The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-04

l " OAAS NS1AoPA 0SJ puU 1o O11 trial to Judge Inglis instead of to the jury, stated that he is testifying of his own free will and is willing to take the consequences. His law practice, he said he conducted until the last part of June, 1898. At that time, in the face of the grand jury probe, he resigned as the senior partner of Williamson, Willis, Lister and Foster of Bridgeport.
 Prior to the 1895 session of the General Assembly, he had conducted "a general law practice" During the 1885 assembly he admitted, he was quite active, spending two and three nights weekly in Hartford, the while living at the Hotel Bond.
 The witness, who is represented by Attorney Frank Wilder of Bridge port, said that he has two, sons eleven and ten years of age. When Special Prosecutor Alcorn asked him about his lobbying activ- ities in 1885 he said he had been quite active, and started to look at a memorandum. When defense counsel objected to the memoran- dunn, the witness said he did not require it.
 Various Interests
 In 1885, he said he lobbied for the First National Stores, a whole sale liquor group, a small brewery interest, the Connecticut Retail Druggists Association and the Elec- trical Steam Sterilizer Co.
 When mentioning the steam ster- ilizer company, he could not recall the complete name and had to be aided by Special Prosecutor Alcorn in refreshing his memory.
 Asked if that is the company MT. 1 Leary is interested in the witness said, Tt is." Williamson also lobbied for restaurant association, he said. Attorney James D. c. Murray ob- jected when Alcorn asked the witt ness why he was interested in the First National Stores. The attorney said that 1t had no connection. He was overruled.
 With reference to the F'rst Nation al Stores, Williamson then testified, MT. Leary brought that interest to my attention early in January, 1885," He added that "all big chain stores had a representative at that time."
 The witness said that prior to 1885 he did not recall that he had met Mayor Hayes, but he did meet him at that time. He also met MT. Leary during the 1885 assembly, he said.
 T believe met MT. Leary on the second floor (of the capitoD just outside the senate chamber, in Jan- uary, 1885,"
 With reference to his association with Mackenzie, the witness said that he knew him before 1885, and that he was interested in practical ly everything I was interested in at that time. We worked together" Aid Solicited The witness told of former Con- troller Leary approaching him in 1885 for "help on Waterbury mat ters." MT. Leary came to court today walking with the aid of cane. It was learned that he twisted his ankle.
 Discussing the Leary proposition with Mackenzie, the latter advised him to "go ahead and help all you can," said Williamson.
 Later in the same day, Williamson said, he and Mackenzie and Leary met again briefly. They did not meet again within week or ten days, he said. "At that time," he said, T don't remember any particular contact with Mayor Hayes"
 Mayors Preference
 He caused stir in the courtroom when he said, After we (Macken- zie and Williamson got interested in Waterbury matters, Mayor Hayes woud give me instructions about what bills to pass and what bills he didn't want passed"
 At that time, Mayor Hayes .7as lieutenant governor of the state, and thus presiding officer over the sen- ate. tive matters because of his lobbying
 The witness, well versed in legisla- activities, said there were 60 bills presented in the 1885 assembly, and that from time to time he was told what bills Waterbury wanted, and which were not wanted.
 He said that neither Hayes nor Leary had ever told him about any difficulties they were having with any individual.
 In February of 1885, the witness said, important bond issue bills for the city were passed under suspen- sion of the rules. Williamson said that he had heard nothing of fees to be expected from the city of Wa terbury until one day early in Feb- him in the capital-) :. h2-? ruary when Mackenzie came to him in the Capitol and told him that "Leary was in the building and wanted to pay us for the work we were doing"
 Special Prosecutor Alcorn took this occasion to bring out that Will liamson had not talked with Cor poration Counsel Charles S. O'Con- nor, and that he might have seen him once or twice at the Capitol"
 Crows Nest"
 In lengthy detail, the witness told the court and jury the spectators did not jam the room today) that on that occasion when MT. Leary wanted to pay" them, they went to the fourth floor of the building, to little office known as the crows nest"
 There, behind locked doors, Leary gave Williamson a check for $12,OO0 to be indorsed, and also voucher to be signed, the witness said. Mackenzie, Williamson and Leary were the only ones present.
 When the check was indorsed, said the witness, it was returned to Leary, who passed $6,000 in cash to Williamson.
 T got $60O0,' said Williamson. Later he said, T got $3000 out of # oy,l Mo clro,a 1ia tyaf co mn V