The Detroit times., 1910-02-17
GIVES NAME Of
ALLEGED GRAF TER
Senator Conger Says Late Assembly,
man Burnett, Graduate From
U. Of NJ, Took Bride.

NEW YORK, Feb. .7.-Senator Benn
Conger testified on the stand at the
legislative investigation into tho
charges OF bribery that the third en-
velope containing $1,000. which. he
SAYS. was sent TO Albany by the Am
erican Bridge Co. to influence legis-
lation, was given 10 Jean Burnett,
FORMER Assemb1ymanT from Ontario
county, who died In Albany during the
session OF the Legislature in 1907. This
development indicates that the weight
OF evidence descending alike on Con-
ger and Senator Aids, the accuser ANA
accused. has driven them to despera-
ton TO distribute the blame.
Burnett graduated from the law de-
partment OF the University Of Michi.
gan.
The story Conger and Moe told last
week is that the $4,000 sent to Albany
by the American Bridge Co. on April
-. 1901, was divided into three en-
yelopes. Aids. they say. got the first
envelope containing 1000. The sec
oDd envelope held $4,000, and tho
third $1,000. Ii the words spoken by
Conger on the stand yesterday are
true this third envelope was given 10
Burnett.
The name on the second envelope OF
another man who is dead, is expected
al the next disclosure OF the investi-
gation. To those who heard Mr.. Con-
ger testify yesterday IL seemed as x
he could have prevented The revela-
ton OF Burnetts name had he so de-
sired. The purpose OF Mr. Aids at
| torney. Mr.. Carr, who cross-examined
| CongeT. however. was clearly to re-
veal it. Carr had shown that one
bridge bill in 1901 had been amended
| In the committee OF internal affairs I'm
a manner highly satisfactory 70 the
bridge interests. This amendment in
creased from $500 To $4,000 the limit
under which town boards could con-
tract for the construction of bridges
without putting the question to pop.
lilar vote. Then Carr asked Conger
who made these amendments.
1T was not a member OF the COM
mittee," replied the witness.
MY question was-who il wasg'
insisted Carr.
1T was the man whose name ap-
peared on one of those envelopes. +"
replied Conger.
Instantly there was an uproar.
Carr objected and the answer was
stricken out
| When Carr repeated his question
the witness hesitated and was order
ed TO reply by the presiding officer.
A thousand listeners on the floor OF
the senate chamber and in the CALLER
les invomntarily leaned toward the
little bald-headed man in the witness
chair
THE name" said Conger, slowly
and distinctly. was Jean Burnett"
| A great sigh that was the sudden
release of thousand breaths rose In
the chamber; and the audience set
tied back in its chairs.
The second thrill OF the afternoon
| came shortly afterward when Conger
was asked II he had discussed the
bridge bill with any other assembly
man. The witness said a number had
/ spoken to him on the subject: but
when Mr.. Carr asked "who?" Conger
mentioned only one name-"Louis
Bedell"
Bedell, at that time. was a member
| OF the lower house from Orange coun-
Ity. Conger said Bedelrs suggestion
was like Burnett's and had to do with
an amendment TO the bridge bill fav'
orable to the bridge companies.
It was another bridge bill. hostile
to the bridge interests which he ac-
cused Aids of using as a club TO
hold up the American Bridge co.