New-York tribune., 1919-04-17

mittee was in session down here a
II took him down to see Judge
beardsley, and we three had luncheon
at the India House and then we went
to see Mr.. Brady. Senator Thompson
received Mr.. Brady's thanks for not
having called him when the investiga-
ton Of the Thompson committee was
on year before. We then left and
Senator Thompson and I went into the
subway to the Biltmorc. There Sena-
presses me as being u pretty square
sort of fellow
II said: Il don't know much about
Mr.. Brady. l met him at his fathers
funeral. His father was pretty good
friend of mine
Thompson told me he could pass the
Wicks bill. I said. .How?'
"He said: If l could only get
Sophie Irene Loeb to let go. I could
pass the BILL l said, What has
Sophie Loeb got to do with bills?'
did not know who Miss Loeb was at
that time. I found out afterward that
she was reporter of The New York
World"
Burke then related that he visited
Samuel W. Beardsley, Henry j. Hem
mems and other gas company lawyers
at the request of Senator Thompson
while the Wicks bill was before the
Legislature. He said the gas company
lawyers gave him typewriter sugges-
tions as to changes in the bill, and
that the bill was finally amended "as
they wanted it."
Burke said that IN order to prove
that he was associated closely with
Thompson he would relate an incident
that happened in 1917, when the
Thompson committee occupied rooms
at the Biltmore.
II had hated to bring in Judge Wag-
rer's name. But Pm charged with a
felony and III drag in anybody's to
prove I'm innocent. On a certain day
when Mr.. Hemmens and Mr.. Thomas
and myself were in Senator Thomp-
sons room, Judge Wagner ex-senator
the Supreme Court and then a member
of the Thompson committee) came in,
and when he saw who we were, he
stalked out and shut the door
"Thompson then took me into an
ante-room and said: 4 want you to do
something for Wagner l said: What
can I do?' He said: Mayor Mitchell
is going to blast something on Senator
Wagner to-day and l want you to find
out what 1t is,
II went out and investigated and
camo back and told Thompson it was a
dream"
Burke said that when the bill re-
organizing the Public Service Commits
year Thompson asked him to make an
appointment with Mr.. Hemmens. He
said the Senator from Niagara wanted
to discuss a provision in the bill re-
pealing the 80-cent gas law.
"Thompson said that he did not know
If he could stand for that provision
as the papers would pan hell out of it,"
said Burke. Il think Henmens did
not want to meet Thompson alone"
"He wanted you to be there" in
quired Mr.. Cheney.
EYES," said Burke.
Burke explained that he had to 60
to Canada, and that the meeting never
took place.
Burke was then asked about the
meeting with Thompson at the Repub-
lcan Club, at which Thompson alleges
Burke offered half a million dollars
to support the Carson Martin bill
Burke said there was some talk about
Mayor Hylan, during which Thompson
said: 81 don't know how the people
of the City of New York elected that
big. fat-headed - Mayor of New
York"
Burke, rising from his chair,
stretched forth his hand in dramatic
appeal to the committee and said:
Don't forget the burned Shonts let
ters Find out why they were burned
in the home Of Mr.. Pepperman. Pep
perman is secretary to Theodore P
Shonts, president of the Interborough.) }
Find out why Senator Thompson threw
them into the fireplace in the Pepper
man home. I make this statement to
show that Thompson was always look
ing to get something.
"Don't forget that Thompson said in
one breath that | was decent fellow
and in the next breath charged me
with offering him half million dollar
slush fund. | have no lawyer and Pve
had no one to advise me, and I've tried
to do the best / could to defend myself