The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-06
DOWNFALL OF POMEROY.
IN EXCITING SCENE IN THE KANSAS
LEGISLATURES.

IN EXCITING SCENE IN THE KANSAS
LEGISLATURE.
History OF the Movement whtck Ruined
Him-DramatEc Scene at Its Triumph
The Willy Old Rascal Caught In His
! Own Trap-Exposed by q Senator
whom He had Bribed-Losing tho Sem
atorshtp and Seven Thousand Dollars
in Cash.
The Journals of the Northwest contain very
full accounts of the dramatic scenes In the
Kansas Legislature when Senator Pomeroy
was exposed and defeated. The following ex-
tracts from the St. Louis Republican gives q
graphic picture of the transaction, together
with an interesting history of the plot which
| brought about the exposure:
SETTING TEE TRAP.
As early as Thursday of last week 1t became
evident that there was Eut one possible
method of beating Pomeroy, and that was to
| set trap for him whereby he should be In
| duced to bribe one of the opposition who
could be depended on to expose him. at
| council of war held shortly alterward by the
| opposition, 1t was decided tnat C0lonel a. NJ
York, senator from Montgomery County, was
| the man most available for this purpose. A
gentleman, whose connection with several
| Eastern railway companies interested In Pom
crows reelection gave him the old mans con-
| fdence, was brought up from kansas City 10
| begin the negotiations After some skirmlsh.
| Ing and sparring an Interview between YORK
and Pomeroy was brought about, at which
there was some talk about money. an6 finally
sort OF understanding was arrived at. Pome-
row then began 10 shuttle, aS he always does,
and tried to work 1t with York through third
parties. York, however, refused to negotiate
with the third parties at all, and Insisted on
doing the business exclusively WIN tne sena-
tor himself, averrlng that the old senator was
nice man 10 do business with, and he wanted
full, fair and personal understanding In the
matter.
At last Pomeroy suspended the bylaws OF
his caution and his piety, and entered squarely
into negotiations with York. The latter was
none OF your ten cent fellows. He told Pome-
roy that his constituents had threatened to
hang him If he voted for the old man, and 30
1t would be necessary for him TO cell out Tor
enough to insure bis neck. He further said
that if he voted for Pomeroy he should never
dare 10 live In Montgomery County again, and
hence he must sell out tor enough to enable
him TO remove to some other locality and to
indemnify him against any sacrifice of prop.
erty he might have TO make in disposlng OF
his effects In Montgomery. This recital har-
rowed up the old mans bowels OF Christian
compassion, and he offered York about $4,000.
This York felt obliged to decline. The case
was one of desperation with him, and he must
have at least $4,000. At this old Pomeroy
made good many wry faces, but finally et-
fected q compromise on this basis, to Wit,
$4,000 down, $4,000 within forty-eight hours,
and The other $1,000 after he was elected.
Well, York took his $4,000 and attended the
Pomeroy caucus, where he made the speech
OF proselyte, and was among the humblest
of the late and contrite converts. The next
day he went and got bis $4,000, which he
quietly put In his pocket along with the other
$4,000, and having Pomeroy's promise to pay
an additional 5000 after he was elected. That
last $1,000 York will probably lose.
MISCHIEF IN THE AIR.
Things went on lovely I'LL after Tuesdays
separate ballots, and then the mischief began
to bubble mp to The surface. On Tuesday night
the anti Pomeroy people had caucus, at
which concentration was effected upon Mr..
Ingalls,, with pledged strength oil sixty-two.
Whnn tho House and 9anaia went Int -
ballot to-day there was no man 10 the enllre
hall whose face had ln 1t 80 much OF the lurk-
ing devllment of conspiracy as glittered 10
York's eyes and baleiuy lit up his face. 1t
was not long after the assembling of the Joint
convention before the presiding of1cer
raped order with his gtvel and announced
that the Legislature of Kansas In Joint con-
vention would now proceed to ballot Tor
United States senator for the full term, De-
glnnIpg March 4, 1873.
TIE DAMNIG DEED EXPOSED.
There was a dead hush then as Senator
York, OF Montgomery, arose and Claimed tne
floor on question of privilege, which was
granted him. He drew from his pocket an
envelope containing $1,000 10 current fnnds.
oil n
the speaker, with the request that he count
the money. There was little buzz of sur
prise, aud then hush of strained expectancy
as the speaker turned over the crisp notes,
and York walked back 10 his seat. "Gentle-
men, said York, ~ have an explanation to
make 10 this body upon my vote for senator.
shall vote for Samuel c. Pomeroy for the beat
reason In the world, and that reason u
now on the desk Of your presiding officer"
There were good many pale and scared faces
In that hall then. He then went on and de-
tailed the circumstances oil his bribery.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
As he proceeded the excitement became In.
tense, aud finally whenever the name OF Pom.
eroy was mentioned there would be storm
of indignation. 1t was q revolution. YORK
caught its iervor In the fine fbres OF his ner-
vous organism and became inspired. He said:
| know am O disgraced man. have will.
fully and OF my malice atorethought betrayed
a trust reposed In me by fellow man. did
It with eyes wide open and q mind full OF com.
prehenslon OF the consequences; but did IT
because thought 1t was sacrifice required
of me to save my State from sinking sllll
deeper into the qucksands Of corruption In
which her once lair lame Ia already almost
swallowed I'M. stand before you pledged to
vote Tor Samuel G. Pomeroy in consideration
of seven thousand dollars to me In hand paid
In curren. funds, and o promise OF one lhous-
and dollars, payable upon contingency.
ask you, must redeem that pledge? [Crles
of "No, no." "Damn Pomeroy anu his
money."l ask you if am 10 your minds
dlsgraced man? [Cries OF mo. no." 'You
did right."l ask you II the end did not Jus.
lity the means? [Cries OF "Yes, yes" and
loud cheers Then Mr.. York closed hls
speech with
AN IMPAstsoSED PERoRATIoN.
At the following passage, explaining Pome-
rows attempt TO bribe HIN, OF which attempt
the evidences were then In the hands OF the
speaker. the excitement was Intense. II
visited Mr.. Pomeroy's rooms in The dark and
secret recesses OF the Taft House on Monday
night, aud at that interview my vote was
barganed for consideration of $S000-s20O0
OF which were paid to me on that evening,
$4,000 the next afternoon, and promise Of tine
additional $1,000 when my vote was cast In his
favor. now, In the presence OF this honor
able body, hand over the amount OF $1,000.
just as received 1t, and ask thatit be counted
by the secretary" AS Mr.. York continued his
douolopranto nd hIo Recommendations Of p0mp.