Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-29
ATTORNEY LAWLEss KNOWS
ABOUT BRIDE OFFERS.
Wants to Avoid Notoriety ia Case, But
Will Tell Proper Officials.


Attorney John J. Lawless of New
London. who was a delegate from Wa
terbury to the republican state con-
vention, appears to be the pivot around
which the present talk of bribery in
that convention revolves. Judge Bald
win in his New Britain speech We'd
nesday evening made the declaration
that there was an attempt at bribery In
that convention. and the basis for his
statment is believed to be state
ment made by Attorney Lawless to
State Attorney HadIai A. Hull of New
London, who is democrat and an en-
thusiastic supporter of Judge Baldwin.
Attorney La,wless upon his return
from the state convention 1ntImated
in confidential talks with friends that
he had been approached and a con-
sideration promised to influence his
vote Mr.. Hull heard Of the matter
and asked Mr.. Lawless if certain re-
port were true, to which Mr.. Lawless
replied that it was
Mr.. Hull was absent from New Lon
ness His son, Attorney c. Hadlal
Hull. was asked if he knew of any such
statement having been made to his
father by Attorney Lawless, and If, as
reported, there was any prospect OF his
father taking official action looking
Attorney Hull replied that Attorney
Lawless had made the statement in
the office that in some manner a bride
had been proposed him ia the con :
vention. Mr.. Hull was not certain of
the amount, but thought it $1,000 He
knew nothing of his fathers attitude
in the matter.
Attorney L4awless was seen, but
would make no definite statement. He
did say:
eff any question is asked me by the
proper authorities I will answer the
questions truthfully,. no matter who is
hurt by my answers
'sMr. Lawless Is it fact as has
been reported that you were offered
as delegate to the republican state
convention a present or some enlolu-
ment for the purpose OF influencing
your vote as a delegate?'
Il would rather not answer that
question until I have chance to talk
to some other persons regarding it,
rs it not a fact that you have In
formed State Attorney Hadlai Hull
that an offer was made to your"
Il noticed that a, statement was
made by Judge Baldwin in a speech
and / thought that perhaps my name
might be connected with it, but / do
not careto make any answer as yet.
I do not think that it would be fair
to have anything in connection with
my statement used as a political ar
gument, but if any questions are
asked me for the purpose of prosecu-
ton that will be a different matter.
If any questions are asked me by the
proper legal authorities. l will answer
them truthfully, no matter who is
hurt by my answers"
eff any offer or inducement was
made TO you to influence you as a dele
gate, by whom was the offer made"
Mr.. Lawless was asked.
''As I said, 7 do not think that these
things ought to be used as q political
argument but will answer any Dues
lions asked by the proper authorities,
was his reply.
Attorney Lawless seemed to wish to
avoid any notoriety in the matter and
if he had any damaging testimony to
give, carefully concealed it.
Judge Baldwin was asked Thursday
in New Haven by the Times-Leader to
explain his bribery charge, and his re-
ply was the following curt statement:
II do not care, to. say anything fur
Their. l am preparing my speech to be
delivered at Bridgeport this evening
talk with you Don't bother me-"
Charles w. Comstock- of Norwich.
chairman of the democratic state CEN
trail committee, was asked If the COM
mittee had knowledge of who Judge
Baldwin alluded TO in his speech In
New Britain
81 have no means of knowing what
was in Judge BaIdwin's mind when he
said that but I might be able TO
guess. Similar things have come to
me-" was Mr. Comstock's reply.
''Will you state to whom reference
was made in which those stories came
to you,"
mo, [ do not care to state that for
publica ton" was Mr.. Comstock's re-
ply. You had better see Judge Bald
win