | sidy received 1t the meaning was pre- i cisely the reverse of that intended. | Elmira N r., April 2i.-The -stor, 1 tcleRraphed here from New York tha Senator Cassidys vote on tho rac ] track bil was due to forged telegram sent from Washington purporting to. h l signed by Congressman Fasset, cause a tremendous sensation here Congress l man Fassett Is here to attend the con gressIonal convention tomorrow Son ator Cassidy is a delegate and is ex l pected here in the morning Congress man Fassetet when seen tonight sal the report was true. On tho day th race track bills were ur in the sena, Congressman Fassett and Congressman Dwight united in a telegram to Cassi dv ns follows;
 John and uge you to stand by th governor on the race track bill, owin to conditions in your district
 (signcd) "J S. FASSETT
 That telegram when it reached Cass dy read as follows:
 John and l urge you not to stan by the governor on the race track bill otc."
 The next day when fl became know in Washington that the governor ha been beaten, another telegram was SCI to Senator Cassidy as follows:
 John and think you made a scr ous If not fatal mistake Get bus move to reconsderand pass the bill l, tSigned) "J. s, FASSETT.
 MT Fassett did not know until | reached the state convention that tl telegram had been falsihed An lnvet tlgation was started, and It is said was found that the te,egram had bee changed in Washington Mr Fasse said he had a letter from the manag g, of the telegraph eompany's office
 that city admitting the forgery ar adding that the operator responsib had been discharged.
 r Congressman Fassett said the req sc he did not make q statement heret, fore was because it was Senator Cass dy's affair and the statement shou come from him. Senator Cassidy cou not be reached by telephone tonight.