Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-10-22
Brereton Speaks,
SEVERAL INTERVIEWS
With Governor and Son-Tn-
Law.
$500 and AN OFFICE OFFERED
FOR A VINDICATION.
Attempt to Buy Character by Civ
ing Official Position.
MADISON, Oct. 1875,

oOh, EhN n LAO VI man AAN SbSss
etc.
Inasmuch as the editors Of that
paper want little more light on the
BRIBERY" case, will proceed to give
it, and the means they attempted to
use to suppress it. They commenced
about the first of August last, when
Mr.. son-in-law Bashford, one Of the
editors aforesaid, came to my
house, in the town Of Dane, and in
troduced himself to NE as such. He
said he came to me by direction of
Gov. Taylor. to see if he could not
arrange to suppress the facts about the
bribery matter that occurred in the
county board, and to get possession Of
the letter. He wanted me to show
him the letter, but declined to do so.
At this time, some further converse
ton occurred ON the subject, when ha
left.
On or about the 4th day Of Sep
TENDER last, I was in the city Of
Madison, and was on my way to feed
my horses, and when near the Metho-
dist Church, in said city, noticed
Gov. Taylor standing on the park side
of the street, and near the north cor
ner reckoning for me to come over to
him. [ went and met him. He said
he wanted to see me at his Office in the
Capitol. After caring for my team, |
went there and saw him. He asked
me if had his certain letter with me.
I answered yes He asked me to show
it to him. I said, 1 would if would
give it back to me. He promised and
then [ handed it to him, and he looked
it over and finally handed it back to
me. The Gov. thanked me for not
exposing him at the election two years
before, and said that if [ would do the
same this year, he would give me
good position. That he was sure Of
his election, as the railroads were all
going to support him. He wanted
the letter to keep; [ refused it; then he
wanted copy; | refused that also,
Then he wanted me to promise not to
show it to any one until I saw him
again. which [ did. He said the let
ter did not amount to much, as such
things were done, and letters written
to the Legislature every winter; that
he had seen about fifty of them last
winter. He said his son-in-law-
Bashford wanted to see me, as I under
stood, that day. lie said, or Bash
ford said, [ cannot state positively
which, that he wanted the matter fix
ed up before the convention in Mil
waukee, as Sat Clark and some other
sore heads, were trying to defeat him,
and if they got hold of this, they
might do it. I promised it should not
be used against Taylor before the
convention.
On or about the 5th day of Sep
TENDER, Bashford sent me letter by
Thos. Bourke, of Madison, requesting
me to come in and see him, as follows:
MADISON Sunday, Sept. 5th 1875.
Mr. H. Fl Breretos:
Ny DEAR SIR: Was very much disappointed at not
seeing you yesterday, when in the city. Did not |
learn that YOU were in town until you had probably
started home My wife taken sick Tuesday |
night, and continued very i'll all the next forenoon
so did not go down town till Saturday D. M Ithen
tried to find you, but did not succeed Will you call
and ses me on your way to Milwaukee next week |
must see You Tuesday Oh matters that concern us
both. 1t you cannot come to town, 1 will go to |
your house; my wife will be much improve ed that |
could leave home on that Gay. If your son comes
Dack 10 school as he expected to when / was out
there, you will have to send team to the city Tues
day. 80 1t may not be very inconvenient for Won TO
cali on me- If you cannot come in that dayas said
before, you may expect me at your place, as the
business should not be delayed. / send this letter
ny Mr.. Burke who is going into your part of the
county on other business and has consented to de-
liver it for me- He knows nothing about affairs
and it is not necessary he should Please write your
reply on the back of this, and return it by the
bearer and greatly oblige,
Yours truly, R. NJ. BAsHEoRD.
P. S-Please state about the time of day you will
be in town, and will be at my house to see you
on can drive there without any difficulty if Won
VIII turn to the left at Hausmans brewery and stop
It the second house in the second block on the right
1and side. 1t is brown house, between two white
'nes' and is No. 8, block &c. Gorham street.
[ answered Bashford's letter on his
OWN envelope, that I could not come
n, as L remember.
A few days after this, Bashford
came out to my place again. He
vas very anxious to fix it up.
He then and there offered to
give my boy good position in
The Capitol, if [ would give up the let
er and make a statement indicating l
3ov. Taylor. AT this time B. wanted
% see the letter, told him promis-
ID the Governor not to show it until
aw him again. He said he was there
IS Gov. Taylor's representative. Ithen
showed him the letter. At this time ,
he showed me statement he wanted
ne to sign. He read it to me. l de-
,llned to make such statement.
Then he wanted my permission to make
statement in the Democrat denying
The charges. [ refused to give my CON
sent. Very soon after he left, saying
ne wanted to see me in Madison soon.
L next saw Bashford In Madison DUR
ing the Fair week at which time he of.
tered me position for my son in the
Capitol, worth from 5000 to 5000 per
year, TOR the letter. He said the sala-
~ OF the position would begin Oct. 1st,
but no services would be required till
lst, because there was then
IN occupant of the place, doing the
work and getting the pay. [ would
not accept his proposition, as [ told
him, after a good deal of talk on his
part.
About Oct ist, after this, Bashford
came out to my house again, and show
ed me an article from the Baraboo Re
pa btac,and wanted to know if author !
lze its publication. I told him sta
ted the facts to Weirick about the