Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-29
NASHVILLE.
An Interesting Witness Before the
Investigating Committee,
Tells How he Got a Prescription
for Senator Barrett.
Which Was to 80 Disable him that
he Gould not Vote.
Inside View Of a Hard Lot Of In
terested "Short" Lobbyists,



NASHVILLE, December y.
The examination of Louis B. McWhorter
before the investigating committee to-day
was unusually interesting. Being sworn no
testified that he was here during the last
session of the Legislature. He was opposed
to the 1908 bill and was actively interested
in its defeat. Bell, McGavock and Brans-
ford were also intensely interested in its de-
feat. Jno n Freeman, Enloe,
Spiral Hill, Major O'Conner and others were
interested in its passage. Witness was III
troduced to Smith and Barrett, but did not
know them intimateiy-had known Speaker
Morgan ali his life. Bransford was doing
all he could for the bill. Lambeth was here
and said he was sent here TO make Barrett
vote against the bill. He always told Wit
ness he would vote against the bill
Witness, Bransford, Bell and Barrett
were together one night at Wilson's saloon.
Bransford told witness that he had S15, 900
worth of . shorts" on bonds for Barrett.
Bransford is a very communicative, impuls-
i've fellow and tells everything he knows.
He told witness that he had some . shorts y
for Morgad's benefit On Thursday before
the bill was voted On, Barrett and John Free
man walked from the capitol to the Maxwell
House arm in arm. and witness never saw
Barrett again until next morning. Witness
never said word to Barrett about money
II i L..
could make Old Barrett vote against the
bill if he could get hold of him. He said he
was going to give him some croton oil and
make him so damned sick that he could not
attend. Witness went to DR.. Summers
and told him he wanted something to
make man slightly sick, to pre-
vent him from attending the meet
ing of the Legislature the next
day. DR.. Summers gave him a prescription
for one-half grain of atrophia and said it
would dilate his eyes and make him too sick
to attend. Witness took the prescription
and gave it to Bransford, who said he and
Lambeth would give it to Barrett. Witness
send to vindicate himself, he would take the
prescription and felt sure it would not affect
him.
Barrett--"I prefer you should take it
now"
Witness said Bransford told him the night
before the VOTE that if he could see
Barrett, he would put him in a hack and put
a pistol to his head and take him to Sumner
County, that he was not going to lose his
money and would give the whole thing away
first. Witness gave Bransford some money
to invest for him. Bransford gave it to
O'Connor. Witness went to the capitol
next morning rather late, with several
friends After he had been there fifteen
minutes, Bransford and Morgan came in
arm in arm. Bransford told witness that
morning that the bill was sure to pass-that
Morgan and everybody had sold out. Witness
| then went down to Marr's bank, and to Dun
| cans to buy some bonds. Met Bran sford
as he came out of Marr's bank and he was
excited. He told witness that Bell said
Morgan would not vote for the bill. Wit
ness and Bransford came back to the capitol
! in hack and Bransford told him he was
afraid these fellows would kill him if Morgan
did not vote for the bill. He said he had
the S., 600 to pay Morgan for his vote, and
showed witness the money and said he got
it from Marsh Polk's Office. Bransford
told witness he had offered money to
Morgan, who said he was
afraid to have it on his person, for it would
create some excitement when he voted for
the bill. Bransford said he was to get
s., 500 for securing Morgan's vote. He said
he had advised Morgan to take $4,000 an6
go to Chattanooga and practice law; thai
his people believed he had sold out in voting
for Num- and could never be elected again.
When witness went back to the capitol OF
Friday, on the morning the bill was. being
voted on, witness remembered that as a re
been sued for damages by Barrett. Witness
and others were attorneys for Fertree
in the defense. 1t was early in July, 6 weeks
or two months after suit had been brought
that these fellows would put him in the pen
itentiary certain. Barrett said he wante
witnesses to get him out of it, but be coult
not, as he was attorney for Vertrees. Bar
rett went to see witness next dsy, and talke'
some time. Barrett told witness that Yer
trees had told him he had better look out
there were bigger men behind th
scenes than him. He said he ha4
seen Polk and O'Conner and they pro
posed to let him take care of himself Bar
rett said if that was their ga me he would Sc
them through; he would tell some things o.
them. Barrett told witness that Polk an
OConner had offered him $4,000 to vot
for the bill.
Barrett here interrupted with the ques
ton, Don't you know you are lying? ?"
Witness I'll see you outside of thi
chamber"
The chairman interferred and told Senate
Barrett that if the interruption wa
: repeated IN that style he would sen
him from the room. Witness explaine
that he wanted to set himself right in re
gard to Bransford's testimony, that b
never offered $4,000 for Morgan's vote
that Bransford had always been considere
: sort of crank by the family, as well as tb
, community, and if it were not for the fac
that his testimony will be read throughor
the State, he would deem it necessary t
contradict it. Bransford was generous, b,
impulsive, indiscreet, and unstable as waite
In regard to Bransford's statemeI
before the committee that witness said b
told him Barrett said he had been offere
l S1(l 900 for his yOta II woo ,,r,trua Rrop