New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-26
EXP. S. Commissioner Is
Held in $500 Bail on
Bribery Charge.
SWAMI WANTS TRIAL
OF CASE NEXT MONTH
Office Boy, Important to Prose-
cution, Vanishes Signal Agent
Is Principal Accuser.

Robert Colgate Wood. cx-Public Ser
vice Commissioner. appointed by eX-
Governor Martin II. Glynn. was indict-
ed Yesterday for alleged solicitation OF
n $4,000 bride. The indictment was
bnscd on evidence brought out IN the
Investigation of the Public Service
Commission by the Thompson legiSla-
tive committee. II was to the effect
that Wood asked the alleged bride for
his influence and vote on signal con-
tract for the Centre Street loop.
Wood pleaded not guilty before
Judge Mulqueen. in General Sessions
and was admitted to $1,000 bail Inc
maximum penalty in event of convic-
ton is ten years in prison and ineii-
eibility to hold any further public of
fee.
81 shall be ready TO try tho case
next month. If there Is any delay II
will be due to the action Of the defend
ants lawyers" said District Attorney
Swami after Woods arrangement
Wood WIS represented in court by
William NJ. Park. of the firm of Stanch-
field Levy. .,
District Attorney Swami admitted
Yesterday that can important witness
whose testimony was sought by tne
Grand Jury has disappeared. 1t was
learned that it was because Of the an
sencc of the witness that the grand
Jury investigation was four times ad-
Tho missing witness is Albert Perry
Woods Office boy at 43 Exchange race
who IA sa:a TO have witnessed the NEE
ing between Wood and sidney u Johh
ION. vice president and sales manage
az the Union Switch and signal Com
many Of Pittsburgh, in Woods TX
rbanVe Place office, AT when the al,
Iced suggestion was made by WOOD
that a Commission" OF $4,000 might
swing the contract 10 Johnsons com
pany. II, -, tou,d
in time 20 be witness at the tfiai'
said Mr.. swami last night.
The Wood case was turned over DS
senator Thompson to District Attorney
Perkins last December.
The first witness heard by the gram
iurv was johnson. lie testlhed ina
At the time ne met Wood By the latter 5
request an his private office downtown
tho Pub. Service Commission sIoVu
- 10 2 on the question OF awarding ,he
oo,,roct =, the Union Switch and sig
nal COMPANY or to the Federal Slgnai
Company. the lowest bidder. for 'ha'
reason, Johnson said, II was heeessniy
to capture Woods deciding Vote. oan
then told Of the alleged bid ior so,VVo.
Johnson told the grand jury Una.
Wood had asked him If there would nov
be q commission IN the cOntIaSV Iol
him Wocd. if he used ms influence
for the Union company ne sigma,
official went on to testify tna' ne ia"
no authority TO guarantee any com
mission, Lut would report TO ms su-
Henry G. Prout, president of the
Union company, corroborated Johnson
Other witnesses from the Union com
many who testified were Walter u. p
tegrar. who succeeded Prout AS piesi,,
dent: John r. McCune, treasurer ana
:. O. Levinson, attorney. Inc ma, c.
mont contains the names OF these adal-
tional Witnesses. Frank l.. Marcehe,
clerk employed by the New YORK MI
ricipal Railway Corporation. the noid-
ING comp.ny formed to operate the
Centre Street loop; William ). Men
den. its engineer; Travis II; Whitney
Harry A. Bullock, and Danlel Rooney