Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-13
Hurley Names a
 Bridgeport Man
SAYS JOHN A. JUDGE OFFERED
 HIM BRIBE
MADE TWO PROPOSALS
One Was to Vote For Macdonald For Highway commissioner-other Was to Be Absent at Time of Vote.

Hartford, Conn, Feb. 12@senator John Hurley of Waterbury, before the special senate Investigating committee today named John A. Judge of Bridge port as the man who had offered him $500 to absent himself from the senate chamber the day the vote was to be taken upon the confirmation of w. H. Caldwell of New Britain for highway commissioner. He also cited meet road station and alleged that the lat ter offered him half his salary if he would vote for James H. Macdonald for highway commissioner.
 Newspapermen Present.
 The hearing was held in the senate anteroom and upon motion of MT. Peck, seconded by MT. McDonough, newspapermen were permitted to be present.
 Senator IsbeH of New Haven. chaig- man of the special committee conduct ed the hearing and the other mem bers, Senators McDonough and Peck, asked frequent questions.
 Senator Isbeu opened the hearing by asking Senator Hurley to tell what he knew about the charges he had made
 Senator Hurley replied
 Met Him Twice at Hotel.
 Well, sir after the steering com mittee had been organized I first met the man in the Hotel Taft. He ap preached me and asked How long will you be upstairs? I told him I did not know how long. He said he would like to take me out to dinner when l came down. He made no attempt to offer me money then.
 T met him there again a second time at a meeting of the steering com mittee, and he asked me if I knew anything about the highway commits sionership, and how it was coming out. I told him l knew nothing about it. He came to Waterbury after that -sev- era1 times to inquire into city bus mess and wanted to know if could not help him get his material used by the city. I told him I would see some of the people there in his. interests.
 Offered Half His Salary.
 Coming to Hartford one day, I saw him get off the Bridgeport train. ator McDonough and Matthew T. Phe- Ian of Waterbury. now a messenger of the senate. I introduced him to Sem ator McDonough and MT. Phelan. He house tossee me. asked Whats on , He then called me to one side and offered me part of his salary if I would vote to retain MT. Macdonald in of flee. After leaving the station I told both Senator McDonough and MT. Phe- Ian about this, and asked them if they thought 1t was coming out of his sal ary or out of the firm.
 "A few days later I saw him outside the door of the senate and he beck oned to me. I went out and he called me to one side. He said he would give me $500 if I would absent myself from the senate chamber on the day that the Caldwell nomination came up for confirmation. I said No. I don't think I could do that, John He addz ed that he would pay my expense out ,f %Oxu A lii r>@iv 1,DT- came up and asked me if I was going to lunch. Telling him to wait mo- ment I turned and said: No. I would sooner sit in my seat and vote for MT. Macdonald before the whole Senate.'
 Identity Disclosed.
 Q. What is his name?"
 A. John Judge.,
 Q. Where does he liver"
 A. T think in Bridgeport. He Is doing business with Warren Brothers of Boston
 Q. What day did he call at the senate chamber?
 A. q could not remember
 Q. Was there anyone else beside Phelan with you when MT. Judge made you this offer 2"
 A. Not nearer than the senate door. About ten or twelve feet
 Thinks PheIan Overheard.
 0. Was there anyone else in sight that you knew?''
 A,
 0. What is the date when he ap- preached you in Waterbury?'
 A, About the second week after we had convened"
 e. Did Mir. Phelan hear what MT. Judge said to you outside the senate chamber? ?'
 A. T think Phelan heard. Even Mir. Thoms of Waterbury remarked that he was after me and asked who he was.''
 Senator Peck then asked: Who is this man Judge? Is he acquainted with the highway commissioner understand that MT. Macdonald uses some of his material in road building"
 Macdonald Sent Clerk to Him.
 0. You remember MT. Macdonald sent an ernploye of his to you
 A, Yes; he sent Nichols, his clerk" :"
 Q, Have you had any road bus mess in Waterbury in connection with MT. MacDonald?'' ?''
 A. '.No, but I did see Macdonald about year age in behalf of 8 friend
 Q. Yet he sent his clerk to you in the senate p
 A "YeS.'
 0. That was in close proximity to the visit of MT. Judge
 A. "Yes.'
 Q. >..Did that not suggest to you that MT. Macdonald and MT. Judge ndQ some 1nttitStS loSGl1fc1
 A. Yes"
 Had No Use for, Macdonald.
 e. What did you say to Nichols ?"
 A. "eVit. You go back and tell the highway commissioner that l have no use for him."
 Q. Did the highway commissioner send any messenger to you after that ?'
 Senator McDonough then asked: Can you conceive any reason to cause the highway commissioner to send for you?"
 Ar cannot think of any,.
 Q-"Did you know. where MT. Judge came from before he came for you in the senate ?"
 A-ssNo; but have an idea.''
 Senator Isbe1l then asked: When did Mr. Nichols come to see you?
 A--sNichols came to see me before the talk with MT. Judge in the capitol. But I can't say that it was the same day, although I think it was the same week
 Messereer RheIan Testifies.
 Matthew T. Phelan of .Natsrhury. .