Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-20
POKER GAMES
FOR BRIBERY.
Mr.. Hill, Attorney for Bos-
Newspaper, Denies He
Made Charges--Investiga-
ton into Items of the New
Ravens Expense Acct.

Boston, Dec. ia denial that he had
charged representatives of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad with
conducting poker games in which MEM
bers of the Legislature were allowed to
win large sums of money. was made to-
day by Arthur d. Hill, who as attorney
for a Boston newspaper Is examining
witnesses at the Public Service Commits
sion's hearing on certain items appearing
in the railroads expense account.
Mr.. Hill said that he had made no
charges although at yesterdays hearing
he asked Henry e. Bowden, New Ha-
ven agent, If he knew anything about
poker games alleged to have been played
at hotel where Bowden lived.
The denial of Mr.. Hill followed the
statement of William II. Cowlidge, one
of the railroads attorneys, that morn
ing newspaper had published an account
of yesterdays hearing saying that Hill
had charged that poker games had been
conducted as a ''subterfuge for bribery
by employees of the office of Arthur P.
Russell, one of the railroads council.
Suits would be instituted against the pa
per, he said.
Mr. Russell, who was called as a wit
ness, denied all knowledge of any poker
games by either himself or by his en-
ployes for the purpose of taking care
as he expressed it, of members of the
Legislature. He had never heard any
suggestion of such games, he said, until
Mr. Hills questions yesterday.
He said that in the q years he had
been connected with the railroad he had
been careful to be "as discreet as posi-
BILE"
Not only have ] played no poker in
the hotel mentioned" he said, but L
have not even dined there while the Leg
slature was in session."
Charles B. Strecker president and gen.
eral manager of the Financial News, and
Democratic candidate for state auditor
in 1912, said that certain vouchers show
ing payments to him by the New Haven
! Co. represented payments for straight
display advertising matter. He had new
er sold line Of news or editorial space
to any corporation. he said.
Testimony regarding his employment
by the New Haven and the Boston &
Maine was given by Prof.@Bruce Wyman
of the Harvard Law School. His duties.
he said, consisted In making suggestions
| as to the policies OF the companies and
in taking charge of all claims against
the roads that were taken before the In
! terstate Commerce Commission.
The fact that he received retainers
I from the railroads was known by his
students at Harvard and by all of his
! friends.
Questioned regarding his relations with
/ Governor Foss, Professor wyman de-
/ ata hot he had dtccnSead rail-
road matters with the executive. The
! governor, he said, knew of his employ
ment by the railroad.
Clarence w. Barron. who controls the
/ Boston News Bureau, the Philadelphia
News Bureau and other publications.. tes-
titled at the afternoon session that he
| acted as an advertising agent for the
New Haven Road. Witness objected TO
a request that he produce ledger accounts
with the newspapers in which advertis-
ing had been placed. on the ground that
this information might affect the stand
ing of the papers"
The chairman ruled that the informa-
ton was essential to the inquiry. 1t was
estimated that $4,000 worth of New Ha-
ven advertising was placed through the
Barron agencies during six months up to
! last June.
William A. Murphy Of Boston and How
ard w. Kendall Of Springfield, both State
House reporters, explained that work for
which they were paid by the New Haven
was entirely apart from their regular
correspondence. Kendall testified that it
was he who suggested the formation OF
the "Iili Towns Association" in connec-
ton with the movement to favor New
Haven control Of the Western Massa-
chusetts trolley system. The hearing
was adjourned until after the holidays.