The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-17
Big MONEY OFFERED MEMBERS
OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

In Charleston. The general said that
be- told the commissioner that be had
been asked II the contents OF the
sommers' article were correct. and
that he was told that Il was.
This article has been corroborsted
By Commissioner Charles Bronson.
and later corroborated b. Mr.. Ogden
himself. He said that he and Mr.. Og.
den talked OF the article being placed
before the people. and the commits
sioner said that II was true. but u
had gotten before the people in a bet
ter way than he expected.
He said that Mr.. ogden said he was
part OF the administration and DID
not care to discuss the questions in
VOWED The witness continued By
saying that both OF the men. Messr.
Bronson and Ogden. admitted the ar.
ueles 10 be true. Elliott said he asked
Mr.. ogden. 1T IA true the commits
sioners were ordered 10 vote on the
gas proposition within 20 hours" Mr..
Ogden replied. "Oh"-Yes. certainly
Never Read Record.
The witness said further that when
the public service commissioners
rendered their decision thev had
never read the record that covered
over 1000 typewriter pages. He
further. said that the commissioners
did not make any effort TO 20 into the
case. The witness said that Mr.. Oe-
den inferred that the governor was
raising a point TO strengthen his
forces politically
In answer 10 a question from Mr..
Wen. General Elliott continued BY
saying that Il was only a matter OF a
Few moments from the tine OF the
conversation. until he saw the record
AS taken by the detectaphone. He also
26
Here Mr. Well announced that he de-
sired TO OFFER the Sommers article in
evidence. Judge Holt objected. sayinr
that the article written by Sommers
was hearsay. He said that first IL was
given to Elliott by clyde b. Johnson
as a conversation held between Mr..
johnson and Mr.. Charles Bronson.
lie said that Elliott wrote down the
memorandum given him BY Johnson,
and then rewrote IL In a letter to Som
mers, and which was sent over the
state. Special Master Vandervort
stated that he was inclined 70 believe
that the newspaper report was In d.
rect line with the testimony and that
II should go In. Judge Holt continued
that at the time OF the talk with
Bronson, Elliott did not show him the
newspaper article and the reference
TO a newspaper article might mean
one OF dozen or more.
Never Saw Article
Judge Holt then cunteuded that
commissioner Ogden had never seen
the newspaper article. He explained
II as a summary arrived at BY CLYDE
b. Johnson. given to General Elliott.
as a conversation that he (Johnson)
and Charles Bronson had had concern
ing the executive influence OF the
Governor. submitted to Elliott. lie
asked the question: Are we TO be
governed by the mental operations of
General Elliott in this case?"
Attorney Well said that Mr.. Ogden
was acquainted with the contents OF
the Sommers article. which stated thai
the Governor lad called the commits
sioners TO the executive Offices and
tnere forced them TO act according 10
MS dictation. Special Master Wander.
wort said he was inclined to believe
that the plaintiffs had a right TO in.
troduce the Sommers article in con
necuon with General Elliott's testi-
mony' and therefore overruled Judge
Hollis objection. An exception was
noted by the state. Special Master
Nandervort said that he was liable
TO change his mind at any time. and
II II developed. the article could be
stricken from the record.
Cross-ESan1ination.
At this point the direct examination
OF General Elliott, which had been on
since the opening OF the case yester-
DAY morning, was concluded. Attor-
neys for the Public Service Commits
sion informed the Master that they
desired TO hold a conference before
opening their REORGANIZATION. The
direct examination OF Mr. Elliott con
Guided az 1903 o'clock. and az n few
moments before 4 O'Clock the cross
examination by Captain s. b. Avis be-
gan.
General Elliott f. considered the
star witness for the million dollar cor