The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-22
THE LOTTERY INVESTIGATION.
EXAMINATION or Ex-GOv. MAHNFANB
GEORGE GRACIEN. ss
How the Agents Of the L0ttery Company
worked I'm the Legislature Against
n l'nns titlltI0nal Convention.


worked I'm the Legislature Against
n Cons tituti0Bal Convention.
The special committee appointed by a,,-
thority Of resolution which passed the
House few days sinces to investigate charges
made by the DEMOCRAT that improper means
had been used to influence the votes Of MEM
bers Of the Legislature. met last evening Mt
7:3o o'clock Mt room No. 8, Mt the State-Hou
The following members OF the committee
were present Messrs. Lea chairman. Jonas,
Keeting and Deioie.
The.frst witness called to the stand was
Hx-dov. HAHN.
BY the Chairman Gov. Hahn, have you
any knowledge Of any corrupt means or any
improper influences being used to influence
the vote of any member or members OF the
House of Representatives. during the present
session of The Legislature?
Well there Is d distinction between cor
rupt and improper means. dont know OF
any corrupt means | don't know about
any improper means, but II you wish me to
mako statement, / can do 80.
Q-Well. you understand the character Of
this investigation, Governor2
Al don't know that do.
Q.-Well, the committee would be glad to
have you make statement Of such facts as
are within your knowledge.
A. Well, sir, don't know Of any improper
: means having been used. but they might
this thing u, that did not Hike the haste with
which the Republican members Of the House
accepted the amendments. and | spoke TO
several OF my friends about t-,both Kepubil,
@ cans and Democrats. /, myself. was opposed
to q constitutional convention, but favored the
amendments: but did not like
THO HASTE AND RUSH WRIT WHOM THE
AMENDMENTS WE'RE ADOPTED,
and IL seemed TO me Mt the time that the party
who was running tho machinery Of the gov
eminent and the members OF the Republican
party were acting together in favor of the
amendments. For instance, saw In the
seemed anxious to find out what would be the
vote on the amendment. how tho vote
stood. also, saw. Mr. Sour and
% o'r gee eSfs E Sour The ansse out shet q
tEe speakers room and talk with the colored
members. and then go back In the room. It
locdted us i he was taking the sense Of the
House. as there was considerable inquiry as
TO whether n majority Of the. members
were in favor OF constitutional CON
ventaon. or, OF the amendments. ! have
had several conversations with Mr. Du-
pre-. ] remember telling him that the
question OF the amendments seemed to be
setted. that the members Republicans and
Democrats, seemed to be harmonzing. / re-
member, think, on one occasion Of telling
him to look into the Speakers room | also
remember on one occasion Of speaking to Mr.
Souer, and telling him that did not like the
haste with which the amendments had been
adopted, as there were one or two other
. amendments which thought ought to have
passed; He said ut is too late now the vote
la fixed But as to corrupt means or any inn
proper influences having been used don't
y know anything about that.
,.Q-Who was in the room at the time Mr..
Wilde WAS In therep
Al did not go In the room, but saw Mr..
Wilde was very busy that day, as II trying to
ascertain how the vote stood on the question
OF the convention, as Ii was q question Of doubt
Wilde had one of the printed lists or rolls Of
the members OF the House, upon which he
seemed to be working or recording the names
OF those who were In favor Of the amendments
ton. 5' tt
Q--What was the cause Of your telling Mr.. |
Dupre that Il he ,would, GO into the Speakers |
room ne would the L, find That they were Tx
. Alt was not only Mr.. Wilde, but saw |
Mr. Souer and Judge Lyons also engaged In |
Q.-Governor. did you tell Mr. Dupre that |
a II he would go into the Speakers room he |
would there find
THE AGENT or THE LOTTERY COMPANY; |
do YOU recollect whether you made that rec
MARK
"agent OF the Lottery Company" but am
not positive. 1t is generally understood that |
the friends Of that Institution were in favor OF |
the amendments instead of the constitutional |
convention. 1t seemed singular that oil these |
different elements should be acting together |
In such harmony.
Q.-What do you mean by these different
elcmentsp
A.-Well. those who were in favor of con-
stitutional convention and those who were in |
favor OF the amendments, the officers OF the
State administration. otlice-holders, etc. who
did not want a convention. ] say 1t seemed I
singular to me that all these different elements
should be acting together on this question;
Q.-Do you know of any corrupt practices
used III the Legislature either by the Lottery
the bills which were before the Legislature
IN relation to the repeal of the charter Of the
Nos. . and 10 Of 1912
A.--No sir do not. Il
Q--Do you know of any money being used
@ for that purpose2
A.-No, sir.
% GEORGE GRACIEN
sworn-Said he had learned from the newspa-
pers that the object of the investigation was |
10 investigate certain charges which had been |
preferred against Mr.. Wilde. He had no |
knowledge of any corrupt means having been |
used TO influence the vote of any member Of |
the House during the present session of |
the Legislature. Has never exchanged q |
word with Mr. Wilde upon the subject Of the |
amendments or of the constitutional conven- |
tlon. Mr.. Wilde never preached the subject |
of the amendments or of the convention to |
me. have been i'm the Speakers room on |
several occasions: would go there to smoke; |
never had any conversation In there with Mr.. |
Wilde upon any subject
Tho committee adjourned subject to call by |
the chairman |
LET WELLS BRING UP HIS WITNESSES.