Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-10
To the Public.

Seeing reports IN the newspapers accusing
me of trying to intimida.e and bride nv faith
er from taking seat in the legislature.
wish TO make the following statement:
/ never offered him bride
directly or indirectly. ! never had al
cent Of money in my possession for the
purpose Of bribery in my life, but did try
to persuade him TO come home, and
tried to prevent him from going BY every
honorable means in my power. did it upon
personal grounds altogether, believing thai
be wa. not entitled 10 the seat, and hrmiy
believed then and do nov that had he been
let alone he never would have left home at
all.
Letters came to him almost every mail,
some Of them purporting 10 De from officials
high in Oftce urging him not 10 fail Of being
At Augusta the Saturday before the legisla-
tgre convened Wednesday
One fu-ionist came a distance of forty miles
Or more by team the Sunday before he left
- see that he did not fail Of being there at
the appointed time. stating as a reason for
coming that they had heard would not let
him have money to go with, and they would
let him have all he wanted.
The above facts tOgctlipfher with Oft re-
pea,ed assertions By himself. that he neYer ex-
pected 20 be elected, induced me to go to An
gusta aud try 70 persuade him To come home
~ Thea found him in Augusta. he asked how
mother wa: told him she was sick and
thought he ought TO come home he replied.
Il expccfed she would worry great deal
about me, but if you tell her how | am
think she will be all right"
After appealing to him in behalf of his fam
iiy his own good name and in justice To Mr.
I,urnham the rightfu owner of the seat
but all in vain | said. If you could
he a. well off 10 come home a. 10 stay here
would YOU come? He answered no. can neither
| be- coaxed. driven or bribcd. | said do not
| mi.understand me- have no iica Of trying
to bribc you. do YOU understand that | have:
! He answered no, but / an going 10 stay until
| the legislature is organized, and then if Buru-
| ham gets his seat shall 60 home satisfied !;
there was only rs two present at the time.
After discussing the situation of affairs a
/ short time, left and went to the Augusta
| l!nn-e. where | saw L. Powers. and asked
! him To 90 and have a talk with father. He
! asked me if | had talked with him. / told him
/ yes but he would not hear to me. Then he
! -ail il is Of no use for me TO go. but if i in
| sisted he would 20 and have talk with the
/ old gentleman as he had not seen him for
/ several months We went and Mr.. Powers and
| father talked over the situation in friendly
manner u short time. and then Mr.. Powers
and myself left. After We went out Mr..
Powers said he knew it would be of no use
but he liked to talk with the old gentleman
for he generally knows what he is talking
/ about.
During Powers, and my interview with ia
LII. ,I,., 4 tr,I,.
indirectly ! heard the next morning that
had been trying to bride my father TO g
home. | went directly to his boarding house
and asked him If he had told any one that
had offered him Il bride. He answered. no
| said. did Won understand tina, | was trying
10 bride vpu;" lie answered. ''not atall.
Then said | ''where does this story come
FROM" lie answered, II will tell Won. At
! ter YOU and Powers left, our folks, (mcaning
| ing the fusionists) came 20 my room and
seemed verv much excited and said we
| heard the, Powers and your son had carried
you of. and we came TO see if it was So
and we are glad to get Won by the hard once
more and know that you are safe. After
arriving home ] saw BY the paper, that he
had been offered $500 to come home, and
wrote "a him to know what it meant and
will give his answer in full
iloUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
January -. lSH0.
Wv ~ ar SoH Yours Of the 18th was duly re
. reivrd. and Ia answer say: I mover told am one
. That Snu offered me specified sum. Bat | am
toll tho go. 4f0at before knew you here.
that YOU mud Powers were coming 20 take me home,
.,ud that q could he done for $500. aad that the
pubcaus were jublant their good luck at buy
ing cheap They were sure of II. they ma It.
many of folks believe IT, and L. :. Strickland aud
Isaac Il. Clark. the Land Agent, came to board
iug place II o'clock At night to see ii there,
aud told me how juhilant they
From your father.
A. CUsHNNN.
Had believed my father honestly elected
I would have been the last man to make any
objections to his going. to say nothing of try
ing To- bride him to come home. The above
| l. plain and truthful statement of the facts
rs they occurred.
| regret deeply. having to make public fam
lis affairs, but justice to myself and family
demand that my statement be made as public
As the accusation against, my character.
ALFRED CusuNAN. Jr.
STATE OF MAINE.
Aroostook. ga. January p, i>so.
( Personally appeared the above named Alfred
statement by him signed is true.
Before me, LEVI c. CALDWELL
Justice of the Peace.