Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-24
Aids Bribery Case Be-
fore Fellow Senators.
Counsel Osborne Calls Senator
Conger a Hero.
Says He Is Political Suicide for
Good Of Country.

AihanN, n. y, March GA hero, q
| martyr political and social suicide
for the good of his country. This was
the description given of Senator Ben
Conser today by his chief counsel
when his summing up concluded the
Senates investigation of Conger's
charges of bribery against Senator
Aids.
| Attorney James w. Osborne brought
| the two days of continuous oratory to
a close and left his clients case in the
hands Of the jury of 40 senators at 5
o'clock this afternoon, with an unex-
pected tribute. For three hours Os-
borne had paced up and down the
aisles of the Senate chamber, scathing-
| " denouncing Aids. Then as the hand
OF the Senate clock pointed to the time
when he must close, he turned to where
| Conger sat whit his grey-haired wife
and his son beside him.
I've heard some say that Bonn Con-
ser is as bad as Joe Aids he began.
Now, courage is the heritage of our
race. But is there one of YOU that's
| got the courage Conger has-one OF
| you who would do what Conger has
doEe? Not one. l wouldn't. Would I
| leave for my children and for my chill
dren's children the stain he's bound
| TO leave upon them for all time. Think
| of il and tell me why did Conger do It?
every act of his in this trial tend
| ed to bankrupt him and destroy his
| reputation and own good name in the
community in which he lived Conger
got nothing out of it but sorrow and
misery and all that he will ever feel
| is the thorns that press down upon his
his head. There sit his family--hs wife
and his only son-and I'm proud to
say; look at them. be proud of them.
because they've upheld his hands in
this hour of trial. He believed that his
| couptry's cause and country's good
was greater than anything he might
sacrifice.
when the gladiator stepped out on the
sand and said L who am about to die
salute you that's Conger. No matter
what happens to Aids. Conger has COM
mitted an act of suicide, politically and
socially for his countrys good"
Osborne paused and raised his hand inn
pressivey and his glance saw the Senate
as he concluded And in his death there
is truth"
Both Osborne and Judge Augustus Van
closing argument for Conger this morn
ing, warned the senator against neglect
ing public opinion.
Public indignation cant be kept out of
this court room" asserted Osborne.
Throughout the length of this United
States l see revival of public conscience.
I see 1t in Washington; l see 1t in Albany:
thank God l even see 1t in that least ex-
pected place. Pttsburg. Throughout the
state is a demand for absolute faithful
ness in public service. / ask you not to
listen to the clamor of sympathy, but to
do an act of decency, of honesty and
patriotism"
Mr.. Osborne dwelt particularly on the
fact that Aids bank accounts showed
that many thousand dollars were depos-
tied each year soon after the close Of
legislative sessions Aids contention
that he could not remember where this
cash came from, he characterized as past
belief. He declared that Aids failure to
produce his books and his declaration
that he kept no regular system of ac-
counts. was one of the most damaging
features of his testimony.
"A fence. a wardman, the custodian Of
a yellow dog fund and the recipient OF
corruption fund doesn't keep any
books" he continued. "And Joe Aids
doesn't keep any books. He had three or
four or five different bank accounts be-
cause he used to divide up the loot
Conger's attorney declared that the al
legged corrupt agreement between Aids
and the Congers was made on April 1,
1901 several days before Aids received
the request from Senator Thomas c.
Plat to kill the Stevens bridge bin. and
this fact made Aids defence involving
Plat valueless. Aids failed to tell Platt,
he said that corruption fund was being
raised by the bridge companies. ION
that alone" he continued, II demand
verdict"
"Why Aids could afford to take money
in the capitol asked Osborne. why he
could have taken that money on the
capitol steps In presence of reception
committee because" continued the at
torney, 'he knew that Frank Conger was
dealing with several state Legislatures
and many boards OF aldermen and would
never dare to bring any charge against
Aids"
After the session ended Mr. Osborne
said that his closing remarks about
Conger's political suicide were not to
be taken as meaning that Conger intended
to resign.
The Senate plans not to vote on the
question Of sustaining the Conger charges
until Tuesday, March g.
The case of Mrs. Catherine Kimball Of
oil ba,. h,l H. ho