Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-20

herew it'll submitted.
The committee gave careful attention 10
ali the testimony offered, and after.seeing the
various Witnesses on the stand, and hear
ing their testimony. and weighing carefully
all the evidence submitted to them, they are
Of the opinion, and DO report, that the charges
Of bribery preferred BY Thomas Il. Swan and
Moses Hartman against Wallace X. W hlte
are not sustained.
Mr.. Perkins of the committee was not pres
ent and did not take part in the hearing of
the charges preferred by Mr.. Swan and Mr.
Hartman.
l.. II. HrrcHI>soN.
NJ y MchrsIcK.
j. W. HARTMAN.
G.. W. GorLDfSG.
Minority Report.
The undersigned minority of the com
miltee appointed by virtue of the order OF
Jan. 20, 1880, TO investigate certain charges
of attempted bribery of members OF this
House, not being able 10 concur in the con-
cuson of the majority of the committee beg
leave to submit the following a minority
report;
Bartholomew Wentworth. a member of
the House. testified that just prior 10 the as
sembling Of the legislature. Cilas. +. Kicker
came to hi- house and told him that II he
would be sick for the first two days of tn"
session he could have 5000; and that said
Kicker came second time and said if he.
Wentworth, would absent himself from the
legislature he could have $500 in gold and
$40 Il dav for 10 DAYS Said Wentworth fur
ther testified that he declined both offers.
{. f.. Kicker testified. substantially as
stated in the report of the majority, and in
addition that what he said TO Mr.. Wentworth
about absenting himself from the legislature
and the payment of money was said in Joke.
The appearance of Mr.. Wentworth was such
a. to leave no doubt in the minds of the un
der.igned that he testified honestly and in
the firm belief that Mr. Rickers purpose was
to induce him to absent himself from the leg
islature by the payment Of money. On the
other hand, neither the appearance of Mr..
Kicker nor the character of his testimony
was such as to inspire much confidence in his
statements. But as it is impossible for the
undersigned to determine that the declara-
ton Of Mr.. Kicker that his offer of money
was in Jest was untrue. the undersigned con-
cur in the conclusion of the majority report
in regard to this case.
The next case was that of Thomas b. Swan
Of Minot. and Moses Hartman of Kennc-
hunkport members of this House. Mr.. J.
.. White of Wilton testified that he received
member of this House. That he arrived in
Augusta in the afternoon of the 9Th day of
January, 1880; that immediately on his arri-
val he met his cousin. Wallace X. White of
Winthrop; that he again Wallace II.
White ut the Augusta House in the evening.
who invited the witness up stairs. two flights.
to an unoccupied room, and asked him what
he thought OF the opinion of the Judges. That
witness said he thought it was partisan: that
Wallace Il. White said he thought it would
have much influence with the people and
that witness had better not take his seat.
That witness told him he should take his
seat; that Wallace II. White said if witness
would surrender his certificate and sign a
document not to appear and organize the
House. he would pay him 81 900: that it
would be better for him to do so that it
would be the proudest act of his life: that
witness refused and said he should take his
seat.
Witness further testified that Wallace r.
White wanted him to hint around and see if
he could not find some one who would take
the money and stay away. That they agreed
to meet at the Court House at nine O'Clock
the next morning; that he saw Thomas 3.
Swan, who boarded at the same house with
himself and told him the offer he had re-
ceived that Swan said the scheme must be
prevented; that they went to the Augusta
House to consult Secretary of State f. II.
Cove, to advise with him in regard TO the
course TO be pursued; that after some CON
versation. he, Mr.. Swan and Mr.. Cove went
to the house of NJ. V. b. Chase, to confer
with Mr.. Scion Chase in regard to the same
subject that the witness did not go with
them. but went to his boarding house. Wit
ness further testified that Mr.. Swan told him
81 l..
business with Mr.. W. X. White; that witness
met said White at the Court House as
agreed. and told him that he should take his
seat but that he could have Mr.. Swan: that
said White wanted witness to request Mr..
Swan 10 meet him at the Court House at half
pastten o'clock that morning. that he had no
conversation of any kind with Mr.. White
after that time.
Thomas h. Swan testified as to the inter
views between himself and J. O. White as
stated by him, corroborating him fully. He
further testified that he saw Moses Hartman
on the evening of the 18th of January and
told him what was going on. and asked him.
III case anything came ont of it, if he would
20 in and prevent the scheme. and he said he
would do it, or would think of it. That he
had the interview with Mr.. Cove as stated bv
J. q W mite; that he, Swan. and Mr. Cove
taltth upon Nbibt tndse anu stated the facts
to him. That after talking the matter over
and taking the advice of Mr.. Cove and Mr. |
Chase. he decided that he would take the |
money and defeat the plan, and that he signed
a writing to that effect, and left it with Mr. /
t'ove. That the next morning he told J. q /
" bite To inform ". r. White that he would |
do business with him if he was ready. That /
afterwards J. o. White informed the witness /
that W. Il. White wanted to see him at the |
Court House ut half-psst 10 o'clock. That
witness W. r. White in the iurv room at I
the time named; that Mr. White. after the |
negotiations were completed. went out and
got the money. and on his return paid the /
witness 81 coo. He then delivered IN his Ger
iIhcate with an agreement signed bv HIM that
ne would not appear and help organize the
House. That witness deposited the money
IN the Granite National Bank. and thar h..
has the amount now, subject to the order of
the person who furnished the money. Mr.
Swan also testified that Mr. White asked him
IT he knew anyone else who would make tho
same arrangement. That witness told him
he thought Moses Hartman of Kennebunk-
port would do it That Mr. White asked
witness to request Mr.. Hartman TO NEE, him
at the Court House at halfpast one o'clock
4 hat witness found Mr.. Hartman and told
him what had taken place, and asked him If
he was ready TO take the money TO ,lef..a, th.
scheme and that Mr. uarr;r-.. -,