Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-01-28
SENATOR EDWARDS
NAMED IN RUM DEAL.
u. S. Dry Agents Charge
Jersey Scion Took Money
for Liquor.

jersey City, n IA charge that
United States Senator Edward |. Ed
wards of New Jersey was the hacker
of ten Weehawken police and two
civilians now being tried for conspir-
acy to violate the prohibition law was
made. Two agents Of the Treasury
department, Charles l. Hurlbut and
Lionel Wilson, made the charge in
their testimony.
Wilson, the first witness, said that
not only had William Griffin, one of
the defendants in the case and alleged
master mind of the conspiracy, told
him that Senator Edwards was his
hacker, but that Edwards had accept
ed and held in escrow $500 which
he was to have delivered to Griffin
when The latter delivered 100 cases
of what Edwards assured them would
be good stuff"
Prosecuting Attorney John Milton
OF Hudson county indicated that the
charges of the federal officers would
be presented to the grand jury.
When communicated with in Wash
ington, Edwards said he would answer
the charges 'at the proper time"
Charges He Paid Senator.
Hurlbut declared that in company
with Wilson, he had paid the money
1923, in the Office of the First Ma
tional bank of Jersey City, of which
the senator is president Preliminary
discussion had taken place in a two
hour conference at Senator Edwards
home in Caldwell, n. j., Hrrlhut said.
The federal agents admitted that
there had been no sale or delivery,
however, and that Senator Edwards
had returned the money to them after
they said Griffin had become suspi-
ciOus
Griffin in his testimony admitted
that Wilson and HurIbut had left
money for him with Senator Edwards,
but denied that either he or Edwards
knew that a liquor deal was contem-
plated and that the money had been
returned by Senator Edwards at his
(Griffin's) direction when he discov-
CT Gu lLdI llQuOE was wanted.
Griffin's Story of Deal.
These two men came to my insur-
ance office on November IA. 1928"
Griffin said, saying they wanted to do
some business with me and had left
an amount of money with the senator
in his bank downstairs. / asked the
senator about this and he told me that
the men had inquired if | was all
right and that when he assured them
that | was they left some money in
an envelope for me.
"The next day they came back and
told me that they wanted to buy
liquor with the money | told them
was not in the liquor business and to
go back and get their money. When
L told Senator Edwards their business
he grew angry and later told me that
he had told the men they had a lot of
nerve to try and complete liquor
deal through him."
Denies Rum RGnnig Charge.
Griffin also entered a complete de-
NAL Of statements made by other Wit
nesseS that he had been directing the
unloading of liquor from the boat
Dorothy at the D.. & H. dock on the
morning of September 4, 1924, when
Rev. George Bennett. Catholic
priest, surprised the party and later
identified ten policemen and Police
Commissioner Harry ]. Stearns as
among the unloaders.
Father Bennett testified at the trial
that a man whom he had heard called
Griffin" had offered him brides, but
he could not Identify William Griffin