The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-04-02

| ana IL Will uOE6T SCI udy1lgQ
again, if the introducer is quoted
all OF which l believe he can dc
| He says he does not want a cent
until The Legislature adjourns, and i
he does net accomplish what yol
desire, why he does not want cent
we will ask for nothing. l think i
would be well to kill this way if you
can raise the money fro1n the meI
interested in this matter. Ii you
desire TrYon's services write me ;
letter saying what you will do in thu
matter, and L can get him to worl
it. If you don't wish his services lei
the matter rest just where it is anC
l will do all can for you. If yor
should receive the amount by sub
Scriptions do not let any one know
how you intend working this thing
but simply assure them that
their money will be re-
funded by you, if you do
not succeed in suppressing the present
and any other law that may be intro
duced in either house Of the Legisla-
ture. Let me hear from you right
away. 1 introduced Mr.. Landon to
Mr.. Tryon and told him what could
be done. He asked me to write to
you right away. Yours truly,
a. SAMPSON.
AS NAV we'll he imagined the read
ing Of this letter created profound
establishment. 1t was followed by
others but space will not admit their
publication. The foregoing is enough,
and was sufficient in the minds of
the members TO fasteu the guilt then
and there, where it properly belonged
Tankersley rose to respond. He had
not been accused of "blackmail' him.
self but the others had, and it was in
timated that he had been used as their
tool. His speech was rather a tame
denial-far too tame many thought
of having had anything to do with
Simpsons scheme. AS both his rojoin-
der and Col. Fishers speech
appear IN full elsewhere no further
description is necessary.
THE INVESTIGATION.
OF course something had to be done, a
criminal offence had been committed;
and the dignity and honor of both
Houses demanded al investigation.
1t was speedily ordered. A Senate
committee consisting of Terrell, Ran
dolph, and Harrison were appointed
to Investigate the case of Sampson.
Before these gentlemen came as
witnesses, the accused, S,
s. Floydd, Senator Jerdone.
j. G. Cullens, Representative
and Joe NJ. Tryon.
Sampson owned up to writing the
letters, and made a clean breast of
everything. j. G. Cullens, a st. Louis
broker, formerly of Galveston, was
the next witness. His testimony was
about as follows: 81 was present at
an interview on the goth of last
February between Messrs. Floyd,
Sampson and Tryon. When
Tryon came in he said: 81 appear be-
fore you in very bad light gentlemen,
and if you can't see me, 'Ican feel myself
blushing. SIMPSONS object in bring
ing Tryon in was to prove that he
(Sampson) had not been receiv-
ing any money from Floyd s. Co.,
which he refused to share
with Tryon. During the
Interview, Tryon remarked that he
could control Tankersly and had pro-
missed him gold watch and chain;
but it would have to be a fine one.
General laughter) Witness impress
sion was that both Tryon and Samp-
son said that for ST. 800 they could
beat the bill-$50O to be paid down
and the rest at the end OF the session.
Tankersley was the next man in
tervieWed. He got UP as if addressing
a jury and spoke II an animated, ex-
cited way throughout. He said he
had been solicited to work for a bill
against gambling and bucket-shops;
that they were Identical. Had never
spoken to Sampson about it except
to tell him that the bill had been re-
ported favorably. Didn't know till
lately that there was such firm in
Texas as s. S. Floyd & Co. He was
surprised that these letters had not
been readsbefore. The gentleman had
been holding them a month. Why
had he kept them back? The let.
tiers should have been shown
have had
BOTH OF THEM EXPELLED
for using his name without authority
Nobody had ever endeavored to get
him to relax his efforts for the pass
age of the bill. All this and much
more from Tankersley. When he had
ended his harangue ne took up
his hat and departed. 1t was
hard to say what impression was made
on the minds OF the three Judges was
the general expression one Of incred-
ulityp Any how nothing was said
and Col. Jerdone was next called
upon. This gentleman's testimony
was not particularly of a eliminating
character. He knew that Tyron and
Sampson were hostile to the bill. He
had advised Floyd TO quit the state,
before giving up dollar TO influence
the Legislature. Senator Randolph
then asked Jerdone: Do you know
whether Sampson was trying to black
mail Floyd, so as to secure money
Jerdone answered that he did not
know.
The next man introduced was Joe
Tryon, who was at that very moment
being Investigated by House COM
mittee. Tryon denied everything and
stood CALLING fire of questions with
remarkable GOODNESS.
Senator Terrell to Trvon: "Did you
not make a proposition to defeat the
bill for $1500?" Answer: 81 die
not" He went on to say that
he had never spoken OF any
money to anybody throughout the
entire affair. He was Of the opinion
however, that he could
BEAT ANY LEGISLATION
provided he had money enough to d.
it with. AT one part only of his testi
mony did Tryon seem put out. WheI
allusion was made to certain note!
that had passed between Sampson ant
himself, he turned very red, and anx
iously inquired if the notes wer
present. On being told they wer
not, he recovered his composure. N,
| more witnesses were examined.
| THE RESULT
was quickly reached. On returnin,
to the Senate chamber, Mr.. Terrell
read the report of the committee
which recommended the dismissal O
| Alex. Sampson from the Senate. Ran
dolph made brief speech IN favor @
the adoption OF the repsrt, and tn
vote was taken. Twenty-one Senator
voted to expel. Jerdone refrained fror
voting and was about to explain hi