The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-19

your record. II will likely be taken
10 the higher courts anyhow"
We'll Prepares 10 Protest.
Mr.. Wen then related how he pro.
posed az the next hearing OF the case
before the Public Service Commission
at Charleston 10 protest against fur
ther proceedings before that body on
the ground OF the governors interior.
ence. In response to questions pro
pounded by Attorney b. NJ. Amber he
said that he had no more private con.
versauons with any members of the
Commission previous TO the hearing
which was resumed on February 9Th.
In this hearing he planned TO show
that he governor was meddling and
influencing the members of the Com.
mission unduly against the interests
OF the Manufacturers Light 4 Heat
company. He proposed to show at
that time that such was the case. by
the testimony OF Commissioners Og.
den and Bronson. One of his asso-
ciates. w. c. Neil. he testified, heard
some OF the conversations with var.
ious commissioners. but Mr.. Neil Is
now very III in California and will be
unable to act as a witness.
b direct examination OF Mr.. We'll
was then brought to a close and ed.
Journment taken for luncheon.
Afternoon Session.
When the case opened at ? o'clock.
before h TOSS examination OF Mr..
Wen was started. Captain Avis stated
that he desired to make a statement
concerning the wide cast report sent
out concerning a question he asked
Mr.. Wen on Wednesday. The state,
ment appears above
Judge Holt then took up the cross
examination OF Attorney Well. He
was asked concerning his knowledge
OF the frame-up or employment of
Guy Biddinger by Governor Hatfield.
The witness said that his only know
ledge OF this alleged frame-up, was
what biddinger had tofd him.
q Then your knowledge on lnis
matter is h~earsay?
A. No. IL is based upon what Bid
dinger told me.
v. was your suggestion Of a
trame-up made in response TO Captain
AVIS statement to you. | do not re-
call the way this was brought about
A. i do not recall. clearly. myself.
q. At the time you gave your in
structions TO Biddinger. was Il your
Intention to have Biddinger cali ON
Governor Hatfield with the dictaphona
records. and induce the governor TO
testify that he had coerced the com
m-issionersf
A. I did not have any idea OF so
doing at that time.
q. Was IL your intentionto have
the governor make hat position clear
in a speech?
A. We intended to show that we
had the evidence in the matter.
- was IL your intention through
Biddinger to ave Governor HatneI1
take this position.
A. IL was my intention to have
Biddinger inform the governor that
We had the evidence. We hoped IN
nave him make those admissions So
we might use them.
q You thought he was conceaung
the truth for political advantages?
A. did.
Q: That is what you meant by your
tenth instruction to B%iddinger?
A. Yes. sir.
Y. AZ a time when Mr.. Price. Am.
bier and McCamic were present AZ
your Office / understood YOU 10 say
yesterday In reply TO a statement nv
General Elliott that he was satisfied
10 get the commissioners to saw the
whole truth that our would
make no propositions 10 them what.
ever. Is that you reply?
A. Substantially so
Y. Not yesterday. but when Won
talked to General Elliott didn't Won
say h a in ease the commissioner
told the truth and lost their positions
mat you would be willing TO do some.
thing for them7
A. l think not.
Eillott's Instructions
q. In response given TO a question
propounded by Mr.. Amber. I believe
you said that the only Instruction.
given to General Elliott were the ones
gwen in the presence Of Price. Am.
bier and McCamic. II that true9
] A. That's true.
O. Did you refer 10 the instrpc.
lions dictated to your stenographer.
Lovejoy?
a. Exactly.
q. And as I recall. you said in re.
Spouse TO a question that YOU never
gave anyone authority 10 attempt ia
bribe the Public Service Commission
A. ] did not-that IS a fact.
Y Then ] am to suppose that you
never gave him any instructions az
10 authority or otherwise to make any
proposition to the commissioners
other than the time Of the meeting be.
fore Price. Amber and McCamic2
A Correct.
q After the d-etectaphone records
had been delivered 10 you and the
Misunderstanding arose. after that
time didn't you authorize Biddinpcr
10 tell General Elliott that he wou<
be paid $1,000 for his services n no
obtained a statement from the com.
m~issiOners. and hat you would be
willing TO pay them $4,000 In conse.
quence that they lost their positions
for 90 te%stifyinR7
Feel Friendly Toward Them.
A 7 did 70 authorize him. with the
explanations 7 made yesterday. that
n such testimony was given that the
company would feel friendly towards
thom 7 also told Riddinrer that he
must tell General Elliott not 10 make
any oner 10 the commissioner. that
because 81 hir blundor no fHIddInqarI
had placed Elliott in an outrageous
position.
d ErnaraT ErI.ff ..r.H