New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-01
Relies onAlbany Contracts
to Justify His Attack
on Barnes.
DUELL ELECTED
FROM THE COURT
Several Roosevelt Witnesses
Fail TO Connect Barnes with
State Corruption.

TrintlNE contracts StdlO' NNN''''
CITY. have az last been reached in the
Barnes Roosevelt libel suit. On evil
denee respecting them largely rest the
hopes Of Theodore Roosevelt's eounsei
FOR proving legal justification for the
statements for which William Barnes
asks $4,000 damages
The vivid Roosevelt personality, the
implications in the testimony OF
Messrs. Loeb. Davenport, Hinmsn, Az
new and the rest, may count with 'he
Jury, but it is the cold facts Of the
printing situation in Albany that coun-
col FOR the Colonel hopes 10 weld into
s lever 20 pry the case into the jury's
hands. 1t is tough material they have
"a work with: however hot the blast OF
the Bayne committee may have been
the metal has cooled
Michael Do,an, Of, "The Argus
rr;ntcr and publisher, was the hrs'
witness as to tbe printing contracts
Mr. DoIan is comm sixty-eight,' and
all the shrewdness learned in a life
time Of printing and publishing in the
state capital is mis-. Quite at ease on
the stand. he took nothing for granted
hvt scanned suspic.ously every docu-
,nent handed him by John NJ. Bowers,
colonel Roosevelt's counsel, and re-
fec,ed deeply before answering.
Mr. Bowers succeeded in drawing
from Mr.. Dolan the information that
"The Argus" paid commissions TO The
Albany Journal" on city contracts Mr..
Dolan said that while "The Argus
might have the call to print the pro-
coejinps Of the Common Council of
Albany. certain departments whose re-
ports we're contained in these proceed
ing might want their reports printed
,eDerste!v. Th, contracts for the dupn-
este reports niiGht-and did in 1910
and le11- 20 70 The Albany Journal
William Barnes's paper
Paid Commissions TO "The Journal
"Tre Argus" on speculation" would
hold in type such matters as might be
wanted in duplicate Mr.. Dolan would
"soIi,it" -he work from "The Journal
which had the contracts for the dupll-
catcs. lie would offer "The Journal
-, commission Of IS per cent on the
CITY contracts obtained by "1he Argus
and 20 or % per cent on the duplicate
printing 10 be done.
Did YOU know the amount Of The
Journals' bid?" asked Mr.. Bowers.
81 did not" replied Mr.. Dolan.
Then how did you know the amount
of the bill YOU would send them
eve had business relations. and
would send them a check, was the
somewhat cryptic reply
This much Nj Bowers got from the
witness. but 10 was like drawing rusty
nails ont of q hickory plank. Mr.. Bow
rrs then introduced in evidence a
check for s6O3 50 indorsed 20 the Jour
nal Company by the witness.
Justice Andrews, after listening to
arguments. decided TO admit the print
ing evidence subject 70 a motion TO
strike It out il it were not connected
later with the alleged Barnes Murphy
crooked politics-crooked business al
lance. and the decision somewhat DIS
PEELED the gloom at the Roosevelt coun-
sci table.
Joh0-A. Hennessy. radantly shaven
and laundered and tailored, had
marched up TO the witness stand and
marched right back again, and the
sharks that few when William NJ WINS
undertook 70 cross-eXamine FREDERICK
NJ. Davenport had failed 10 illuminate
the dismal prospect.
Hennessy Shut OF.
nrr HeDnessv was permitted TO tes-
trfy that he had been executive auditor
for Governor Sulzer. Then objections
s,opued him. Mr. Wins could not see
how Mr.. Hennessy was 10 connect Will
lam Barnes with conditions in state
departments -,,-
,leading which alleged rottenness in
almost every department. Mr.. WINS de-
clared he was willing to admit II. Ihat
particular part Of the Republican plat
form from which the paragraph rad
been taken had been written by hlm-
self, said Mr. lyins, who added that ne
was entirely willing to admit that
during .he two Democratic administra-
tions the state government was JUST as
corrupt as they were capable OF max
inc it." n
The brief appearance Of Mr.. Hen
Messy followed that Of II. II. Nree!and.
ex-president Of the Metropolitan street
Railways Company, who was permitted
90 testify that in 1903 he had contrib
uted 600 20 the Republican state
Committee. He said he never knew
MIR. Barnes, and Mr. WINS declared
that his client was doing "Office boy
v,ork for the committee then. TeSti-
,porv that Mr. Nreeland had also con-
ftisuted 20 the Democratic campaign
fund WAS excluded, as even if IL could
be inferred that he was paying for
"protection" there was no evidence
that he was paving Mr.. Barnes.
Then came ex-State Senator Dayen-
mort. describing himself explicitly as
q "teocher Al Hamilton College" He
told OF The tight in the Hinman-Greene
biil and Of the conferences called in
sdioiping rooms near the Senate cham
Ler by Mr. Barnes and Senator Grady.
lie repeated his "hddling Nero" char
.cterization Of Mr.. Barnes and came
bsck hard at Mr.. WINS when the attor-
nov intimated that II was display Of
his erudiVon. -,- o.,
he reneated. II believed that the Re
nublican party interests IN New York
State were in grave danger because OF
the setting up of an authority
Charles II. Dueli. Jr., Elected.
tns,fee Andrews's gavel cut the an
swer shor.. "Wss there some applause
down there?" he sskeo. whoever
Cantinoed Ga page T. eSlsgB