New Britain herald., 1925-01-20
Three Dry Agents Tes-
 tify In Weehawken Scandal That He Act ed As Go-between In Financial Deal -Grif-
 fin Positively Identi- fled As One of Ring ,

Jersey City, N. !, Jan. 2o.--Sena- tor Edward l.. Edwards of New Jer- sey was implicated today in the New Jersey rum scandal. At tho trial of twelve Weehawken policemen indict- ed for prohibition law violations two prohibition agents testified that the former governor had served as a link between bootleg liquor buyers and William F. Griffen, alleged "master mind" of the conspiracy.
 Edwards Is Accused. Charles L. Hurlbut, a general pro- hibition agent under Divisional Chief Merrick of New York, testified that on November 14, 1923, he had givcn Senator Edwards s3,S0o, which was placed in Escrow to be held for pay- ment to Griffin for Scotch whiskey to be delivered. Griffin became sus- picious. the witness said, the deal did not go through, and tbe money was returned. Lionel Wilson ,an- other agent. corroborated Hurlbut's testimony.
 Arthur Van Tessel, also dry agent, also corroborated the testi- mony, declaring he had seen Hurlbut and Wilson in conference with a man believed by him to have been Sena- tor Edwards, who is president of the First National Bank of Jersey City. Called On Senator. Hurlbut testified that he and Will son, representing themselves to be New York city bootleggers on a large scale, called on Griffin, a Jer- sey City insurance broker, on Octo- Der 20, 1893. After agreeing to sell them Scotch whiskey at s3S a case in 100 case lots, Hurlbut testified, IGriffin told them to call upon Sena- tor Edwards at his bank. He and Wilson called on the senator in his offices in the bank on November IA the witness said, and had half hour conference with him.
 tv Recites Conversation.
 We talked liquor, the quality q iiquor and the question of Griffin'i responsibility" Hurlbut testified "Edwards assured us that Griffir was d straight shooter and wise I boy.'"
 Then, said Hurlbut. he gave Ed wards $S,SO0 in currency. the price I of 100 cases of Scotch whiskey, te be held in escrow for payment te Griffin on delivery of the contra band. The senator, he said, count ed the money over. placed it in ar lenvelope, sealed it, had Hurlbu write his name on 1t and gave thu deposit into the charge of the banl cashier. Hurlbut said that he ant Wilson then went to Griffin's offices l which are on the second floor o | the bank building. Griffin was un easy, Hurlbut said, quoting him a having said:
 I Griffin Was Nervous.
 "You know that I'm in the liquo business, but I'm not so sure abou | you. I'll have to see about this" I Hurlbut said that Griffin aske' them to return the next day. Novem Der 16, when he suggested that the, get back the $3,S00 from Senate Edwards and pay it to him. The, told the senator what had hap . pened, whereupon the senator re turned the money, Hurlbut said and again assured them that "Grif fin is o. K" and that they woul'
 "get square deal" from hin Griffin continued suspicious, how ever, the witness said. and the dea
 did not go through.
 Watched Transaction
 Wilson did not add to Hurlbut' story, but corroborated it in ever
 particular. Van Tassel, third O the stand, told of having been sta toned in the bank to watch the ac tions of his two fellow agents.
 All three witnesses emphaticall
 denied upon cross examination in timations of counsel for the defend ants that their testimony was pal of a plot to frame" Senator Ed wards through his former secretar.
 State Commissioner of Weights an
 Measures Foley, now under indic'
 ment for liquor conspiracy in Ne
 York.
 The testimony of the three agent was the first evidence produced b the government directly bringin Griffin into the case as the ailege l master mind" of the wholesal conspiracy. The Rev. George { Bennett, Roman Catholic prle' } whose activities led to the indici 5 ments in this case, failed to lin l Griffin with the case when he tei
 tified at the trials opening yestel
 day.
 High Powered Liquor.
 Christopher L. Deavitt, city chen , ist of Jersey City, another witnol
 today, dispelled any doubt as to tl : power of the liquor dispensed by tf ring when he testified that a bo tie of Old Smnggler Scotch whic was said by another witness to hay ,, been given him by Griffin. VI shown to contain 42 per cent alc' . hol.
 The prosecution rested at 1i:5
 Counsel for the defense announce that four witnesses. including Gri fin and Police Commissioner Harl
 J. Stearns of weehawken. also, ul der indictment. would be called. | George Cutley. counsel for the d l fense. in his opinion address to q
 jury. said the present prosecute | was "conceived In fraud and i | iquity' and .'bolstered by hatr,