New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-24
STILWELL'S PLEA
RO|LED BY RECORD
Continued from first page.

own defence, argued that as restitu-
tion had been made the Appellate Di-
vision could not punish him by sus-
pending his professional privileges for
his action as referee.
Both Mr.. Moore and Senator Nc
Clelland jumped to Stilwelrs rescue at
this point, but they were overruled by
Justice Seabury. and Mott, with the
air of man who has many more bull
let's in his gun. dropped that case and
took up the record of Stilwelrs con-
nection with Daniel S. Decker.
Stlwell denied that he had been in
partnership with Decker, although ad-
hitting that he had engaged him to
look after certain legal matters, and
admitting also that their connection
had gone into certain records under the
firm name of "Stilwel & Decker"
Il never considered il a partnership
said Stlwel
After Decker died, did his widow,
Margaret Decker. sue you for her hus-
bands share of certain profits Of the
firm" Mott asked.
Stilwell was forced to admit that
such a suit had been fled against him.
and. further. that his answer to the
suit had been filed as recently as Oc-
tober. 1911. The Senator was blazing
with anger by the time Nott had prod
ded him with these past-raking ques-
tions. but his temper was like that Of "A
trapped animal-he had no chance
against the dusty records that Mott
produced 10 smother him.
The "ffteen" telegram. which the
prosecution claims referred to the num-
Der of hundreds of dollars demanded
through the Assembly Codes Commit
tee. and which Stilwell claims referred
only 10 the number of members on As
sembly Codes. was the chief basis Of
attack.
Mott wanted to know if Stilwell
didn't have a copy Of the Assembly
Directory'-th pamphlet which Ken
dali says Stilwell gave him a copy of
in his New York office.
mo. l didn't / kept all my legisla-
tive matter at my house, not at my
Office" returned Stilwell.
The jurors apparently took the keen
est interest in Motifs exposure Of Still
wells past record. and one after an
other they heckled the already harried
witness for more definite details on the
admissions vrung out Of him by Mott.
When the ordeal was over his counsel
did not bother him with any redirect
examination. and both counsel and wit
ness defendant seemed more than re-
lieved when he left the stand.
AS 10 the meeting in Stilwel's New
York office. at which Kendall testified
the Senator had talked plainly about
$500 for each of four Senators" and
about the money that would be neces-
sary to get il through the Assembly
Stilwell entered specific denials 10 eacn
accusation. adding that Kendall him
self had preached the subject Of posi-
BILE brides in the Assembly. and he,
Stilwen, had pooh poohed the idea and
told him there was nothing To it, He
denied also that he had received any
part of the $3.50 which Kendall gave to
Lewis for drafting the bill.
John POpp, the clerk Of Suilwel's
committee, for whom the District At
torney's Office had been searching for
two weeks. appeared as witness for
the defence yesterday morning. His
evidence in itself threw no light on
the question Of attempted bribery, but
the records of the Senate Codes Com
mittee. which ne produced, brought out
the fact that some one had tempered
with the written record.
Popp said that he kept no record OF
the attendance at committee meetings,
and no record of the vote on matters
before the committee. He explained
that he received the blank book from
the Clerk Of the Senate. and returned
it 10 him at the end of the session
II appeared that on the report OF
the Kendall bill some one had written
the word Amended" but that the word
had afterward been partially erased.