Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-23
Bribery Charge Likely
I'm Bridge Case Suit
Corruption May be Charged
in Chancery Suit Against
Former Commissioners

In view of the startling testimony
given here last week in the legisla-
tive probe into the purchase by the
State Highway Commission of the
new state bridge approach in this
city, it now seems possible that
Attorney General McCran may
amend his application to Chancellor
Wa.xer to include charges of brib-
cry and corruption. The present
application of the attorney generals S
Office is for a hearing, which viii
begir on July IL. on an action to set
aside the purchase of the Donnell
Lumber Company's property as an
approach for the new bridge across
the Raritan river.
The testimony given here last
Monday relative to the payment 10
Courty Clerk Bernard M. Cannon of
$4,000 by the Donnell Company in
payment for any Influence" which
the Democratic county leader might
eXer. in having the ousted highway
CON iission purchase the lumber
company's property for the high
figure of $230,000. came as a COM
plete surprise to the probers and
| thos who have been closely follow
| ing the case.
Since last Monday the investigat-
ing committee has been marking
time before resuming the probe. The
hearing was originally continued
from last Monday until today, the
state house at Trenton being select
ed as the place for the continuation
of the investigation. Announcement
was made on Monday however that
owing to the inability of certain
members of the committee to attend
today il would be necessary to post
pone the continuation of the hearing
until Monday or Tuesday of next
week. The date has not been defi-
nitely fixed as yet.
The probe is being conducted un-
der a resolution which was passed
by the last legislature over Governor
Silzers veto, the governor maintain
ing that, if an investigation of The
ousted highway commissions actions
was to be made, it should take in
all of their transactions and not
alone the Amboy bridge approach
and the Hackensack river bridge
matters.
In addition to the $4,000 which
was given to Cannon, according to
testimony given last week, there is
| still mysterious payment or $lO,UOO
which has not as yet been traced. 1t
seems likely that an effort will be
| made at the next hearing to trace
this amount, the disposal of which
has not yet been satisfactorily ex-
planned to the legislative committee
| by the lumber company.
According to the testimony given
| by Thomas ]. Evans, secretary and
| treasurer of the Donnel lumber con-
cern, he told Cannon his company
wanted to pay him for his services
| in using his Influence" to have the
state buy the land for $3.50, 900, to
! which the Democratic boss replied:
| "Well, a little political contribution
would not go amiss." Investigation
of the sworn statements required by
! law of the contributions made to the
| Democratic campaign fund have
failed to show the receipt of the
! $25,000 for campaign purposes, it
has been brought out.
| George L. Burton, chairman of the
ousted highway board, who is said
by at least one of the two former COM
missioners to have recommended the
purchase of the land for $230,000,
has announced his intention of testi-
| flying at the hearing when it is con-
| tinued.