New-York tribune., 1910-03-09
THE BRIBERY FUND
Continued from ffrst D"I

/ "ioW ana tf1eu JoCuidl'J
less cross-examiner at times seci'iou ~
be moving away from a trouoiesoii'e '''''
of questions.
But always Mr.. Osborne came odch "
the point and saving the air WITH i''
arm hammered that point home.
An audience of standing room ON!
Size followed developments wi'h 'iie
closest interest. and at times appcdreu
TO be restrained from applause oniy nS
repeated rappings of Chairman DAVIS
gavel.
At the beginning of the day MI Lutte
ton produced and read letter TO Anus
written by Benn Conger on May IL l'oA'
Il contained this sentence;
Conger Thanked Aids.
Personally, I feel under great oollga-
tions TO YOU and Fred [Speaker NlXonl
for what you were able to do for me III
protecting my business interest III the
Rules Committee
The letter in general was one of thanks
to Aids. But Senator Conger's lawyers
! took IL up, and in the hands of Mr.. Os-
borne that sentence assumed entirely
/
viously
First. Mr.. Osborne took up some mis-
celareous matters regarding Senator
/ Allds's bank accounts and a safety de-
posit box. But soon he came down to
the Benn Conger letter to the Acme
Road Machine Company in 1901, which.
by way of Walter Cook. manager of
that concern, brought the Stevens-Malby
legislation to Allds's notice.
Cook, Senator Aids testified on direct
examination, told him there was an at
! tempt being made through Frank Conser
| to collect a Doodle fund to affect legisla-
tion. Under examination to-day
he elaborated that statement to make
it appear that the bridge companies
wanted To pass a certain j. l.. Smith
bill which seemed to them favorable to
their business and to kill the Stevens
MaIby legislation.
You were at that time the leader of
the Republican Majority asked Mr..
Osborne.
Il was" answered Aids.
Did you represent the dignity and
honor of the Republican party on the
floor IN that leadership!
Il certainly did,
Did you take Walter Cook to any
district attorney to have Frank Con-
ger indicted?"
Il did not"
Did you go and talk with Speaker
Nixon and tell him that there was a
corruption fund coming down to Albany
to influence legislation"
Il had no knowledge that there was
any such thing. I do not think So
Source of Information.
In such fashion Mr. Osborne fired his
questions at Senator Aids, who twisted
and squirmed, but answered sufficiently
in detail to give material for further
searching questions. Thus, bit by bit.
Mr.. Osborne got from him an admission
of the fact that he believed the bridge
companies were trying to collect a
doodle fund, which they expected 70
use, If raised. to kill off the Stevens
| MaIby legislation. He learned of all
this. he testified, from his interview with
Cook. Cook was manager of this COM
pany in which Aids was interested, but
|
him as attorney. but as friend.
1.-TWO friends on the very floor of the
House, were you not?" asked Mr.. Os-
borne.
Yes, sir
In the very Assembly chamber"
Yes, sir
Where the money. if it was raised,
u.as going IN be brought to affect the
legislation?'
Il do not know where it was to be
brought"
You knew that the legislation con-
templated TO be affected was either going
to be passed or not passed in the very
body in which you were standing at
that time, didn't you?"
Il did"
And YOU did not go up publicly be-
fore that Assembly and denounce the
proposition, did you?'
No. sir
So Mr. Osborne got from him cumu-
lative testimony of having done nothing
TO disclose this contemplated Doodle fund,
until finally his questions drove the
Aids lawyers to protest.
Il nave right 10 Sedrch his conscience
if he hath a conscience" declared Mr..
Osborne theatrically. II have a right TO
search his record. and l do not wonder
that counsel gets on his feet to sustain
a falling conscience
Aids Gives Names.
Somewhat further along in the cross
examination Mr.. Osborne again ran SEN
ator Aids upon snags. He read to the
witness a letter and a telegram to Sen
ator Platt explaining the position of the
various bridge bills. In the telegram
reference was made To the attitude of
Benn Conger and various bridge men"
A somewhat similar phrase was used in
the letter
These Senator Aids said referred TO
Assemblymen from counties having
bridge companies. Osborne declared his
belief that the words referred to Frank
! Conger or some of the American Bridge
Company people and that Aids could
! have known their views as he repre-
sentcd them TO Platt only by having
talked to them. This Aids denied We
hemently. and finally gave as the names
of the bridge men" Messrs, Cadin
! Gardner. Rodenbeck and J. f. Smith, all
| of the Assembly of 1901
/ IL o,.,,o theco nap,ns only afta, Jo lo,l