New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-28
LWELL-SULZER PLOT
TOLD TO Mr.. WHITMAN
Convicted Senator's Letter
Charging .'Frame-Up" Given
to the District Attorney.
$1,000 CHECK TURNED OVER
Figures in Alleged Exposure of
Legislative Methods-Pardon
Promised if Secrets Were
Kept, Is Assertion.


A "frame-up' to impeach Governor SUI
ger, made at the time OF the trial or Tor
mer State Senator stephen J. Stilwell for
bribery, is alleged in a letter which was
written by Stilwell to the Governor from
| Sing Sing and which was shown to Dis
trict Attorney Whitman yesterday
There was also presented to the District
Attorney a substantial account of the
manner in which Stilwell was prevented
from making confession" by emissaries,
who. according to the convicted Senator,
came from Charles f. Murphy. Of Tam
many Hall. These mysterious callers,
who were said to have visited Stilwell In
the Tombs, persuaded him to remain
silent, with the promise Of a pardon from
acting Governor Glynn when Sulzer was
| impeached.
The information" was placed before Mt
Whitman by Lynn j. Arnold. editor OF
THE Albany Observation-Disclosures who
has been prominent I'm the defence Of the
impeached Governor. and who has ac-
cused Murphy, acting Governor Glynn, AS
semblyman Aaron j. Levy. State Senator
Frawley and others Of conspiring TO re-
move Suzer from office illegally.
Arnold was in conference with the Dis
trict Attorney yesterday afternoon for
several hours. and laid before the Dis
| trict Attorney, II was learned, enough
matter To warrant an investigation by
| the Prosecutors office Yesterdays Visit
was the second made by Arnold. The
arst. ii was learned. took place last week
at the Union League Club. and lasted I'M
! oil 2 o'clock in the morning
StilwelPs statement. which II was said
authortatiyely is now in the District
Attorneys hands. was substantially that
while he was in the Tombs (and rumors
were current that he was TO make con-
fession duplicating his associates two
men called on him. At that time The
Tribune exclusively told Of the visitors,
one of whom gave his name az John
Smith. OF New York"
The plans 10 impeach Sulzer. Stilwell
alleged. were unfolded 10 him In the ef-
fort to impel silence. and he WAS assured
that II he would take his sentence with
out "squealinR." he would be pardoned
by Glynn after Sulzer was removed.
Word first reached Sulzer. Il was said
by NJ Arnold. two weeks ago, when the
Governor received the letter written by
Stilwel while serving his four years
sentence in Sing Sing. This letter. said
Mr. Arnold. told that Stilwell had been
promised a pardon by Murphy. Il
thought owed II to the public service" "
Stilwell is said 10 have written, TO
tell OF the frame-up."
This letter was brought by friend OF
StilwelTs. Colonel william y. Amory.
OF Yonkers. who formerly was secretary
OF the Third Avenue Railway Company.
Sulzer called in his advisers when the
letter was received and refused TO re-
turn II TO Amory.
1T IS too valuable letter" was the
Governor comment
Amory. according TO the Albany edi-
tor. was instructed TO tell Sulwell that
in order 10 get his pardon he must in
form on i've men. his associates. and Sc
cure convictions against them. Even
then. according TO Arnold. Stilwell was
not to receive the pardon until public
sentiment demanded f.
Amory accompanied BY Arnold start
ed from Albany by automobile the next
day after the letter was received and
arrived at Sing Sing the next morning
at or 3 o'clock. In spite OF the hour,
according to Arnold. they were admitted.
and told Sulwell the Governors uiti-
matum
Stilwcl at first denied that he wrote
the letter. Later he admitted having
copied the letter after IL was composed by
some other person. His statement fol-
lowed and copies were given TO Mr.
Whitman.
Circumstantial stories in regard 10 al
legged Illegal transactions involving other
members OF the State Legislature were
also told 10 Mr.. Whitman, il was learned.
The information" was given TO Mr..
Whitman because. I'm one instance, a
check for $500 was alleged TO have been
given Illegally I'm New York County.
This story concerned the efforts made
by former State Engineer to recover
back salary from the state. after sus-
pension and pending trial OH fraud
charge. The engineer. after carrying his
fight for back salary OF Sll.0Io through
three legislatures. finally succeeded In
June OF this year in having his charge
allowed.
The State Engineer was not successful,
according to the account given TO Mr.
Whitman. I'm having his claim allowed
until he approached an AssemHyman to
obtain his influence. The Influence" was
used, It was related. only after the engi-
neer promised to give the Assemblyman
e. 90 NJ the hack salary
The engineer to recoup the 5000 he was
TO pay the Assemblyman was told to
increase his claim to $1,000 This was
done. and In June OF this year, according
10 the account, Governor Sulzer signed
supply bill for the amount.
A copy Of a check for 5000. made by
the engineers lawyer to the engineer. and
Endorsed by the engineer to the Assem-
blyman, was placed In the hands OF Dis
trict Attorney Whitman, 1t was learned.
Mr.. Arnold will see Mr.. Whitman again
this morning. and II the investigation by
the District Attorneys Office develops as
strong a case as Mr.. Arnold asserts. an
Assistant District Attorney probably will
be assigned to the work.
From stan Correspondent OF The Tribune !
Albany. Aug. 21.-Aaron J. Levy, ma
jorlty leader Of the Assembly, said to-
night that he had been told the Sulzer
forces were putting out statements In