Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-06-01
BURTON TAKES
STAND TUESDAY
Attorney General Wants 0uS-
ted Highway Board Head to
Explain Many Things
SEARCH FOR BOND LIST
Indications Are Discovery Of
Names of Bonds May I'M
plicate Others

Upon George L. Burton, of South
River. chairman of the ousted State
Highway Commission, will rest the
burden of proof when the probe into
alleged graft in connection with the
purchase of the Perth Amboy bridge
approach site is continued in the
senate chamber at Trenton next
Tuesday. Testimony given to date by
the several witnesses reflects upon
the actions of Burton and he is ex-
pected TO voluntarily tell his side of
the case and endeavor to explain
certain things which are greatly in
need of explanation.
If Bernard NJ. Cannon, the Middle
sex county clerk and prominent
Democratic leader, is located be-
tween now and Tuesday he Will be
served with a subpoena ordering him
to appear Tuesday morning and
testify. Although reports are being
circulated by Gannon's friends that
he has been in this city since Monday
night of this week, efforts made by
the Evening News to locate him ir
Perth Amboy, New Brunswick anC
Metuehen have been to no avail. In.
formation was given out at his
home in Metuchen yesterday that he
was away" for a week or so.
Cannon is wanted by Attorney Cen
eral Thomas F. McCran as a Wit
ness in order that he might testify
as TO what became of the s25, ,000
in bonds which Thomas ]. Evans.
treasurer of the w. J. Donnell
Lumber Company. said he gave
Cannon for his influence" in hav-
ing the lumber company paid a
fair price" by the state highway
board.
There is little possibility of Gan.
non being unaware that he is want
ed as a witness in this case and that
a 81 bpoena server is searching for
him. as his numerous friends no
doubt have informed him of all the
latest developments in the scandal
and the large daily newspapers ha ye
all carried stories stating that he
is wanted and that a subpoena has
been issued which will be affective
whether served in New Jersey or out
OF the state. Present indications are
that Cannon does not desire to tes-
tify in this matter and he therefore
is trying to evade the subpoena
server and keep out of the public
eye as much as possible.
The attorney general will place
many things before Burton with the
request that he make satisfactory
explanations. The attorney general
this week quoted Burton as saying
he owned no bonds whatsoever and
then proceeded to show that the
ous,ed highway head and deposited
interest coupons on bonds on two
dates in August of last year to his
account in the First National bank
ot South River.
The members Of the ousted COM
mission, in their voluntary testimony
given during the probe, have all
said they had been guided by Bur-
tons recommendation and reports
in the bridge approach matter.
The attorney general has gone
50 far as to insinuate that the in
terest coupons deposited by Burton
might reasonably be from the bonds
which Evans had given Cannon.
An effort has been made BY Evans
to withhold the names of the bonds
he said he gave Cannon, in order
that they might not be traced, he
practically refusing to produce this
information when asked for it Tues
day by McCran. The attorney gem
eral then said he would uncover the
names of these bonds. despite the
efforts of Evans and others to block
their being identified and added that
he might produce the list of other
bonds which might be interesting
in the case.
The list of bonds, interest coupons
of which were deposited by Burton
last August is also being secured by
the state prior to continuing with
the hearing next week.
Continued on page s.