The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-09


name OF the man who claims he paid
Senator johann p Aids $1,000 TO help kill
certain bridge legislation was exploded
in the state senate to-day during the trial
Of the Conger charges. The man himself
was produced and was on the witness
stand when the senate adjourned at 5
o'clock until tomorrow afternoon at
O'Clock. when the trial will be resumed
This man Is Hiram G. Moe. He has
been an employee Of some one OF the Con-
gers since he was seventeen years old. and
he now lacks year Of three-score, He
IS a man Of medium height. thin and
nervous. His hair is gray. He walks
briskly and talks with q tremor OF doubt
or fear. His business training was under
the guidance OF one or more OF the Con-
ger brothers, either in the bank OF Gro
ton, in which the Congers had controlling
interest. or in the numerous bridge COM
panies controlled by the Congers.
At the time he says he paid Aids the
money, Moe was private secretary to
Frank Conger, the active member Of the
Conger family in the bridge business, and
a brother OF Senator Ben Conger. who
made the charges against Senator Aids.
The bribery is alleged 10 have taken place
on April q. 1901 Frank Conger died early
in 1902
Nee, under oath. to-day in the open
senate. testified that he left Groton.
Tompklns County, on April %, 1901 and
reached Albany that night with $500 in
currency, which was given him by Frank
Conger IN Groton. At the direction of
Senator Benn Conger. he swears. $4,000
OF this money was placed IN one envelope
and sealed and the name Of the assem- /
blymen who was 20 get it written on the
back by Moe, who then placed $1,000 IN a
second envelope and sealed 1t, and $1,000
in a third envelope. which also was
sealed.
Wrote Names on Envelopes.
The names Of the two assemblymen
who were to get the money were written
by Moe on the back or the respective
envelopes at the dictatlon OF Senator
Conger. Moe swears these sealed en-
velopes were handed by him to the three
assemblymen for whom they We're in
tended. and that Senator Aids got one
of the envelopes containing $1,000. Who
got the other two envelopes was not d.
vulged, and Conger's attorneys stated
that they would not make known their
names unless the senate requested il or
counsel for Aids insisted upon it. Sena-
tor Bracket made it plain that the other
two names should not be brought into
the proceedings, as they would be unable
20 protect themselves IN these proceed
ings.
Moe declared Senator Conger introduced
him to the man whom he paid the $1,000
envelope, and also introduced him 10
Senator Aids but that Senator Conger
did not see him hand the S1,ooo In the
envelope TO the third assemblyman.
Noes story Of how the $500 was fixed
Up in Conger's apartments was graphic.
Moe carried the money in the envelopes
in his pocket to the capitol. Meeting
Aids IN the capitol, Senator Conger is
alleged TO have said 10 Moe: This Is
Assemblyman Aids coming now" and
Moe and Conger approached the then as
semblyman.
Joe. this IS the representative OF roy
brother Frank" Senator Conger IS al
legged to have said, and Moe claims he
then said TO Aids:
Mr.. Aids. Mr.. Conger told me to give
you this amount" handing Senator Aids
the envelope.
Said 1t Felt All Right.
According TO Noes story, before Aids
put the envelope in his pocket. ne felt it
and said:
Il guess it's all right; at least It feels
So"
Referring TO the name upon the en-
veIope containing the $1,000 and the en-
velOpe, besides that OF Senator Aids
containing 1890. James ". Osborne, Of
Conger's counsel said
These names we do not intend TO dis
close unless we are asked for them. in
which case the names will be disclosed.
If any Senator's curiosity leads him 10
ask that question we are prepared 10
answer II, but we do not think it neces-
saTy in this case to say one word beyond
the charge which we make. When our
witnesses are on the stand and anybody
Easires 10 know from the witness the
two names on the envelope not now d.
vulged his curiosity will be satisfied"
Moe stated that Senator Conger had
him in Albany during the sessions of
legislature last winter. acting as clerk of
the committee on trades and manufac-
lures at a salary Of S a day. Senator
Conger is chairman Of this committee
The committee hardly ever meets.
StumbIes on Concentration.
Under cross-examination by Martin W.
LlttletOn Moe found himself unable 10
locate the committee room OF anything
regarding its proceedings. It took him
few minutes to recall just what the
name OF the committee was.
Mr.. Osborne asked as to the first thing
he did on the morning following the
night he arrived at Senator Benn Con-
gers private apartments with the $500
in cash.
Just as soon as I got up the next
morning 1 counted the money to see II It
gas all right" replied Mr.. Moe.
Mr.. Osborne asked him If he was sure
the assemblyman he gave the envelope
TO containing the $1,000 in April. 1901, was
the present respondent, Aids.
Mr. Moe looked Senator Aids squareIy
in the eye. The senator grinned.
Yes, I'm sure IT'S the same Senator
Aids" replied Mr.. Moe
And you are certain he is the man
you handed the envelope to containing
the $lO00?" asked Mr.. Osborne
Il am sure" answered Moe