Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-22
-U-
bribery.
BERESs AND BRowEa.

BERESs AND 5RowE8.
The first question which they considered
vas the question of bribery.
They find that bribery was committed on
behalf of the sitting member, Mr. Wash
burn, by his friends, by members Of his
district committee, end by personal, politi-
cal, and business agents; that this bribery
was rot confined to any portion of the dis.
trict, or to any one town or county, but that
it extended Throughout region of country
nearly four hundred Iasles loug and one hun
dFed miles wide; and ihey further fad that
ia many cases the bribery has been traced
home directly to Mr.. Washburn himself.
The committee give herewith au abstract of
the testimony in syme OF these cases.
Charles Defens, & Democrat, the postmaster
of the village of North Prairie, Morrison
county, [situated about one hundred miles
from Minneapolis testiGes, (p. 800, printed
testimony that prior to the election OF Nov.
5, 1873, be wrote and mailed letter DIRECT
LY TO TIE SITTING AgaiDER, WAsH1URs, in
which he said he would give his support ut
the election to him, Washburn, for $50. This
Letter evidently reached the sitting member,
for Berens testifes that he received letter
IN reply to it from Keith, the postmaster at
Minneapolis, political friend of the sitting
member, in which Keith said, "he was glad
that Berens would work that way''i he, Keith,
further stated that he would give Berens' let
ter to J. Y. Brewer, one of the Republican
United States land officers at st. Cloud, and
that Brewer would attend 30 the matter. j.
!. Brewer testiies, (p. 246), Charles Ber-
ms wrote letter to Minneapolis demand
iug 900, for which he Was to support Gen
eraI Washburn, (the sitting member); the
letter was sent to me by some one in
connection with the campaign; I
can't say whether by the
committee, or By General WashbGrn, or by
some one for them" Brewer admits the re-
Ceipt of $50 from Washburn or his commit
lee, and may have got more. Berens Tp. 2OOl
snd Brewer p. 256] both sgree that Brewer
visited North Prairie, Morrison county, and
called on Berens; Berens says; "Brower
said I should work for WasAburn and he
would see me all right" He says Brewer
aid not pay him any money because be,
Brewer, did not trust him--he thought he
VAS supporting DonneIly. Brewer testifes
Il advised General Washburn, [the sitting
member or some one for him, after 1 had
been advised that 10 arrangements Of that
character could be entered into" THAT is, the
purchase # Bereus' support for $5Ol cor
words TO that effect, that he should not enter
into such arrangements With Charles Bersns,
or anyone else"
Here ii is''ciearly established that there
was q negotiation between q Democratic
yoter and Mr. Washburn, the sitting mem
Der, the one to sell his vote flor his vote Is
implied in his support for $50, and the
other to buy 1t. The letter is answered for
Washburn by Keith, his friend; the propo-
siiiou is accepted with thanks, and the letter
is delivered to federal official who goes
with the letter and with Washburn's
money, or the money of Washburn's COM
mittee, In his pocket, to see the party and
consammate the transaction. It is of no
moment that BeTens finally declined to re-,
ceive the money. The Offense of bribery
was complete when one party offered to sell
his vote and the other agreed to buy It. See
Russell on Crimes, vol. I, p. 159; Hardings
VS.. Stohes, IL. & W., 233. Brewer re-
ports to Weshbprn, or some one for him,
that the arrangement" could no. be en-
tered into.
, There Is 10 denial OF this testimony and
no attempt to impeach Berens or Brewer.
II Washbnrn had not been ready to use
money TO corrupt the voters of his district he
woald have resented the proposition made to
him By Berens as an Insult; on the contrary,
he appears TO have been as ready to buy Be
rens'. vote as Berens was to sell it. That
BroSer was Washburnis agent clearly ap-
pears; and when Brewer told Berens that he
Should work for Washburn and he Brower)
would "see him all rlght,"i 1t was Ia effect the
same as IL Wasbburl hinaelf had spoken
those words In short, as Keith and Brewer
simply acted as agents for NashburD, the
transaction may be thus briefly stated:
l. Bereps tells Washburn he viii cell him
his vote for 800,
z. Hsshburn thanks him and tells him to
60 ahead and 1t will be all right.
VOTE OF RrTIsoN COUNTY.
There IS In the third Congressional dis
trics of Minnesota an unorganized county
named Kittson, situated In the northwestern
corner OF the Slate, and adjoining the line
OF tue British possessionsj 1t is more than
4ou miles from Minneapolis. In the fall Of
1878 this county was Wilderness: there
were probably, as appears from the testimo.