Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-02-27
Charges of Bribery and corrup-
toni
So the Enormous Sunni

as we observe from the wheeling
papers, was last week brought before
high court in the shape of n COM
mittee of the Legislature. charged
with attempted bribery and corrup-
ton. How the big farce progressed
is thus detailed in the Wheeling Reg
lister of Thursday:
Mr.. Floyd, in voting against Senate
bill s. Commission of taxation) as
amended by the House, stated he had
been credibly informed that corrupt
influences had been attempted to make
certain the passage of the bill.
On motion of Mr. Eanmeter COM
mittee of investigation was appointed,
comprising MeSsrs. Price, Roberts
and woodward
The committee of investigation met
Immediately after their appointment
in one of the little rooms opening on
the corridor connecting the two
houses Quite crowd of curiosity
seekers, attaches of the Legislature.
delegates and Senators thronged the
room, eager to see if sensation were
to be developed. Mr.. Floyd, the SEN
ator who had sprung the whole ques-
ton, was the first witness. He stated
what MIR. NIcGrew had told him, his
statement concurring in every partic-
ular with that of 9Ir. McGrew, which
is found below.
As will be seen, while the testimony
develops discrepancies. the whole af-
fair is small mole-hill elevated to a
sublime and altogether imaginary
mountain.
MR. M'GREw's EXAMINATION.
1fr. Price-Senator. will you state
to the committee anything you may
know touching this matter?
Mr. McGrew- know about the
matter is this: On the night on which
the vote was taken on the passage of
the bill. Geo. Sargent came to me and
asked me if knew anything about
the bill I told him 1 did not know
anything particularly about it. 1t
was a bill that ought not to pass, and
1 voted against it. He said there was
a job of some kind. Mr. Mason had
come to him and offered him some
thing if he would influence Mr.. CO.
burn TO vote for the bill. There was
a job of some kind in it, and ought
to kill it, He had gone to Mr.. Co
burn and made that statement to him.
Mr. McGrew said further he had
asked Coburn about it the next morn
ing
Sir. Price-Did Mr.. Sargent tell
how much money was offered to him
Mr. McGrew-S5. he believed.
Mr.. Price-Did he say when the
offer was made?
Mr. McGrew-I do not remember
the day, but it was the evening of the
day the announcement of the vote was
postponed
Mr. Price-Did he say where it oc-
curredz
Mr.. 6IcGrew-At the Mcclure, L
believe
WHAT Dir. CoBURN KNEW.
Mr. Coburn said: Well. sir, all I
know about it L can state in few
words 4 few nights ago Mr.. Sar-
gent came 10 me and told me that Mr..
Mason had told him that if he would
procure my vote for that bill, that he
would pay him so much money. lido
not remember that he indicated the
amount, but that he would pay him
money 1 did not say anything 1
came into the Senate chamber the next
morning and sat down by Senator
MeGrew; he leaned over and touched
me on the arm and said there was no
doubt about there being corruption in
this thing, for money has been offered
to get it passed. and lie told me what
Sargent had told him and what Mr.
Sargent had told me. The conversa-
ton occurred between me and Mr..
Sargent at the Mcclure. 1t was the
night after the bill had passed the
Senate 1 voted against it. There
was no one present when Sargent told
me. He did not want to tell me who
the person was, and I insisted he
should Finally, said would not
say anything about it. and then he
told me- The impression made on my
mind was that he told me as friend
to let me know what was going on
1 did not understand him in any way
to intend to influence my vote. There
was no such impression made on my
mind
Mr. Coburn said he knew of no
other means used to procure the pass
age of the bill.
sARGENT's S. BILL.
Mr. Sargent came in perfectly self
possessed and spoke to the following
effect:
Il never knew anything about the
bill. In fact, did not know it was
offered Tread a great deal about the
Finance Committees report 1 met
Mr. Mason He and 1 have been
friendly 1 met him late in the eve
ming. / suppose about 10 o'clock. He
said come to my ROOM 1 went up
there and he said to me: The Dem
ocratic party will be ruined if this bill
isnot put through He asked: Have
YOU any Influence with Senator Co.
burnz' said had. It was the night
You postponed the announcement of
the vote and did not announce it till
the next day He said: Now, You
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