Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-09
WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN /?
SENATOR KANE KNOWS BUT STILL
REFUSES TO TELL.
More Testimony Committee Reports
Its Conclusions The Beginning
of the End.

action of the Senate, and its demand that he
reveal to the committee the name of the man
who he alleges attempted to bride him. Sen
ator Kane made no new statement, but
persisted in his refusal to disclose the name Of
the man who sought to buy his vote.
E. j. Smith testified that he knew Kane
roomed with him found him at home the
night the debris bill came up, about IL
o'clock; he was alone; nothing was said of
any attempted bribery.
Assemblyman Maybell testified that he had
suspicious of undue influences being exer-
cised, but wouldn't name any one, as he
might do some one an injury unjustly. he
had heard rumor of money being used, but
personally could not say he knew OF any use
OF 1t for corrupt purposes. He had under
stood Kane to say that he led on the man IN
order to get at his purpose and to see if he
couldn't unearth the whole matter. He had
advised that man in Kane's position could
not reveal the name. He thought he could
convince an audience of 10000 people that
Kane is justified in refusing to disclose.
William NJ Nelson testified, making a
long statement to the effect that he saw a
man named NJ. j. Kelly walk out of or near
the Senate door with Kane, Monday last, and
heard him say to Kane, "I will be there.
That was while the Senate was in evening
session. He suspected something, and con-
cealed himself at the entrance to the
alley leading to the house where Kane
rooms about II P. NJ. a man entered the
alley witness said good night to him,
and the man returned the salutation gruffly
and disappeared down the alley; couldn't
say what house he went into, there being
several houses, and it being very dark sub
sequently he saw Kelly and told him he
would publish his (Kelly's) portrait in San
Francisco paper, and under it these words,
''This is the man who offered Kane $500 for
his vote !" Kelly was disposed to treat it as
joke, but witness sought to convince him he
was in earnest; witness was satisfied Kelly
knew something of the matter, but was
equally satisfied he did not have the money +;
he had his suspicious, but wouldn't take the
chances of voicing them, and thus possibly
injuring an innocent person.
Senator Kane here held up his hand and
called God to witness that NJ. J, Kelly never
spoke to him about the matter or had any
thing to do with it, or was in his house since
his sickness early in the session, and that he
had nothing to do with the bribery directly
or indirectly Since his return from San
Francisco he had not even seen Kelly.
The committee then adjourned until l P. NJ.
E. j. Smith, clerk of the committee, and
who testified as stated above, said, after ad-
journment, that probably the man whom
Nelson saw going down the alley at II P. NJ.
Monday was himself, as he remembered some
one saying Good night to him, to whom
he replied quickly and passed on to his room.
The committee reassembled at P. NJ.
Assemblyman Lane sworn-Know Senator
Kane have known him about one year did
not work for his nomination knew nothing
about the alleged offer to influence Kane
had not talked with MIR. Maybell about the
matter, or as to how Kane ought to act in his
relation to the committee, nor had he talked
with Kane himself, or been in his room, or
visited him since his sickness month or two
ago; had not heard of the alleged bribery
when the statement was made IN the Senate
know of no improper influences having been
used in regard to the debris bill have not
talked with Kane on the subject.
Senator Conger sworn-Never well ac-
auainted with Kane have not talked with
him about this matter, nor visited or walked
with him; never knew of any undue inhu-
ences being used with Senators regarding the
debris bill no one ever came to witness from
| Kane with a message never advised with
Kane have nothing but passing acquaint-
ance with Kane.
Senator Kane recalled.
Senator Neumann-At whose suggestion
did you make the promise not to divulge the
name !?
Senator Kane-My own the talk was a
confidential one.
Neumann-You didn't know what it was
that was to be said to you?
Kane-Nothipg.
Neumann-You understood what it would
be?
Kane-Yes.
Nesmann-From what?
Kane-From his language.
Neumann-What was it?
Kane-Cant give it now; he said he
wanted to talk with me, and asked if | had
any objection.
Neumann-Had he ever spoken to you of
any other bill J.?
Kane-No.
Neumann-Isn't it strange, don't it appear
strange to you that any citizen whose right it
is to speak to legislator and urge or oppose
measures he deems proper or improper, should
ask if you had any objection to talking about
q pending bill?
Kane-I can't say as to that. In this case
the mans language
Neumann-Well, you told him you had nc
objection?
Kane-Yes; and that 1 had no objection
to talk to any man.
Neumann-N mere uiu you luetI ulln
Kane-On the street.
| Nenmann-Did YOU make an appointment
with him.
Kane-He said he'd come to my room if ]
had no objection.
| Neumann-That evening?
Kane-Yes.
Neumann-You said you had no objection
| Kane-Yes.
Neumann-He came alone?
Kane-Yes.
Neumann-How long after you got to youl
room?
! Kane-About half an hour.
| Neumann-Where did you make the
promise not to reveal his name?
Kane-On the street.
Neumann-What was it?
Kaue-I told him, ANY communication
YOU make to me I'll not reveal your name,
! but will tell of the offer" for | deemed il
corrupt. | want to say as to NJ. j. Kelly
| that first knew him in the Workingmen's
| Convention. So far as Kelly is concerned
with nv nomination, any favors he did were
unsolicited by me and unknown to me. Tc
parts of the delegations from the Seventh,
! Ninth and Tenth Wards l owe my nomina
! ton unsolicited.
! Neumann-Ho vast you voluntarily made
a uledge of secrecy on a subject you knew
/ nObnlu1 ShS - "a
! Kane-ln order to find out for felt it was
| a bad measure-bad for San Francisco.
/ feel it in my heart.
Neumann-You didn't know the man wa:
going to offer you money
Kane-No.
Neumann-Why then did you seek to
elicit anything from him?
Kane-Just to find out the corruption.
Neumann-Did you know or suspect he
was using corrupt means to influence Sen.
ators?
Kane-I suspected.
! Neumann-Had you heard any of then
were on it,
Kane-I didn't know if they were on it Oh
off it, but wanted to find out what thi'
man was at. :,
Neumann-Why should you talk with one
not connected with San Francisco or ths
Senate, and not then knowing that the cor
ruption of you was intended?
Kane-I imagined there was corruption II
any one furthering that debris question.
don't refer to any man in the Senate.
wanted to find out the depth of iniquity In it
Neumann-You wanted to ind out wha
offer the man would make?
Kane-Exactly.
Neumann-And so you pledged the CONVEX
sation to be confidential, as you have stated
| Kane-Yes, sir.
Senator Enos-Was the man member o.
either branch of the Legislature?
/ Kane-No, sir.