New-York tribune., 1916-04-27
Accuse the Indicted Pitts
burgh Attorney of Efforts
to Pocket Him.
DETECTIVE WANTED
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Governor IntercedeS to Get His
Testimony in Bribery
Trial.
Br Telegraph 70 TIE Triour.

Albany, April 26.-A Leo We'll, at.
torney for the Manufacturer Heat
and Light Company, OF Pittsburgh,
which has practically a monopoly for
the furnishing OF heat and light for
the State OF West Virginia, at hear
ing before Governor Whitman this af-
ternoon was charged with trying 10
force Guy Biddinger, former detec-
tive sergeant of Chicago, back to tha,
city on extrsdition papers. Well is
under indictment in West Virginia on
the charge Of offering bribe of $4,000
each 10 two public service commission
ers Of that state to get them to vote
against granting an order to lower the
price of electricity
Biddinger as Burns detective
worked up the case against Veil and is
the most important witness for the
State OF West Virginia, the authori-
ties Of which declare oXtrsdition TO
Illinois is a move to get Biddinger
away from West Virginia during the
We'll trial. The hearing before the
Governor was on the application OF
Governor Hatfield OF West Virginia TO
revoke the extradition papers granted
against Biddinger last week
tifty-one crimes have been charged
against Biddinger in Chicago, and his
attorneys declared that they were not
only himsy and ridiculous, but that
they had been trumpcd up within the
last week or two.
Issdore kresel. Louis Marshall and
Samuel Koenig appeared at the hear
ing, declaring that they represented
the State OF Illinois. but Moses ".
Grossmsn, one OF the attorneys for
Biddirger, declared that they com
prised the counsel for We'll
We'll is now at the Hotel Ten Eyck."
said Mr.. Grossman. "snd | ask that he
be produced here by his counsel as
witness
"We represent nobody but the State
Of Illinois" said Mr.. Marshall.
Grossman declared that forty-cight
Of the fifty-one crimes charged against
Biddingcr could be disposed Of By the
fact that the man who made them sd-
mttedly has no knowledge of them.
"The Executive warrant for eXtradi-
ton" he said. "is based only on the
other three. The only purpose for
making the fifty-one charges is to get
a Supreme Court decision TO insist on
prohibitivc bail"
Biddinger pas present and vas sworn
as e witness. His attorney held that
in any event the charges Of the crimes
against him were outlaved because OF
the statute OF limitations. Mr.. Krescl
declared that this law could not be in
voked. because Biddinger had not been
physically a resident Of Chicago since
the crimes were alleged to have been
committed.
Governor Whitman, at the request or
Governor Dunno OF Illinois. said he
would not make his final decision in
the case until after he had been adj
vised By him.
Chicago. April 26. Arguments on
motion to withdraw the extradition pa
pers issued by Governor Dunno TO
bring Guy Biddinger, former Chicago
detective. from New York to Chicago 10
face charges Of misdemeanors and fell
onics. we're heard to-day by Governor
Dunno.
The withdrawal vas asked in order
10 permit Biddinger to testify as a wit
ness for tho State Of West Virginia in
its suit against A. Leo We'll, Pitts
burgh attorney.
It was asserted by Biddingcr's coun-
sci that his client had been offered
large sum of money and yearly pen
sion IL he would leave t'c country so
that hc could not be witness in the
West Virginia SUIT. which is an out
growth OF an alleged bribery plot.
The arguments were taken under ad
viscment by the Governor.