The Portland daily press., 1880-03-19
THE BRIBERY CASES.
The Majority Believe the
Charges Not Sustained.
The Minority Think They Are in
the White Case.

AUGUSTA, March 18.-The committee an
pointed to investigate the charges of attempted
bribery of members of the House of Repre-
sentatives will report tomorrow.
The first case brought to their notice was
that OF Bartholomew Wentworth. member of
the House from South Berwick who alleged
he had been. offered $500 in gold and $40 Der
day Tor 40 days by Charles e. Kicker of North
berwick to be paid on condition that said
Wentworth would absent himself from the
59th Legislature. Two witnesses appeared be-
lore your committee, viz: Bartholomew
Wentworth and Charles E. Kicker. Mr..
wentworth testified to the above statement
worth as stated by him, but their whole trans
actions were directed towards trading horses,
and in view of testimony in the case the COM
mittee are of the opinion that the charge of
attempted bribery is not sustained. Mr..
Gouldlng OF the committee was not present
and did not take part in the hearing of this
case.
The next case presented before the COM
mittee was that of Thomas B. Swan Of Minot,
member of the House, who charged that he
had been paid $1,000 by Wallace r. White of
Winthrop to resign his seat in the Legislature
in order that the Fusionists might be prevented
from obtaining quorum at the assembling
thereof. Mr.. Swan appeared before the COM
mittee and testified to the above
The next case presented to the committee
was InaI oi MOSES hartman Oh Aennebunk-
port, member of this Hoase, who testified to
the same with the exception that he received
by mistake $1005 instead of $1,000. Neither
Mr. Swan nor Hartman exhibited any money
before the committee.
Wallace r. White appeared before the COM
mlttee and testified that he met Messrs. Swan
and Hartman at the place stated 1.-THE iury
room OF the court house at Augusta) on the
9th day of January last; that he had CONVEX
satlon with them as to the course they were to
pursue in the organization of the Legislature
and that they were both of the opinion that
the decision of the Supreme Court must be
respected and that both wrote statements de-
claring their intention to respect the decision
and to withdraw their connection from the
Fusion members of the House. Mr.. White
further testified that he had in his possession
at that time only about $35 and that he never
paid Mr.. Swan or Hartman dollar
Numerous witnesses we're introduced to s,,s-
tain and refute the charges made. Much con-
fict was found in the testimony which covered
awide range. The committe gave careful at
tention to the testimony offered, examining
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 B.
Swan and Moses Hartman against Wallace
r. White are not sustained. Mr.. Perkins of
the committee was not present and did not
take part in the hearing on the charges pre-
ferred by Mr.. Swan and Mr. Hartman
The report is signed by.
L. H. HuTcH1NsoN,
GEO. w. GOULDING.
BENZ. HARTMAN,
M. N. MCKUsICK
Minority Report.
The undersigned, a minority of the
committee appointed to investigate certain
charges of attempted bribery of members of
this House, not being able to concur in the
conclusion OF the majority of the committee,
submit the following report:
bartholomew Wentworth, member of this
House, testified that just prior to the assemb-
ling of the Legislature Charles Z. Rick"r told
him if he would absent himself from the
Legislature he could have $500 in gold and
Gl0 day for 40 days. Charles E. Kicker
testified as stated in the report of the majority.
as to leave no doubt in the minds of the un-
dersigned that he testified honestly and in the
full belief that Mr.. Ricker's purpose was to
induce him to absent himself from the Legis-
lature by the payment of money. On the
other hand neither the appearance of Mr..
Kicker nor the character of his testimony was
such as 10 inspire much confidence in his
statements. But as it is impossible to de.
termine that the declaration of Mr.. Kicker
that his offer of money was in jest was untrue
the undersigned concur 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 Kennebunk-
port, members of this House. Mr.. James O,
White of Wilton testified that he received a
summons from the Governor to attend as
member of the Honse, and on his arrival in
Augusta met his cousin Wallace r. White of
Winthrop, who told him if he would surren-
der his certificate and sign document not to
appear and organize the House he would pay
him $1,000 Witness further testified that w.
R. White wanted him to find some one who
would take the money and stay away; that he
saw Thomas B. Swan and told him of the of
fer and that the latter was willing to accept it,
The report after recaptulating Swans testi-
mony concludes as follows:
The undersigned, having heard all the testi-
mony in the case of Thomas B. Swan and
Moses Hartman and the arguments in rela-
ton thereto, and fully considered the same,
are compelled to differ from the conclusion of
the majority of the committee and are of the
opinion that the charges in this case are fully
proved and sustained.
(Signed.)
HENRY INGALLS,,
Dr.