New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-24
SCUDDER HEARD
WILLETT RUMORS
Discussed with Him Re
ported Nomination Buy
ing, Justice Says.
TAKES STAND
IN BRIBE TRIAL
Brother of Defendant Admits
Issuing Bad Check, but Says
He Hoped to Make Good.

Justice Townsend scudder testified yes
terday in the trial OF william Willett' IT,
I'm BROOKLYN. that the rumor that Willett
had used money TO get his nomination 10
the bench had reached him within TWO
days after the Democratic judiciary con-
ventlon had met. October 6, 1911. justice
Scudder sat as committing magistrate
in Long Island City on November 2 ana
after a hearing held Willett for the
Queens Grand Jury.
Justice scudder was called to the stand
by the defence yesterday afternoon 10
testify as to the character OF MT Wiliet''
lie said that he had known Mr.. Wiliett
for fifteen years prior to the fall OF 1911
and that he knew him to have been or
good character.
Did you ever talk with MI. Wlietl
about the charge that he had bought MS
nomination." asked District Attorney
Cropsey.
Yves; two days after he was nominated
he came to see me at court. invited
him to take n seat on the bench with me
and congratulated him. Then | told MIN
OF the dsagreeable rumors | had hea'u
that money had been used In connection
with securing his nomination ana salu
that did not suppose they were true.
1.-The truth is nothing like as bad as
the talk he replied"
This was only day or two after ne
heard the rumors?" demanded Mr.. Crop
sey.
Eyes: was in a hotbed of the rumors'
when did you talk with him again
about the charges"
81 talked with him again about the
charges on November ., the first day sat
as n committing magistrate in his case
lie came 10 me and said that he wanted
the hearings 10 be conducted publicly and
not privately and that he wanted every
one to hear all. lie visited me again
while I was in chambers on November D,
1911, and said:
"'Judge, you seem TO think / did this
7 did not give cent for my nomina-
ton. but | knew the people | was deaiihg
with. | knew that no man could get the
nomination in Queens County who dld not
show he had the money. ! drew the
money to show had it, but intended 10
keep it and spend 1t on my campaign IN
my own way.
Marinus Willett. brother of the defend
ant. and at the time OF the nominating
convention an officer of the Automooile
Building Company, admitted on the stand
Yesterday afternoon that the concern was
Milling up a deficit at the rate OF $4,000
wear in the fall Of 1911. IL was the stock
of this concern that William Willett, Jrr
bought from Louis T. Walter tr' FOR
81. 600 lust before the judiciary conven-
ton. lie also admitted that on OCTOBER
o3. 1911. he gave a check for the sum or
a.. 600 TO Jarvis Hicks, manager OF the
Corn Exchange Bank, Of Long lslani
CITY. TO meet a note OF his brothers for
that amount. The check was drawn on
the National Bank of Far Rockaway,
where he had an account of sfO5 Is.
Did you know that you did not nave
81. 900 at the Ear Rockaway Bank at
that time?" asked Mr.. Cropsey
Eyes, I did" returned the witness
did you tell Mr. Hicks that the check
you gave him was no good?'
"That would have been foolish. as he
would not have taken it then l hoped
to make the check good by the time 1t was
presented for payment"
lie failed - do so, and went TO Frank
p Merrill Of Freeport, Long Island, the
| original payec, to make new loan for
his brother At this time William Will
lett. tr.' bank account amounted to ST "a,
though a day or two later he assured
Surrogate Herbert #. Ketcham, OF Kings
County, and Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci p. r. Callahan that he had $4,000 in
! his safe.
Willett on the stand last evening In
telling of a meeting with Callahan, Nc
Cooey and Ketcham, declared that Sur
rogate Ketcham, when informed OF tho
charges which were being brought against
Willett. said: why. that's nothing; I
drew out 81 1000 myself when l was nomi-
mated for Surrogate"
| McCooey, who was called to the stand
| Immediately after this testimony, denied
| having heard any such remark by
| Ketcham. The Surrogate will be recalled
! to-day and examined on this point. Will
| lett was on the stand for more than three
hours. He denied that he had paid for
his nomination. The summing up will be
finished this morning and the case will
probably go TO the jury by noon
4