New-York tribune., 1912-03-06
F|TzHERBERT ON TRIAL
Jersey Senate Hears Testimony
AGAINST One of Its Members.
D. S. VOORHEES, DRAGGED IN
Violent Discussion When De-
PENDANTS Lawyer Brings Foil
itics in Bribery Charge.
[Ry TELEGRAPH 10 The Tribune.

BY IeleSfaph 10 Inc lFlUuHe'J
Trenton. n. j.. March 6.-The triai oi
Senator Richard F'itzherbert, of Morris
County. on charges of conduct unbecomihs
Senator 5efore the entire Senate mere
to-day was marked BY frequent clashes pe-
tween ex-senator William d. Edwards
counsel for Senator Fitzherbert, and At
torney General Wilson. who appeared for
the state. The trial at one time became
so bitter, because Of the apparent purpose
OF Dir. Edwards TO inject politics into II,
that several of the Senator'S jumped 10
their feet and demanded that Edwards
deslst, else they would no longer take part
in the trial
Senator Robert Hand asserted that Ed
wards's questions were so political that
unless he stopped them he would not waste
his time any longer. II was not long after
that Senator Leavitt jumped to his feet
and demanded that the Attorney General
protect State Treasurer Daniel 5. Voorhees,
from the aspersions OF Edwards. Senator
Read also protested against the browbeat-
ing Of Mr.. Edwards"
Edwards tried TO bring out that when
Oscar f. Ostley and Karl Wlsehart the
men who made the charges Of extortion
against Fitzherhert. had talked to Mr..
Edge, the majority leader, and Mr. Voor
hees, It was for the purpose of using the
incident for political purposes. as both Mr..
Edge and Mr. Voorhees, are Republicans.
In this Edwards was unsuccessful.
Karl Wisehart. the newspaper man. who
made the offer OF 5000 to Senator Fitzher-
bert, told OF his visit TO the Morris County
Senator at his home in Dover. He said
he went there at the suggestion OF his city
editor, and in introducing himself TO Eitz-
herbert said he was a friend Of Mr.. osaley,
but was careful to say that lie was in no
way connected with the Commercial Acety-
line Gas Company of New York.
Wisehart said that Fitzherbert told him
that actually there were two men behind
the bill. and that he would see the hackers
OF the bill in a day or two.
IF / bring 5000 to you at Trenton on
Monday" he said. will you take care Of
the blI?" After a long pause Fitzherbert
told him he would think about 1t, as he
wanted to talk it over with the hackers
of the bill He said Fitzherbert told him
he felt the hackers OF the bill would accept
the offer. His conversation with Fitzher-
bert. he said lasted an hour.
On the way from Dover Wisehart said he
stopped OF at Morristown to see State
Treasurer Voorhees,. He said he did not
know Mr.. Voorhees, politics until after hts
visit to his office lie went to see Mr.. Voor-
hees, he said, because Ostley had told him
Ridner had given Mr.. Voorhees, and ex-
Senator Smith as references.
Coming to the conference at the Trenton
House. Mr.. Wisehart said after an hours
talk in general Fitzherbert brought mp the
offer of 5000. He said the Morris County
Senator had agreed to look after the bills
for the 5000
Fitzherbcrt, he said. told him he had seen
the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
and that the chairman had agreed to hold
the bills up.
Did he say that he was sorry that he
nominated Fitzherbert?" asked Edwards.
The Attorney General protested the ques-
ton, but after a plea by Senator Fielder
it was allowed.
Edward L. Cnderhill, Newark reporter
said he was at the original hearing, and
had heard Senator Fitzherbert speak in
favor OF the bills. He read from his notes
OF the original hearing the part relating 10
Senator Fitzherbert's alleged admissions re-
garding his meetings with Wisehart and
Ostley, and his alleged willingness 10 carry
the $500 offer TO the hackers OF the bill.
G. NJ Gottfred. another Newark reporter.
verified Underhills testimony.