New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-10
MOE UNSHAKEN ON
ALLDS CHARGES
LITTLETON HAMMERS
UITNESS ALL DAY.
Latter,s Memory Weak on
Minor Points, but Stands by
Important Details of Story.
TBy Telegraph 10 Tne Tribune ]

Albany, Feb. 9.--The most rnerciless.
relentless cross mination of which
Martin w. Littleton was capable was the
portion to-day of Hiram G. Moe. the
quiet, gray haired little country banker
who swears he gave Senator lothian p
Aids $1,000 bribe in 1901. In an effort
70 challenge Mr.. Noes Credibility Mr.
Littleton grilIed him in every conceiv-
able fashion
So quick and sharp were his questions
that time after time James W osborne
and Augustus Van Wyck. counsel for
Senator Conger. Noes friend and the
aecuser of Senator Aids. interposed OBJ
jectfons apparently to give the witness
breathing spell, but they failed TO check
the adroit Mr.. Littleton. who explained
to the Senate his reason for this ex-
traordinary inquisition in these words;
We have behind US a client who is on
trial for the only crime, next TO treason
that is denounced in the constitution OF
the state. crime which the makers or
the organic law Of the land thought vas
so vile that it ought TO be denounced. a
crime which if it is committed pollutes AL
the founda tions OF legislation and of jus
L
not. indeed, TO forfeit his liberty. but 70
forfeit something which is beyond any
price, compare BILE. to liberty. and that -
the respect. the esteem and the conf
dence Of his fellows, his station. his
status and his opportunities in the state.
STORY WHICH IS PLUPERFECT-
To convict him of that crime there
+ha a
witness who tells a story which is plu-
perfect, story which. until YOU apply
the test of CircumstaKtial detail. search
ing the conscience or for the conscience
searching the memory or for the MEM
ory; if YOU leave it sleek. glazed and un-
assaiIed, it simply leaves 10 the client,
however innocent he may be- the more
OF less limited answer TO the effect that
il is untrue.
Therefore. I have taken the time Of
this Senate 10 test, by every known rule,
the recollection, conscience, integrity
and relia bility of this witness I would
not answer now what impression has
been made upon my mind by the exam
ination. because that would be mani
festlv unfair at this stage of the pro-
guisred Judge that so tar as il being
but a trifing consumption of time I
want no better proof of the fact that IL
is not than that the CALLED jade winces
and the sore spot hurts and that he
and his co-counseI have been struggling
here for the last twenty minutes to res
cue this witness from the obscurity Of a
failing memory and the falling of an inn
paired conscience
This man says he delivered $1,000 in
this Capitol and I am entitled 10 every
circumstantia1 detail T can get l want
TO know IL 1t Is possible that he may be
mistaken or his memory is bad. and this
case is one that has been born of the
desperation of some other whose situa-
tion has been undesirable
Here is a characteristics speech of Mr..
Littletons in a tilt with Mr. Osborne.
after the witness had said that within
the last FIVE years he was superintendent
of a Baptist Sunday school:
Il submit that when a man who Is
protesting TO be the leader of any re-
Iigious thought or sect holding himself
out as a teacher of morals in the COM
muuity or of religion of any type or
character finds himself carrying money
for the purpose which this witness says
he carried it. every man IS entitled to
know how deep, how far the hypocrisy
and deceit and worthIessness and relia-
bility of such Il mans character may bs
probed. trusted and judged"
SEEMS LITTLE CONCERNED.
Through 1t all Mr.. Moe appeared the
person least concerned He hardly
moved a muscle. but sat with his hands
folded in his lap, the finger tips pressed
together Occasionally. when pressed to
an extreme, he hesitated over an an
swer and half helpless smile would
pass over his face From time to time
he rnoistened his lips with his tongue.
But he declined glass of water which
one OF the Conger counsel thrust at him
Senator Benn Conger. yesterday IN
rerturbed. to-day varied his gum chew
ing with frequent drafts OF water.
Senator Aids busted himself with fire.
nuent suggestions to his counsel and
worked off an apparent nervousness by
strolling around the Senate Chamber
The Senators and the great throng of
SPECTATORS showed their keen interest in
the srilling Of Mr.. Moe by almost open
mouthed attention.
The direct result of Mr- Littleton's
work was 10 produce from the witness
nonotonous series of admissions that
his memory had failed him.
Il don't know Il can't remember.
81 couldn't say" came the responses.
time after time. 10 Mr. Littleton's hail
of questions. but this inability to an
swer definitely related only 10 small and
comparatively unimportant details OF
the bribery story TO which he has sworn
1e was unable 10 remember whether he
cashed the $500 check before or after
the Groton Bank opened for business.
He refused to give a definite statement
about the time of the train on which
he left his village for Syracuse. He was
unable TO say on what street in this
city Benn Conger lived at that time. nine
wears ago But he remembered. and did
not vary in the slightest particular from
Yesterdays story. every important de-
tail of the alleged bribery transaction
Mr. Littletons most vehement efforts
failed TO shake him regarding the deliv-