New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-12
SENATOR CONGER
TELLS HIS STORY
ALLDS SEEMS OPER-
UHELHED BY TALE.
Most Dramatic Scene IN Cap
itoi Since Hamilton DGfed
the Legislature.
nv Telegraph 10 Tb- Trfou-- J

Albany. Feb. 11.-Not since the day
when Andy Hamilton. OF yellow dog
fund fame in the insurance scandal, de-
fed the Legislature to investigate him.
and uttered scathfng criticism of Ger
tain Mr.. Pecksniff," has there been IN
the Capitol so dramatic a scene as when
Senator Benn Conger to-day told the
story on which he bases his charges that
Senator Jotham P. Aids demanded and
took a bribe of $1,000.
Just at the end OF the days session %
the Senate came his remsrksbIs testi-
nouy, a story outlined only the other
day by James ". Osborne. his counsel
Never eIancfng at the accused Senator.
Senator Conger told his tale Of alleged
blackmaiI and bribery. He finished his
testimony almost smiling. and minuts
later the inquiry was adjourned for the
day The moment the gavel sounded
Senator lothian T. Aids literally stag
gered from the Senate Chamber. His
soIuteIy. overwhelmed and dumfounded-
That testimony has enriched the liter
ature of the legislative world Hs
quoted the speech Of the alleged Black
Horse CavaIryman whom Mr.. Osborne
portrayed the other day on his highway
expedition.
This bridge bill is one of the good
things of the session. hn says Jotham
u. Aids, then majority leader, told his
brother, Frank Conger, in his apart
ments.
I'VE fellows have got TO have SONS
extra expense money was another OBJ
servation he attributed to the legislative
leader. who also. he said. told his
brother. THE Rules Committee must
have $1,000 if that bill dies; and II
was with a fine IL unconscious. imitation
Of Senator AIIds's unCtuous manner at
times that Senator Conger quoted him
as saving when ne received the envelope
containing the bribe from Moe. and
stuck it into his pocket: II guess it's
all right. Conger; it feels good
CONCESSION TO SURROUNDINGS
Senator AIIds's face twisted itself into
a WY grimace, in company with the tit
ter which rippIed through the chamber
and galleries, but it manifestly was
concession to the surroundings and
sprang from no overflow OF cheerful
ness.
Never were the gallery gods" at
melodrama more intensely absorbed In
the stage action than was the group Of
Senator's lawyers and the great thronE
of spectators. Senator Conger's pres
ence on the stand was unexpected. but
word of it spread through the big Capt.
toI like wiIdffre. and before he began his
recital of the bribery story there was
standing room only within sound of
his voice.
The stage setting was simple. but et-
fective. The witness. sworn by Senator
Davis. presiding, seated himself in Il
chair with it's back tight against the
clerks desk Directly in front Of him
we're the half dozen lawyers defending
Senator Aids. Behind them, vet not
ten feet from Conger himself, sat Aids.
his fists cIenched so tight that they
looked numb and white, his face purple.
his paws set.
Senator Conger was nan1festly ner-
vous when he began TO tell of his eX-
periences in Albany. but before he got
- the interviews with Aids his nervous
cough had stopped. he had Strengthened
hack in his chair and his right foot had
ceased tapping the carpet. His voics
came low indeed but clear The di-
rectness and cIearness Of mis- story we're
marvellous. II seemed the absolute
cIearness of a man living through
scene. every detail OF which had hecoms
a mart OF his Utmost consciousness or OF
an accomplished act or speaking a part
with perfect composure. perfect mem
orv nerfect mastery OF the art Of stage
craft.
HEARERS HELD SPELLBOUND.
And his tale of the fashion in which he
said he was told by Aids that the bridEe
bill was not bottled up" but that there
would be something doing on the floor"
was as thrilling to that audience as any
stage lines. His recital of the alleged
interviews between his brother Frank
and Aids. in which the blunt demand for
money was said TO have been made and
the price fixed. held his hearers spell
hound Not a sound was heard save TIE
Iabored breathing of Senator Aids as
Senator Conger told his story. Aids sat
rnotionIess. his eyes staring at COnger,
His left fist was jami1ed against his
law. half supporting his head His right
fist grasped and crumpled the lapel of
his coat So he remained until Senator
Conger's testimony was finished. just a.
the hour set for adjournment. and a mo-
ton for adjournment was made. Then
he hunChed himself 10 his feet and stag
gered from the room
Senator Conger was called 10 testify
by Mr. Osborne with a fine sense OF
dramatic values. He was the last Wit
ness. and was sent TO the stand at
moment when the Aids lawyers had sue
ceeded first in confusing John Newell.
the witness called 10 cOrrobOrate Hiram
Or Noes testimony regarding his pres
ence here in the capital and then had won
a temporary victory over the Conger
counsel on points of law. He gripped the
arm of his chair hard and swallowed
nervously and cleared his throat while
Mr.. Osborne was asking some prelini-
nary questions. But the name of Aids
seemed TO have a magic effect on him