New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-08
Makes Public Letter Charging
Arrest of Kendall for Al
legged Attempt at Brib-
cry in Virginia.
HALT IN THE PROCEEDINGS
Kendall Declares That He Was
Exonerated in Magistrates
Court in Richmond, and
Accuses Business Rival
of Similar Crime.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune

Albany, April Before George II
Kendall. president of the New York
Bank Note Company. could testify to-
day at the beginning of the inquiry 10y
the Senate Judiciary committee into
his charges that Senator stephen j.
Stilwell had tried To eXtort $500 from
him. the newborn inquiry was halted
hy counsel for Stilwcll He declared
10 the committee and Attorney General
Carmody. acting as its counsel, that he
had that minute received important in
formation which would have an i'm
portant bearing on the case. He wanted
an adjournment TO discuss this matter
with his client.
This information. il transpired, came
ia the form Of letter which alleged
that Kendall many years ago had been
arrested in Virginia charged with try
ing to briba legislators there. Stlwel
and his lawyers eagerly seized on this "a
the most concrete thing they could get
10 discredit the accuser. II has be-
come corridor gossip here that a large
part of the defence IN this case viii be
counter attack or the man who says
Stllwcll tried to blackmail him.
Kendall tonight declared that moth
ing like this letter could keep him off
TIE witness stand. He had discussed Il
with Attorney General Carmody, who
had talked with StilWelrs lawyer about
It, Kendall said that court records IN
Richmond proved that not only had he
never been arrested or convicted of any
improper action in the Incident referred
to. but the American Bank Note Com
pany his business opponent. had been
guilty Of practical bribery.
Mr. Kendsl's Story.
In 1881. Mr.. Kendall said, the state
Of Virginia was about To- issue s2L0oo,
CDu Of bonds lie applied. he said, for
an opportunity 10 bid on the printing,
receiving from :. Brown Allen, First
Auditor of State, telegram reading.
'If dealings fail with the parties We
are now negotiating with. will send for
YOU" This. he said. he took to mean
that they did not care to have him
bid on the work. but he went 90 Rich
mond nevertheless ana put in a bid.
His figures proved when the bids were
opened to be about one third or one
half the bid of the American Bank Note
Company. he went on. so an award
was made To him. At the same time.
he was told there would be much
trouble over the contract but he went
ahead with the work.
Before departing" he said. Il was
told that the trouble consisted of the
fact that the American Bank Note
Company had already advanced Ma
hone 5000 for its expected receipt.
Senator Malone was the Republican
party leader. ] was told that there
were other considerations which ac-
counted for the great difference be-
tween our prices.
AFTER my return to New York was
inlOliIl'u ~ H'Viii s.'iN w. - - r-'N''N
the American Bank Note Company that
il set foot in Richmond again would
bc arrested. I conferred with an 10
torney there by letter. He assured me
that II Was probably true. As soon as
the correspondence with the said at
torncy ceased |. in pursuance OF an ar
rangement with him. Immediately put
ON nv hat and at q o'clock made my
appearance in the magistrates court
and demanded that If there were any
rapcrs in which my name was connect
ed they he served then and there The
iudge said that there were no ptoois
of any attempts on my part To have
bribed anybody, but that the proofs
were that the American Bank Note
COMPANY had advanced the money To
pay Mahones ) cspitation tax "hich IS
81 head in Virginia, for the privilege
of voting