Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-05
OsTBY CHILLED
At Fm|TzRERBERT
TRIAL IN SENATE
,contiausd from First Paxe.)

bout the proLoSed introduction OF tn
Acetylene bills and asked if he could
not strike a proposition with MI.
Os,py to prevent the introduction o.
the bills.
Ostby said he knew Ridner as j. Z.
Ridner. not as Geo. 5. he dec- areI
that Ridner told him the bills could b.
gotten out vi the way ior a reasondpie
consideration. This testimony Was
brought out on direct examination by
Mr.. Gaskili.
During Ostby direct examination
Fitzherbert took notes in a leisureiy
ann
Senator Gebhardt interposed when
President Prince did not sustain an
objection by Mr.. Edwards. Senator
Gebhardt did not think tn $ was fair
and said the trial ought to be carried
on in a legal way.
Senator Edge at this point said the
Senate ought to be consulted on every
technical po.nt. and said mat Dr.
PRIME was not a judge, but the entire
nat was his Judge. He declared
that technicalities would not be con-
ssdered seriously anyway.
The thing TO which Edwards OBJECT
ed was the statement made by ostoy
that Ridner kept On holding out TOT
a price
senator Fielder said hat there was
no intention to impede the progress OF
the trial. but that question should Dc
allowed.
The answer was finally struck out
at General Wilson'S sugges-
ton.
ostby then told his story, creating
amusement when he said Ridner
asked 81, 500 for killing the bills.
Ostby testified that $500 would go to
himself and $1,000 to the senators. he
also informed him. said Ostby, that the
bill was then n the judiciary commit
tee. which is composed of
Edge. Read and Fielder.
Ostby then told of the conversation
with Senator Fitzherbert in the Iren-
ton House, this city. the morning OF
February 2, between 1888 and 3 o'clock.
NJ. Il. Wishart was present ut this
meeting between Fitzherbert and
Ostby.
Witness Their declared that Wishart
asked F. tzherbert that if he gave F.tz-
herbert 5000 would he fix it up. Ostby
said ~Fitzherbert agreed. Fitzherbert
at this point watched osthy intently.
Ostby declared that Fitzherbert told
him he had seen the packer of the
Bill and had settled matters.
Not Disclose BackeF.s
According to witness. Fitzherbert
never told him who the hacker of the
bill vas Witness says both bills.
Senate 70 and Ito. were considered in
this conversation
What did the senator propose TO
Go?" asked Gaskill.
ITO kill both bills for $4,000 said
witness.
On cross-examination Edwards asked
Ostby about his home life.
Ostby objected and appealed to DR..
Prince. The chair asked the reason for
the question
Edwards said he proposed to show
he sort of man osthy was; bring out
hs cast life-a divorce suit n his
h.eral reputat on. Senator Isaac F.
Nichols objected to bringing in such
evidence as 1t was and I'M
a gnifed.
President Prince sustained the objee-
ion made by Senator Nichols.
Senator Fielder thought that such
idence may be useful to the Senate
md affect The testimony of the wit
ness.
Attorney-General Wilson declared
hat the only thing to effect the credi-
bility of the witness was the question
were you convicted of crime" That
8 all that was pertinent in the mind
Of Wilson.
Edwnrds's Question Not Allowed.
Edwards said he did not wish to
show that he was convicted of crime
yet but that his troubles may have
unbalanced his mind. Mr.. Edwards's
question was not allowed.
Edwards's remark as to Ostby's "un-
balanced mind" created laughter.
Cross-examining witnesses. Edwards
was very careful in asking witness to
ocate exactly the company's plant in
Harrison.
Edwards brought out that Ostby was
he first to ask Ridner how much It
Hould cost.
0sthy said he did this because ne
Wanted to land Ridner where he be-
onged.
Then you started out to be a sher-
ock Holmes?"
mo-"
Which were you most interested in
killing the bill or forming a plot for
Sherlock Holiness"
Trying to Run Down BIackrnaiI Plot.
II was not interested in a plot. |
YES interested in running down this
~oiaekmailing plot" replied witness.
Ostby declared that he would not
rave paid Ridner one penny. Com
nodore E 1. Benedict will stand in
back to mbe in this. too"
The commodore is heavily interested
n the Commercial A~cetylene Company.
ostby on the stand said he had COM
%nunicated to Senator Edge the result
If his talk will Fitzherbert, and that
he had met Senator Edge ono before
he bill was introduced.
This first meet ng took place in the
obby of the Windsor Hotel.
Ostby said he asked Edge If hold-up
rames were permissible in New Jersey.