The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-16

for Aids put handwriting expert on
the stand who testified that the check
and the two drafts connected with the
distribution OF the $1,000 fund in Albany
had been put through an acid. and the
check stub and draft book altered. Dea-
con Moe testified he drew check for
$500. for which &c got two 5000 New
York drafts and $500 in cash at the Morton
Bank before he started for Albany al the
close of the session in 1901 with his bride
fund. As offered In evidence the check
stub read:
No. "a. April = 1901.
To Il c. Moe.
/ -Four lDfts.l on New York, 500.
Cash, 500.
Albany matter.
Bridge Company.
Amount u checks. $50.
The handwriting expert was Albert r.
1 Hamilton, OF Auburn, who said he was
chemist and microscopic, and had prsc-
ticed as such in the courts for the past
/ twenty-five years.
/ II examined this check Stub" testified
Mr. Hamilton. "and l find that the s. on
the abbreviation DTS and the 5000 and
the Cash $500 and the Albany matter
were written on the check stub within
the last six months. 1 also discovered
that the Amount of check item was
originally written $780, and that tie first
cipher in the $500. as It appears now on
the check, had been changed to "a"
According to Mr.. Hamilton's testimony.
this stub. as written By Moe on April -.
1901, read as follows;
No. 2. April 2. 1901
To II G.. Noe
For DIT. New York.
Brdge Company.
Amount Of check. SEQ.
Mr.. Hamilton explained the methods
| employed by him to reach these concur
sions. and he declared that the changes
in the Moe check stubs, as indicated. were
Of recent origin. while the tests showed
that the check STUB as originally written
by Moe. had been written between five
and ten years ago. nearer ten than five.
Draft Book DoctOred.
7 examined the Groton Bank draft
book, further testified Hamilton, and
I discovered that it indicated two $500
drafts had been issued 10 Moe, out thst /
the second draft had originally been en- |
tered at $780, and the . afterward |
changed TO cipher making it read
S3,Ooo- This last alteration was made by |
scratching out the FIVE and substituting /
the cipher instead Of having been chang
ed chemically"
Mr.. Lttleton declared tonight that the |
stub and check had been originally drawn /
for the business purpose of the Groton |
Bridge Company. and that the alterations
4va Fal hus TsaT
a view of connecting them with the 1901 |
Doodle fund, which Moe says he dis |
tributed to Nixon, Barnett. and Aids.
Evidence Against Defense.
The prosecution brought out what they
considered was one of the finds of the 4
investigation when they showed that 4
Aids. while senator, had acted as at /
torney for the Albany Argus Company in
It's claim fled with the State Court of 4
Claims against the State for SS4,705. This /
claim was fled In 1905, and the award /
was made in the spring of 1909 for 50, 200, /
the case having been compromised with /
out trial The claim was for state
printing
George 7. Kelley. an Albany attorney, |
was associated with Aids, and the firm /
of Aids & Follett had done legal work |
in connection with this claim. Senator 1
Aids bank account in May, 1909, showed |
a deposit Of $500 and it was this item |
that led TO Mr. Osbornes discovery OF |
the Argus claim. Mr.. Osborne's Ques- /
tioning brought out the fact from Sena |
tor Aids that this 1890 was part of the |
fee he got from the Argus litigation. |
Senator Aids testified that he and Mr..
Kelly got fee of 5000. of which Senator /
Aids retained about $500, and that his /
fee was paid to him in cash by Edward /
Murphy, the son of former United States
Senator Edward Murphy. jr., of Troy,
VINO is vice president Of the Argus COM
pany Mr.. Osborne asked Senator Aids |
a score Of questions. with a view of !
having him admit that he should not.
with propriety, be interested in legisla-
ton which would help litigation in which
he was concerned; that he really had
not been employed for his legal services.
but because Of his personal influence in
the legislature and the Court of Claims.
and that, as a matter of fact, his name
did not anywhere appear as attorney of
record in the case, nor had he, as a
matter of fact. done any legal work in
connection with il.