The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-03-15
ALLDS DEFENDS HIMSELF
ON WITNESS STAND
Connection With Adirondack Land
Deal Recalled.
YOU'RE HITTING BELOW THE BELT
Deposits Made by Him in 1901 Occa-
sion For Sharp Questioning by
Attorney-Defendan Said Stock
Was Bought For Him.

Albany, N. Y.-Hints that Senator
lothian P. Aids connived with friends
to defraud the State in the purchase
of Adirondack forest preserve lands
were developed in his cross-examina-
lion ON the Conger bribery charges.
The defendant was under fire all
day except for brief respite when
his attorneys recalled Cashier Gale,
of the Groton National Bank, to inn
peach Hiram G. Moe. Conger's coun-
sci spent all their time in assaulting
the accused Senator's character. In
addition to probing his connection
with the purchase of forest lands, the
object of a separate investigation re-
Gently launched by Governor Hughes.
they delved into Aids bank accounts
and tried to prove that $4,000 which
he sent to his New York City brokers
ten days after he was alleged to have
received the $1,000 bride in 1901
could not be traced to an innocent
source. They also arraigned him for
investing in the stock of the New
York Transportation Company short
ly before he helped pass bill which
benefited that corporation and raised
the value of its shares.
Aids testified that the New York
Transportation stock was bought for
him through former Assemblyman
Frank ]. Price and the latter's father,
Colonel Price, and paid for, $500 in
April and $73070 in July of 1900.
Aids admitted that his law firm
received 500 a month as local attor-
neys for the New York Central Rail-
way in his home district. But he
said: "a man doesn't have to quit
practicing law because he goes to the
Legislature.
Aids seemed satisfied with the way
he acquitted himself, but the interro-
cations as to his connection with the
forest land purchases were palpably
unrelished. Once he said in low
tone as Attorney Osborne, the prose-
cutor, came near him.
Now, Jim, you're hitting below
the belt.''
Aids had already testified that he
was employed for five years to search
titles of land bought by the State for
the Adirondack preserve, receiving
about $4,000 in all for his services.
Osborne questioned him about the
States purchase of land from William
Harris, of Worthwhile.
Don't you know that this land was
sold to the State by Harris for Sc an
acre after he had paid fifty cents an
acre for it?" asked Osborne.
Aids replied that his business was
to pass on the validity of the title,
and not on the lands value.
The examination was interrupted
by Senator Grady, who declared that
it had no bearing on the question at
issue.
II intend to show" added Osborne,
"that he (Allds) was bound to discov-
err in searching the titles that this
land was recently acquired and not
worth the price paid by the State"
1.-THE Governor has appreciated that
this question is not germane to this
case" declared Grady, and has or
dered investigation in this particular
matter"
Osborne withdrew his question, but
made Aids admit that, as chairman
of the Assembly Ways and Means
Committee, he had to pass on items
in the supply bill for the purchase of
this land.
Aids denied Osborne's insinuation
that there were many persons around
in Albany in the habit of buying tax
titles to Adirondack lands at the State
Comptroller's sales, and selling them
back to the State at large profit"