The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-18

ence, then he may have oyerstepped
the bounds Of propriety. but that he
had erred on the right side in his anN-
iety TO protect his people from what
ne conceived to be wrong and OBJ
pressive.
Such a statement as this would
make political capital out OF this
whole story for the Governor. instead
OF against him, and turn the tables
on his enemies. OF course, IL would
make the best possible proof for us
on which TO ask the courts TO set
aside the decision OF the commission,
and, II the story Is true. OF course
That viii be done anyhow, as the COM
missioners or the Governor would not
dare TO deny the story II placed upon
the witness stand. All OF this Is upon
the assumption that the story is true
Was indignant.
MI Well then said that he told his
stenographer to hand a copy OF the
Instructions to Biddinger. He told the
court. in answer to a question by Mr..
Amber. that he did not know where
Biddinger is now or where he claimed
his home. He said he telephoned Bid.
dinger to come TO his Office, and that
he and Mr.. Hockberg came. Later. he
said, Biddinger returned with the die.
tagraph records; be said that when
he read the offers were made to the
commissioners that he was highly
indignant"
Well said that he told Elliott that
the dictaphone records would not be-
used. The witness further stated that
when he read the records and then
talked TO Biddinger. he told him that
his actions regarding the commission
ers were intolerabie. He said he
sWore at him and told him that he
put General Elliott in n bad light.
The witness admitted that he said
that in case the commissioners lost
their positions while testifying in IA
Vor Of the gas company. that it was
only fair and proper that they should
be given some consideration.
5iddinser Not Authorized.
He said that he did not authorize
biddinged to make any offer Of money
10 the commissioners. We'll said that
Biddinger asked him CWenJ il he
could tell General Elliott that in case
me commissioners lost their jobs that
there would be recommendation
made To the company for their en-
H@'a AAA'ANs Nv MAANtEE NuINnfI SAID
that he told Biddinger to communi-
cate to General Elliott the fact that
II he were not satisfied with condi.
tons 20 leave them as they existed AZ
that time. He denied. rigidly. that he
had ever authorized the Offering of
any money 10 the men.
The witness continued BY saving
that he told BiddinEer not to make
any offers as the company would not
stand for Il. Then he did Just what
the defendants had been waiting for.
He said that he told Biddinger II the
men testified to the truth and lost
their jobs that he would recommend
that the company pay them $4,000.
He said that this was a recommended.
tion, but not an offer. as he had no
authority 10 make any offers 10 any
one.
Well said that he told Biddinrer he
could convey that information 10 Gen.
eral Elliott II he wanted to. lie ties.
tined that he had never made the offer
and that II they were made he knew
nothing Of them He said that through
his recommendation General Elliott
received the sum Of 5000 for his ser
vices and expenses lie said Elliott
was later given $3.50
Mr. Amber What was the next de-
velopment?
Answer. "BiddinFer and Hocnburr
left the office" Furthermore the wit.
ness testified that Elliott had been
seen and was ratisned. At this point
In answer 10 question. the witness
said that he had been reading from
the paper only 90 refresh bis memory
confers Win Detectives.
The witness then said that on No.
vrmber f6. Meszrs. Biddiuppr ana
HochburE came 10 his Office. Senator
=. T.. Knox was there az the time AZ
this time he testified that Biddinerr
tried t0 square himself concerning tho
'blunder" made in Offering the com.
missiOners tho money he said that
he went 10 New York To- confer win
The Burns Agency concerning this Of.
Ter While there no tcIczraphod 70
General Elliott fo come 90 New YORK
The witness continued saying ftar
on Dis return 90 Pittsburgh He re.
ceived copies OF the dictaphonp TO-
cords. and also copies o. two tsIr.
Grams from BiddinFor o. Governor
Hatfield and Prosecuting Attorney
Townsend. ne said these referred 20
me Interview ha had just had win
biddiuFor and stated that hs. mddin.
ger. must see them Of once
Well said that he communicated