Jotham Powers Allds 1863 - 1923

The Career of Jotham Powers Allds

 

The Elections

Utica Saturday Globe, November 1902

 

Jotham Powers Allds

1863 - 1923

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Republicans, who are pleased over the result of the election in the State, find especial cause for congratulation in the pluralities rolled up in Chenango county for the various candidates, Odell receiving in the county 2,395 more votes than Coler.  These figures are almost unprecedented in the history of the county.  The practical abolition of the direct state tax is believed to be the bait that caught the votes of the farmers.  The other Republican candidates for State offices received somewhat small pluralities.  Edgar H. Pearsall, for the Assembly, will have about 2,000 plurality over Charles H. Hayes, whose plurality in the town of Norwich was 126, a very complimentary vote, though not as large as was expected.  Jotham P. Allds, for State senator, received little more than his party vote, although there was no nomination made against him on the regular Democratic ticket.  Dwight, for congressman, succeeding Hon. George W. Ray, ran well up with his ticket.  The other successful candidates were William E. Edgerton, for county treasurer; Richard C. Quinn for superintendent of the poor; Dr. Spencer, for coroner, and E. Everette Poole, for school commissioner, all of whom were re-elected by increased majorities.  Out of a total registration of 2,151 in the town of Norwich, only 1,801 votes were cast, showing that nearly 350 voters either failed to come to the polls or spoiled their ballots in marking them.  There were 27 Socialist Labor ballots cast, 18 Social Democrat, 7 for the Liberal Democratic ticket, while the Greater New York Democracy, with a rooster for an emblem, received 7 votes.

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Bribery Inquiry

Syracuse Herald, March 1910

 

Albany, NY:  Many pages in the life history of Senator Jotham P. Allds have been revealed by his attorneys in their efforts to prove him guiltless of the charges of bribery before the Senate.  these pages and others promise to be well thumbed before counsel for Senator Benn Conger, his accuser, have concluded their cross-examination, which is expected to occupy the greater part of the time of the Senate next week.

 

During the two days Allds has been on the witness stand his own attorneys have been forced to run the gamut of his professional and financial transactions from the year 1901 in which he was alleged to have accepted the $1,000 bribe from the bridge companies, down to the present time.  He produced his bankbooks, statements of stock transactions and told of all the property of which he said he was possessed from the stock in a Boston bank which he inherited from his father, down to his fees as attorney.  He said he owned no real estate in Norwich, but lived with his aged mother and nurse in an apartment which he rents for less than $20 a month.  All told, he declared, his property will not approximate more than $25,000.  This was a surprise to many of his colleagues in the Senate who had believed him to be worth much more.

 

Walter H. Gale, cashier of the First National Bank of Groton, where, the Congers live, who was testifying when the week-end recess was declared yesterday concerning the bank accounts of Senator Benn Conger and his brother Frank, probably will be recalled when the investigation is resumed on Tuesday.

 

Allds rested today, in preparation for the grilling he is to undergo next week at the hands of James W. Osborne, of counsel for Conger.  His direct examination has not been finished, but is not expected to develop much more of interest.  Attorney Osborne has asked the accused Senator to produce the check vouchers referred to in his direct examination, all check stubs of such checks, broker accounts and letters.  Alld's record within and without the Legislature since he became a member in 1896 has been made the subject of searching inquiry since Conger determined to press his charge and the indications point to decidedly interesting disclosure before the accused is allowed to leave the witness stand.

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Senator Allds Resigns

Chenango Union, March 1910

 

Senator Jotham P Allds of Chenango county, until recently leader of the New York state senate, was convicted by the senate in committee of the whole at Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday by a vote of 40 to 9 of accepting $1,000 as a bribe in 1901 from Hiram P. Moe, acting for bridge interests.....Allds forestalled expulsion from the senate by resigning his office when he saw how the vote was going.  He filed the following letter with the secretary of state:

 

Hon. Horace White, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York and President of the State Senate:  I Jotham P. Allds, do hereby resign as New York State Senator representing the Thirty-seventh senate district of the State of New York, which I now hold.  The resignation to take effect immediately.  Jotham P. Allds.

 

....Senator Jotham P. Allds is forty-nine years of age and has been in the New York legislature continuously since 1896.  He has served as chairman of the assembly committee on excise and codes and chairman of the senate committees on taxation and retrenchment, finance and forest, fish and game.  He was the Republican leader of the assembly in 1902 and was elected Republican leader of the senate for the first time in January last to succeed the late John Raines.

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Obituary

The Utica Observer, September 12, 1923

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The death of former State Senator Jotham P. Allds occurred at the Norwich Memorial Hospital late yesterday afternoon, as a result of liver and bladder trouble from which he had suffered for only a short time.  He was 61 years of age.  Mr. Allds, who was long prominent in public life, was born in Claremont, N.H., and was educated in the public schools there.  He moved to Norwich in 1876.  Mr Allds was graduated from Colgate University in 1853, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1887 and commenced the practice of law in this city.  He was first elected to the Assembly in 1895 and at the sessions of 1896 and 1897 was chairman of the committee on excise.  In 1893 he was chairman of the committee on codes, and in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902 was chairman of the committee on ways and means and majority leader.  In November, 1902 Mr. Allds was elected to the Senate from the 26th Senatorial District without opposition.  In 1903 he received appointments to the following committees:  Finance, judiciary, taxation and retrenchment, forest, fish and game, and roads and bridges.  Re-nominated in 1904, he received 13,226 votes as the Republican candidate for senator, while the late Adelbert M. Snyder, Democrat, received, 1,044 votes.  At the beginning of 1903 Senator Allds was appointed chairman of the committee of forest, fish and game, and member of finance and judiciary and taxation and retrenchment.  Re-nominated a second time in 1906, Senator Allds was re-elected and became chairman of taxation and retrenchment, member of finance, judiciary and forest, fish and game.  Mr. Allds' first political office was village clerk, more than 30 years ago.  He was a past exalted  ruler of Norwich Lodge of Elks, past high priest of Harmony Chapter 151, R.A.M., past commander of Norwich, Commandery 46, and took an active part in all civic affairs.  He was foreman of a hose company for years.  Mrs. Allds never married.  His only survivor is an aunt, Mrs. Marion Palmee of Clearmont, N.H.  The funeral will be held Friday at 2 p.m. from the Baptist Church.