Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-11

charges and rumors.
The committee met last evening.
Mr.. Bradley was not present at the
opening of the session, and Mr. A.
Carpenter made a strong effort to
secure an aajaurnmet This failed
and voluntary statements by the
members were in order
Hiram Sessions, member of
the assembly stated that he
had been approached last January
in the interest of Depew, by man
named Edwards, who had offered 10
defray his campaign expenses in re-
turn for his vote. In the present
canvass no direct offer had been
made him.
Assemblyman Bradley then ap,
peared and was sworn. He testified
that on Wednesday night Senator
Sessions met him at the Delavan
House, sought an interview, accom-
panied him to his (Bradley's) room
and offered him $1,000 for his vote for
Depew, after which he raised the bid
to $4,000, with the promise Of an adj
ditional $1,000 if Depew should be
elected. Bradley took the money,
and after some debate with himself
as to the best method of exposing
the transaction, concluded to hand it
TO Speaker Sharpe. At the conclu~
sion Of Bradley's examination, Rufus
". Peckh.m, as counsel for Mr.. Ses-
sions, demanded hearing for his
client in order that a denial might
go the public with the accu~
sation. DIr. Carpenter opposed this
and wished Sessions examina-
ton postponed until to-day. Finally
it was agreed that Sessions should
make voluntary statement. His
request to be allowed first to ask
Bradley four or five questions was
refused by vote Of 4 to 3. Ses~
sions then stated that he had had a
number of conversations with Brad
ley with the object of inducing hin
to vote for D.pew, but that not a
word was sapi about money at any
of them. At the last conversation,
held IN Bradleys room, the lat er
IAl41C l-iICCS4 Ills itlCHSIOI W FOLS IUI
Depew, having become convinced
the his constituents were over
whelminSly against Conkling and
Platt. Sessions again sought to
question Mr.. Bradley, but "as refused
permission to do so.
After adjournment, Mr. Sessions
sac the. estions he desired to as K
Mr.. Bradley were whether he had not
told four different persons on Wed
nesday, and before the transaction
he referred to took place, that he in
tended to vote for Depew?
The committee met this morning
at $40, all the members present.
Speaker Sharpe was the first witness
called. He was sworn and said:
| know Samuel FL. Bradley I had
an interview with him night before
last at the Delevan House, in my
room. No one was present except
Bradley and Mr.. Jones, a member Of
the Republican State committee.
b adley and Jones came in together
and Bradley said be had an inpor :
ant thlBg to say to me He SAID he
had been approached little while
before and was offered money 10
vote for Depew. l asked him
If he had any mo1ey. He said yes,
he was given money. He then said
he wanted me to take it. / asked
him why. he said. as chief officer of
the house, he preferred to give it to
me, He said he was in doubt
whether to make a statement in
the house or in joint c,nven ion
lie wanted my advice, and [ did not
want to give it. My Impression is
that he asked Mr.. Jones whether he
should tell who gave 1t to him. He
told me Was the senator from
his district, Mr.. Sessions. He
then gave Inc the money,
and I counted it. There were
two $1,000, three $500 and ten $50
bills. The speaker handed over the
money to the chairman Of the COM
rnlttee. l put he money in that en-
'elope and put it IN my pocket. [
'ouh0ee the money again before [
Men' W oeo' and counted it again in
Tue IN rnlng' l carefully examined
the bills. These are the same h,iIs
There are three $500 treasury notes
The witness detailed the numbers
and series of the bills.
Mr. Brooks moved that the monev
beAdeposited with the comotroler,
to be held for the final disposal by
the speaker. Carried.
Mr.. Peckham crosse examined
Speaker Sharpe eliciting the foIlowo
ing testimony: [ did not give Brad
ley any advice, telling him that
while l did not want to 5ake the
money, still I thought he had q
right to leave it with me.
When / took the money. [
asked him if he had mingled money
with any other. He said he had not.
He asked Jones if he should tell from
whom he had received the money.
and think Jones told MIN he ought
TO- bradley then said it was Mr..
Slsslns, the senator from his dis
trlct. He asked me if [ won d rec
ognize him on the HJor of the as