The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-03-14
MR.. HALLS REPORT.

MR.. HALLS REPORT.
The undersigned, member of your
committee appointed to investigate char
ges of bribery and corruption in the late
senatorial election, and to investigate
charges of corruption in Office and
against the recently elected senator, dis
sents from the report of the majority of
your committee, and submits the follow
ing report:
The evidence submitted fully convinc-
es me that Mr.. James s. Merrett was a
general manager in the interest of Sena-
tor Ingalls, at Topeka, during the pend
ing of the late senatorial election, and
had general charge of his rooms and the
direction of his affairs.
That he was aided and assisted in his
plans to reflect Senator Ingalls,, among
others by Mr.. j. s. Danford and Mr.. Cal
vim Hood.
That Senator Ingalls, and those parties
employed corrupt and illegal means to
secure the election of J. J. ingalls, to the
United States senate, and but for said
improper influences his election would
not have been obtained.
Then follows statement by Mr. Hall
of the difficulties in obtaining the prop
er evidence, particularly the kilograms
desired by the committee, and the troub-
lie of making complete examination in
the brief time allotted for the work.
AS an instance, it was proven by the
testimony of Frank Playter, of Girard,
Kansas, that few days prior to the SEN
atOrial election, James A. HOssack, a
member of this house, stated to witness
that he could have 81 900 for his vote for
Ingalls, for senator, and that ingalls, told
him to see Merrett and Wilson about il :;
aud to II. Brown, of Girard, also testifi-
ed that said Hossack told him, prior to
the senatorial election, that he cOnld get
money for his vote, from Ingalls, or his
friends. Both these witnesses testified
that said Hossack signed the following
paper on the date therein named, and
gave 1t to Mr.. Playter, as a true state
ment of his arrangements with ingalls,
and his friends for said Hossack's vote.
COPY OF STATEMENTS.
Tefft House Letter Head = =
hereby certify that as a member of
the legislature of the state of Kansas, l
was approached, personally, by John ].
Ingalls, for my vote, and was offered
money provided would vote for him.
The sum agreed upon was one thousand
dollars Isl ,000), five hundred to be paid
down and five hundred the first of March
was referred by Mr.. Ingalls, to J. Mer-
rittt and ]. Wilson, who paid me the five
hundred dollars, and Mr.. Ingalls, agreed
to pay the remaining five hundred the
first of March. ]. A. HOssACK.
Witness to this signature,
Z. II. BROWN.
Hossack admits the signature, but de-
MES that he signed it on the day of its
date, and claims that il must have been
signed by him on the Monday night pre-
ceding the senatorial election; that on
that night he attended different saloons
in company with Playter and Brown,
| and became intoxicated to such an eX-
tent that he has no recollection of what
was done. He admits having received
on the night preceding the senatorial
election, from j. 5. Merritt, in one of Mr..
| Ingalls, rooms, the sum of $500, but
claims that was a loan that although he
offered to give his note, no note or secur-
ity was taken, and that the money was
not to be repaid for three or four months.
He also admits that he paid debts about
this time amounting to over $3.50. To
say nothing of the imprObability of his
story, Mr.. HOssack contradicts himself
in his claim that he was with Brown and
Playter during all of the evening of said
Monday and until he became so IntoXi-
Gated that he has no recollection of what
occurred, and afterwards fixes this time
as the night on which he obtained this
money from Mr.. Merritt. When on the
stand, witness was requested to and did
sign his name in presence of the commit
tee, which signature I compared with
that attached to the statement referred
to; the signature to the original state
ment is well written, equally as we'll as
that written in the presence of the com
mItteee. / do not believe that any man
who was SO drunk that he did not know
what he was doing, or could not recol
lect the transaction, could possibly have
written the signature to that statement
The witness is cOntradicted by MIR. Play
ter and Mr.. Brown on this point. Mr.
Playter testif1es that he did not drink
with him on the Monday night mention
ed, and was not in his company that
night. Mr.. Playter is cOrrObOrated In
his statement by Mr.. Majors, who among
other things testifies that he, Majors, wal
, in company with Playter that Monday
evening; also at the theater that night
that Hossack was not OF the company
that he, Majors, accompanied Playtel
from the theater to the Tefft house, anC
on leaving him there went Immediately
to his room, some two blocks distant
and found Hossack, who was at that tim,
his roommate, in bed, apparently asleep
1t is admitted by all Games S. Merritt
T inGlu6ed) that Hossack received at leas
/ $500, In ingalls, room, of James s. Mer
rift shortly before the senatorial election
at a time when Merritt was one Of tn
: men who had Senator Ingalls, interest II
: charge; the only explanation is that i
y was a loan.
The story that the senatorial election
: had nothing to do with this affair; tina
S as purely business transaction Jane
!, S. Merritt intended to loan to drunken
irresponsible man, whom he knew to b
financially embarrassed, residing in n
mote part of the state, and a comparativ
; stranger, the sum or two hundred dollar
e without either note or security, is to
Z much for my credulity.
Mr.. j. B. ClOgston, a member of thu
house has testified before your commi
y tee In substance, that Senator Ingalls, O
r fered him the control of the appoin
q ments in his county If he would vote 70
Ingalls, for L. S. senator; also that Sens
e tor Ingalls, referred him to Mr.. HOOC
l. saying substance that whatever Hoo
# would do would be all right; that aftel
wards man purpcrting to be sent b
Hood offered witness $500 to vote for Ii
y gals for Z. S. senator.
l. This evidence is uncontradicted.
= house, testified before your committee i
substance, that Mr.. Merritt Offered hiI
$500 TO vote for Senator ingalls,.
e There is evidence tending to show ths
D Mr.. Hutchinson was offered the sum @
- $500 to vote for Senator Ingalls,, and wa
then offered 81 900, and finally 81 500:
re he would vote for Senator Ingalls, for |
lie s. senator. This was on the day of th
h late senatorial election.
Al That Mr.. Raybell, member of TIL
: house, was paid the snp 9f $3.50 70 VOC
. for Mr.. ingalls,. That Mr.. H c, Elsie
re member of this house was pending Il
late senatorial election, offered $3.50,
one Of Merits rooms for his vote f
Z Senator Ingalls, for U. s. senator; an
IN that Mr.. George L. White was, on Il
e, morning of the late senatorial election
v offered $500 and pressed to name h
price 10 vote for Senator Ingalls, for Z. /.
- senator. This offer is proven by the te
s. Etimony Of AIy, White 20 have been mad
by Nj. DAnfoFd, one Of the friends an
supporters Of Senator ingalls,.