The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-18
NIXON S NAME IS .
DRAGGED INTO CASE
Senator Conger Says Bride Money
Was Sent To Late Speaker of
New York Assembly. r.,

ALBANY. y. y, Feb. 1s.-The name
of S. Fred Nixon. former speaker OF
the assembly. and who held more
power ami was more highly honored
than any other member OF that body
TO occupy the speakers chair. was
dragged into the graft investigation
yesterday. Senator Bonn ConGer
says Hiram c. Moe wrote Nixon
name on one OF the envelopes in which
$4,000 10 buy protection for the bridge
companies was taken To the state
capitol The former speakers name
was mentioned. announced by Conge'
on the stand.
Speaker Nixon's envelope, accord
ing TO Conger. like Senator lothian +.
Aids. held $1,000, The remainder
OF the fund, $4,000. was in the en-
velope given 10 Nixons lieutenant,
ASsemblyman Jean Larue Burnett.
These were the revelations that
marked The closing minutes OF the
states Investigation OF the bribery
charges yesterday afternoon. But
such disclosures hac been so far DIS
counted by rumor and expectation
that the announcement OF Nixons
rame and the thrilling legal skirm-
ishes leading up 10 1t We're only an IN
cident In an afternoon fun or sur
prises.
Nixon is dead and Burnett is dead.
and Aids. the only living member OF
the trio, his accuser. probably has told
the worst he can have 10 say. But
there are other graft Investigations 10
come. AMI today's proceedings yielded
rich harvest OF evidence on when
10 base them.
According TO Conger. from 1901 10
1905. a systematic campaign was con-
Quoted az Albany against the treasury
OF the bridge companies. For three
years the companies paid tribute. In
1908 notice came from Albany that
II would be 70 their interests 10 for
ward TO the capital $4,000. Then the
men who controlled the bridge com
ranies met IN Syracuse and agreed
not 10 pay AS Conger expressed It
We decided We would not be
blackmailed any longer.
During the four preceding years
measures hostile 10 the bridge inter-
ests had been introduced regularly
but they always failed TO pass. But
In 1905 the legislature passed high
way act. which placed on the statute
books a provision against which the
bridge combination mad long cou-
tended.
AS a result OF this law sixty per
cent OF the bridge companies were
forced out Of business In New YORK
state
Aids accuser was on the stand all
day and this was his story. He told
il under discrimination and Aids
attorneys seemed quite ready to let
him tell il. Their purpose. apparent
ly was TO brand Conger as giver OF
brides, as representative or the
bridge interests in the legislature. and
10 show that he was actuated In
bringing against Aids the charges
the senate is now investigating by
desire for revenge for Aids hostility
20 the business interests where Con-
ger had invested money.
Conger followed their lead with
readiness that can be explained by
a desire 20 convince his colleagues
that he would not have handled bribe
money unless he and his business as
sociates had been held up" by legis-
lators and that the bridge interests
in the past had TO choose between
blackmail and ruin.
The announcement OF speaker Nix
on's name came within five minutes
OF adjournment. AS when he reveal
ed Burnett's name. Conger refused TO
answer the question propounded by
Attorney Carr until the chairman had
directed and his own counsel had so
advised him.
Nixon first entered the lower house
In 1887 and was elected speaker in
1899. He ruled the assembly con-
tinuously M TO the time Of his death
in the fall OF 1906.
The name OF Col George w.
Dunn, chairman Of the Republican
state committee in 1902. was brought
definitely into the evidence today.
thus making him available as a wit
ness at future Investigations. Conger
said that he called on Dunn at his
Office here and made contribution