The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-12
Connolly to Be Prosecuted
for Perjury, Says LAW
yer Kresel.
ACCUSER ROUNDLY RAKED
Cohalan in Testifying Calls
Him Blackmailer and
Perjurer.

ALBANY. July 1.-THE joint Judiciary
Committee Of the State Legislature de-
cided almost unanimously tonight to
report that Supreme Court Justice Dan.
lei +. Cohalan should be exonerated of
the graft charge brought against him.
John A. Connolly, president Of the
Victor Heating Company, who accused
Justice Cohalan OF dana nding and ac-
cepting 55 per cent. OF the profits of
city contracts which Cohalan got for
that compans. will be accused OF per-
jury In the NSw York city courts as q
result Of testimony he gave at the hear.
ing, according to Isidor j. Kresel Of
counsel for Mr. Cohalan.
The hearing came to an abrupt close
to-day just after Justice Cohalan fin
ished his testimony as a witness for the
prosecution OF the charges against him
self.
That's ALL" said William d. Guthrie,
counsel for the Bar Association OF New
York. which prosecuted the case.
Def-ntre Called M witness.
THE respondent stands on the rec
ord said John b. Stanchfied, coun-
sci for Mr.. Cohalan, and there was a
furor Of excitement in the Senate
Chamber.
Not a witness was called for the de-
fence and yet 1t seemed to be the general
! opinion that the Bar Associations case
| against Cohalan had fallen through
! Mr. Guthrie for the prosecution and
! WSliam Travers jerome for Justice
Cohalan summed up late in the after
noon. They took about half an hour
| each and the joint committee went into
! executive session Immediately.
| For two hours the committee re-
| manned behind closed doors ana then a
| number of members rushed ont To catch
| train or boat for New York city.
| 'It is the sense Of the joint committee
, that the charges against Justice CO.
| halan have not been sustained was the
announcement of Chairman John +.
Murtaugh. He said subcommittee
! Of five consisting of Senator James \.
Foley of New York city and Assembly
man Aaron j. Levy of New York city.
| Democrats. Senator Herbert II. Coates
Of Clinton and Asscmblyman John l..
| sullivan of ChautauQua. Republicans,
and Assemhlyman Michael Schaap of
New York city. Progressive had been
selected To draw up report including
| the findings and a statement of the
! record. which will hc submitted to the
Joint Judiciary Committee at tho next
meeting in Albany at I i. NJ. July is.
Chairman Murtaugh Is an cx officiO
member Of this subcommittee. which
will hold its first meeting at 10 o'clock
Tomorrow morning.
How the Vote stood.
| Twcnty-onc of the twenty-ninc mem
bers of the Senate and Assembly Ju-
dietary Committees attended the 'Xecu-
tive session, and of these II is under-
stood twenty were in favor of dismiss
ing the charge against Justice cohalan.
One member had not heard all the tes-
tmony and wanted more time IN which
, To make ny his mind.
The members of the Senate Judiciary
Committee who We're not AT the scs-
sion are Senators McClelland and Grf-
fin Of New York city, Democrats. and
Senators Brown Of Watertown, Busscy
of Wyoming, Walters Of OnondaGa and
Thomas of Madison, Republicans. The
Assembly committeeman absent were
Donahu" and O'Connor Of New York
city. Democrats and Vert of Clinton.
Republican.
Charles +. Murphy, leader Of Tam
many IIall was not called to testify
in the case bccaus" Mr.. Guthrie of the
l'ar Association did not believe he was
needed.
Il declined to have Mr. Murphy
lnl bur
indcfensible proceeding said MIR.
Guthrie.
John a. Connolly. the accusor of
Justice Cohalan, was held up to view
by both sides as a pitiaklc object. Jus
tice Cohalan in his testimony said he
had accused Connolly to his face Of
being a blackmaiier: Mr.. Stanchfcld
asserted that Connolly was IAN openly
confessed forger. thief and pcrjurcr".
MIR. jerome assaiied him and HIS
shameless contract with the New
York World. and Mr.. Guthrie referred
To him as rotten and bad" shaken in
crediblity" and wretched.
Connolly sat quietly near tho centre
Of the chamber during the morning
session, but was not present when the
opposing counsel summed up the case.
KresrI's Intentions.
"Just leave him to my tender
mcrcics," said Mr.. Krescl, who declared
that he would either have connolly's
admissions Of perjury taken in hand
by the District Attorney or submitted
to a Magistrate. I'm the latter case
Connolly would he held to await the
action of the Grand Jury II the charge
held.
Jus.,.- Cohalan appeared confident of
the outcome of the case all day, TN the
witness stand in the morning he told his
political history and the story OF the