The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-10-22
TALE OF GRAFT 4
HEARsAY EVIDENCE OF CoRRUP'
T1ON IN HIGH PLACES.

TION IN RICH PLACES.
Assistant District Attorney Reveals
Alleged Confession OF Bribery to
Defeat Anti4racing Bills.
:RSpresentatiVe Otto G. Foelker'
the man who was carried from his
sick bed into the New York senate
chamber to cast the deciding vote for
the anti-racing bills urged by Gov
Hughes, took the stand as sworn
witness and told the Merit joint leg
1slative committee the details of an
alleged attempt in 1908 by Former
State Senator Frank ]. Gardner. who
Is now under arrest, TO buy his vote
Briefly 1t told of dinner at Del
monico's Of sphominent men, friendly
to the race track. of 100000 SUD
scr,bed to a corruption fund, Of the
distribution OF this fund to politi.
clans. and we'll known press CORES
pondents of the New York neWs-pa'
pers at Albany and Of the secret
grievance of the late Patrick MeCar.
rem who worked for the bill against
his own wishes, and his own asso'
ciates.
In thefmonth of March testified
Mr. Elder, y sent for Gardner
through, his lawyer. who wanted te
know what for: I told him for
personal chat, and shortly afterwaro
Gardner, cane4to my. private. office
l told him l wanted to. know a6ou'
the efforts made at Albany to de-
feat the race track bills. told him
that / had indictments against Ger
tain men and that. his information
might help.
,t1Finally Gardner said, i d,on't
mind telling you that there was a
meeting at Delmonico's at which
money was subscribed He mention
ed the names Of several men WAC
were there including members Of the
Metropolitan Turf association and
the book-ma akers.1;.t He said thai
among the men there that | remem'
Der were James r. Keene, David Nit
chell,. Mr.. Parsons. Harry Payne
Whitney and Charles H. Hyde"
Charles Fl. Hyde Is now chamber.
lain of New. York City and was form
erly law partner OF Mayor Gaynor
James r. Keene ~: the well known
racing man and millionaire stoca
market operator. "Mr. Parsons
was hot. .suS.hes dentifiea- -.s:is.sl -.
ttHe l{Gardner)H' continued Mr.
Elder, :.+said there was q dispute
about who should handle the money
Finally he said s125,o00 was given
to James Gafney. to, take care OF
three or four members of the lesls'
lature--Tammany men" he, said.
/ (, James GaiRneyfis- president of the
Gaffney Construction company. which
has handled many municipal con.
tracts.
Il asked him the total amount
OF this fund.- the witness resumed
..and he said, oh, considerable.
told him that heard that. it was
100000. He said that if had
guessed 100000 l would have been
nearer the mark.
"Of this sum he said. Senator
Grady got only $4,000 and l might
imagine what the others got.
Senator McCarren. he said. was
angry because he did not have the
handling OF the fund and because Z
strange man was going up there ex
pecting TO get away with such
proposition. He attributed the pas
sage OF the bill to 'McCarrens dis
pleasure. McCarren was secretly II
favor of the bill, he said. and wanted
to be revenged because he had moi
been consulted
Then came mention Of the press
HE (Gardnerl, resumed Mr.. Elder
said the newspaper men were libar'
ally taken care of out of the fund.
Asked the names OF the men, Mr.
Elder said:
Il recall a man. named Joe Nc
Entee of The Sun got $4,000; thu
Patrick Relihan OF The Press eo1
$4,000: that Louis Seabold of The
World got $4,000: George Jandr:a
Of the Brooklyn Citizen. $4,000. an'
TirrelI of the Brooklyn Eagle. $500
He said The Times man of Brooklyn
got $780,"
George Tirrell. secretary to Comp
troller Prendergast and until January
| Albany correspondent Of the Brook
lyn Eagle, took the stand and testi
fed that Gardner had offered hiI
$500. at Albany and he had declln
ed it.
Little light was thrown on tnf
part taken at Albany by Mr.. Hyde
'He Gardner said Mr.. Elder
told me he went to Albany will
HYDE because Hyde did not know
the ways OF Albany and how to ap
proach people.
He said Hyde had secured a
the meeting at Delmonico'S sor VIII
ND tnilaa