The New York herald., 1879-08-29
LEGISLATIVE CORRUPTION.
FOUR MEN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
OF REPRESENTATIVE

OF MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
HARRIspURG. August 2s. 1879.
The disposition made by thesarand Jury of this
county this afternoon of four legislative bribery
cases justihes the prediction that all of the
seven persons accused OF corrupt solicita
tions of members of the Legislature will
be indicted The Grand Jury in about an
hour passed on the cases of Jesse r. Crawford. of
Blair county; Chris Long. of Cumberland; DR..
Shoemaker. Of Dunkirk. and A. W. Leisenring. of
Mauch Chunk. returning true bills in each instance
Three members testified that they had been offered
$1,000 each by Crawford for support of the
Riot Claims bill; two that Leisenring proposed to
share the anticipated profits on Pennsylvania Rail
road stock with them ii they voted for the bill
that Long offered him $1,000 for his vote. and
other that Shoemaker told him that he could make
$1,000 by voting for the BILL The of ex-Treas-
Kimble. ex-Representative Salter. of Phladel-
phia. aud Banker L. j. McCune. of Cumberland. will
be sent to the Grand Jury tomorrow morning. and
prompt action against the accused is expected
DELAY WANTED ACCUSED.
The counsel for the accused have come to the con-
clusion that all the accused will be indicted, and
their efforts will be directed toward continuance
until the next term of court. Senator Carpenter and
Judge Black will be here tomorrow. to represent
the Commonwealth in the bribery cases. should it be
decided to proceed with the trial. Colonel Gowen.
president of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Company. has telegraphed the prosecuting commit
tee that he will also appear for the Commonwealth
II desired.
LIST THE ACCUSED.
The prospective trial of those persons charged by
Q committee of the House of Representatives with
having attempted to bribe members Of the Legisla-
tre to vote FOR the bill appropriating $4,000 900 to
reimburse the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and
other sufferers by the riots of 1877 is exciting much
interest at Pennsylvania capital. and since Judge
Parsons rigid construction OF the statute providing
for the punishment of corrupt solicitation. much
speculation has been indulged in as to the outcome
Of the judicial inquiry soon to be commenced.
There is Disgusting the fact that in his charge
to the Grand Jury the Judge laid down principles
which have given great uneasiness to the accused
and others concerned in similar work before the
Legislature but against whom indictments
have been framed. The defendants thus far
William H. Kemble. president of the Peoples
Bank, Philadelphia; Charles r. Salter, ex-mem-
Der Of the Legislature from that city; Jesse Il.
Crawford late assistant superintendent of
public grounds; Alexander W. Leisenring. presi-
dent Of the First National Bank of Mauch
Chunk; E. J. McCune. banker of Cumberland
clan at Philadelphia. and Chris Long, rich land
specuator Of Cumberland county. 10 this list it is
very probable that the names Of representatives
Rumberger. Petrof and Smith. of Philadelphia. not
to mention several other members OF the Legisla-
ture against whom damaging testimony given
before the legislative investigating committee in
April and May last. may be added. Kemble, Salter
and Crawford charged with perjury. in addition
to corrupt solicitation OF legislators.
Ex-TREAsURER KEMBLE's CASE.
The principal interest is centred in the trial Of ex
State Treasurer Kemble, who at the head Of the
lobby which operated in the interest Of the Pitts
burg Riot Claims BILL According to his own testi-
mony Kemble acted attorney for the Ronnsyl-
vsnia Railroad Company in furthering the passage
of the measure. but he gave the committee to un-
derstand that he had never been authorized by the
company to offer any money for votes. In addition
he testified that he had never proposed to give any
member money tor his support OF the Riot Losses
billt The principal witnesses against Kemble. ut
the forthcoming trial will be Representatives
Miller, Foster and Silverthorne. The direct
evidence OF corrupt solicitation will be given by Mr..
Miller, who swore before the investigating commit
tnat the day the Till buried beyond
resurrection Kcmbie offered him $1,000 tor his vote.
Foster will testify that he was offered 900 in cash
for his vote by the Defendant. Sllverthorne, who
under the instructions or Representative Wolfe acted
Us detective order OF the lobby
might be exposed will testify Kemple agreed TO
ratty bargain made by Representative kuiuberger
with Silverthrone that the latter should receive
$75U tor his vote. According to the testimony OF
THESE several members all these propositions were
made when no ono but the party approached and
the defendant were present As keinDle posi-
lively that he had offered money to any member
these witnesses will be used to convict him of per-
jury in addition to corrupt solicitation Judge Black
who has been engaged tor che prosecution. thinks
Will be very 10 fasen the crime OF perjury upon
Kemble II Silverthorne. Muller and Foster should
adhere to the testimony given before the legisla-
tive investigating commlttee.
THE AGAINST sALTER.
There are nine charges against Saiter-eight for
corrupt solicitation aud one tor perjury. Salter
the most industrious member the lobby,
eight members having testified that he gave them to
understand that they would receive from $500 to
$1,000 tor their votes for the Riot bill In order to
convince them that he was In earnest he told some
or them that kembie and Quay, Secretary OF the
Commonwealth, Lad made arrangements to pay the
money. While performing in the role OF the lobbyist
Satsr also secretary OF Representative Elisha W.
DAVIS, chairman of the Committee OF Ways and Means.
Inc accused. we'll as Kemble swore before the
mitee OF Investigation that he had made corrupt
proposition 10 any member or the Legislature, aud
eight witnesses at least will testify against him
perjury well as corrupt solicitation.
CRAwFORDs CASE,
There will be three witnesses against Jesse r.
Crawford, who is also charged with corrupt solcit
tion of nenbers Of tho Legislature perjury.
According to tho statements or two membcrs lie
guaranteed them ZOO apiece for their votes, aud
according to the statement another tho accu sed
proposed to procure tor him . similar amount q
consideration OF the support OF his newspaper of
the Blot Claims bill. Ine testimony showed that
Crawford had used tho argument that the money
would come from those who had suffered losses by
the destruction of property BY OF the riots.
He too, denied that he had underworld to control
votes by proffers OF money
CORRUPT SOLICITATION.
The rest of the delendants used only of COR
rupt solicitation. Against Leisenring will appear
the two members from Carbon county, who will
that the accused offered to divide half the
profits OF an anticipated railroad stock speculation
with them II they voted for the Pitsburg bill. He
appeared to have idea that Penns ylvania Railroad
shares would so up rapidly in price the event OF
with having offered member S5.UUU i'll rebel raid
claims IL he voted the bill. Shoemaker and Long
also accused OF making corrupt approaches to
members.
WITNESSES sUBpuiNAED.
All the witnesses to be examined been subpu
nacd, the number reaching twenty live. Among
those summoned to appear arc the agents ot the
Western Union Telegraph Company In TINS city, who
to produce all the kilograms received sent by
kemhle Saltnr and QIlY IN tho month of