The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-17

called al the office Of the oommis-
sioner and had ordered that the IN
crease not b. allowed or tina; his res
isnAtiog b. placed on the governors
cesk within "a hours.
Judge Ogden. according 20 General
Elliott when they were talking over
the situation later and the newspaper
article was looked over. said that be
was very glad that the matter had
been introduced TO the public In that
way. because the effect would be
much greater Judge ogden's opposi-
ton 20 the governors Interference was
well known and he seemed glad that
an occasion arose In which the exist
ing conditions could be brought out
forcibly.
Discussed Article
Mr.. Well continuing. asked General
Elliott whether he had had later con
versations with either Commissioner
Ogden or Commissioner Bronson with
regard TO the governor using his lniu-
ence In the gas rate case against the
plalntin. as published In the Sommer's
article. He replied that be had a
Conversation with Mr. Ogden az
I Charleston later and one with Mr..
bronson on the 23rd or Gath OF Octo-
Der at the Frederick hotel in Hunting
ton with respect 10 the Sommer's ar
ticle.
Mr.. Bronson and the witness were
The only ones present i'm the room AZ
the time. but General Elliott said that
4 Frank Reyes. a stenographer, was in
the room and that a detectaphone was
rigged up between the two rooms so
that conversation in Elliott's room
might be heard by Reyes. General FL
Holt said that he tried Il himself and
found that Il was in good working
I condition.
The record OF the conversation in FL.
lOtts room between the latter and
Mr.. Bronson on the Path OF October
was then introduced by Attorney Well.
as taken down by Keyes. General III.
Holt was asked to refresh his memory
by use OF the record and recount what
was said regarding the executive in
I huence.
After some preliminary remarks
bronson had said, Il want TO get
away"
Elliott-"YOu want TO get awav,-
Bronson-"I want some relief"
Spoken Of as a Monarch
Elliott then referred 10 a political
speech OF his in which he spoke OF a
monarch now in this nation and also
one I'm the state. He had then spoken
OF Sommers' news article and asked
bronson II II was true. Mr.. Bronson
replied. 1T IL absolutely. Worst than
that he forced them to do as he said
and called them down. He's punched
me hVe times, knocked me down. put
his foot upon me. and kicked me"
Did you think he was going to
murder your"
Il did"
When Mr.. ogden approved the
sommers article, was he approving
the TRUTH"
/ Absolutely. There are dozens Of
other cases, Of which the papers are
In my desk. In which he has Influence
ed the commission. Right now he "a
| trying to force them on the water
matter in Huntington"
| General Elliott then testified that
! the above was the substance OF his
I conversation with Mr.. Bronson I'm
Huntington last October. and the hear
/ ing was adjourned until O'Clock.
/ Afternoon Session.
When the gas hearing resumed at
? O'Clock in the afternoon. General
| Charles d. Elliott. employe OF the Man
/ utacturers' Light and Heat Company
was sun on the stand Attorney a.
! Leo Well continued his direct examl-
nation. touching upon records made
| or conversations in Parkersburg
+ Charleston and Huntington.
General Elliott referred to a CONVEX
sation that he had had with the late
Commissioner Howard ". Ogden, in
/ the kanawha hotel, on October "a.
/ 1914, concerning an article printed
Z IN the newspapers coming from Mr..
George Sommers az Washington. This
article was printed in the Parkers-
burg Sentinel under date OF October
l1,.lSl4. and refers to the coercion OF
% Governor Hatfield"
The witness said. In the course OF
cur conversation. / talked of the Som
mers article. and told him that in a
recent speech / had made. I told Mr.
/ Ogden that did not use the CONTEXT
OF that newspaper article. lie re-
Piled that he was glad that | had not.
He then described the setting OF
/ the detectaphone. and the rooms that
were occupied by him and Mr.. Ogden
and Mr.. Keys. the detectaphone expert
that had been employed by the Man
ufacturers' Light and Heat Company.
/ TO secure evidence.
beneral Elliott said that he and Mr.
/ ogden were in one room at the hotel
and that Mr. Keys with the detecta.
/ phone was In a room adjoining. He
said that he was not sure whether
Mr. Biddinger was in the room At the
time OF the conversation or not. al.
. though he was in the room later
Tested Detectap phone.
: He said that before the arrival OF
Mr. Ogden TO bis OEIliotts) room
and the talk Of the undue executive
influence brought 20 bear on tho
commissioners. that he CElliotb had
tested the detectaphOne and found
That 10 was working properly lie said
that Mr.. Keys went into the room
where Elliott and Mr. ogden were 10
DO later. and talked The ritness
said that he could clearly hear ubat
. the gentleman in the other room was
saying
~ This point the attorneys for the
fas company informed the spocist
master that they desired TO enter he
+ dctecfaphone record a. evidence aos
marked Elliott Exhibit No. 8 Cap.
, tain Avis. FOR the state. entered an
I objection 10 the Offering ~ tho ~
] cord. but was 0vorrufaH A. fHa -