The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-02
ANOLYMPIAMYSTERY
Who is Atwood, and What Has
Become of Him?
NONE KNEW. FEW RECALL HIM.
investigating COMMITTEES May Report
ms week-LfffIe Liquidation
Accomplished Thus Far.


Metcalfe investigation viii suffer untimeay
< .enhxxiation because of q surplus Of gas"
and deficiency of evidence upon which
TO base charges Of corruption against any
body but Clarke. During the week sys-
tematic attempt has been made 70 Work
mn further contention among the KepnD-
licans, in the hope that permanent dlssen-
sjons might occur and the little family
quarrel INDUCED in during the late CAM
paign lead to lasting breach between
members Of the family. The schisEn
created by the senatorial fight gave the
Democracy the chance 10 insert the wedge
Of Investigation, and numerous very
breezy stories were volunteered by certain
Democratic members as TO the manner In
which they had been approached with Of
fers of Hbribesn and Doodle galore. Oi
course the proffers were virtnously spurned
BY the indignant members, who never Tor
; moment would allow themselves 10 be
tempted from their allegiance to Honest
Toni Carroll by the base dross OF gold.
One member, 50 he AYERS, was offered nrst
$1,000, then 81 200, then 5000 by the mys-
fcrious Atwood whom nobody knows ana
few remember, IL he would vote for Squire.
The earth apparently has opened and
swallowed up Atwood. He can be found
nowhere, though diligent search has been
made by Sergeant-at-aTms Lesh. Atwood
Is man Of about % years, tan, dark,
smoofh-faced, wcIl-dressed, with quiet
desneanor and rather suIky expression.
While here he sat frequently Just outside
of Squire's headquarters, and made the
acquaintance Of limited number Of peo-
pie. lie was introduced as a young man
Of means, who had just located At Seattle,
aud who. having n taste for politics, had
como 10 Olympia TO witness the senatorial
struggle. He appears, however. not 10
have formed the acquaintance Of either
Mr. Mcf5raw or Mr.. Grant, for they have
expressed themselves as baftied in an at
tempt TO remember him. He was accused
once Of being CaIkins detective and be-
came very angry. When the Metealfe in
vestigation was begun Chairman Kennedy
learned that Atwood claimed TO know
something about the case, or 10 be able 10
give information of value, 30 his name was
added to the list Of witnesses 20 be sub
penaed. He appears 70 have learned Of
the desire Of the committee 70 avail itself
of his supposed information and 10 have
vanished forthwith. The mystery that
has attended his movements. and his evil
dent desire 70 keep himself out Of the way,
have increased the desire Of the committee
TO learn his whereabouts and TO place him
under examination.
Chairman Kennedy and his committee
left for Spokane Falls last Wednesday
afternoon, and were in session Friday and
Saturday. Before the committee left the
friends Of Clarke loudly declared that Met
calfe's character would be torn to pieces
IN Spokane Falls, and that Clarke would
clearly establish high record for honesty
and uprighfness, which would result in
the triumphant vindication Of Clarke and
the everlasting discontinue Of Metcalfe.
Neither result appears to have been
reached. Metcalfe has established an ex-
cellent reputation, and his character
stands unimpeached. The testimony of
Metcelfe has indeed been strengthened in
the continuance of the inquiry; while
CIarke's is exactly in the same position it
has been from the first. IL was simple
denial then, and IL Is q denial now. Met
caiie's testimony Is supported by several
incidents OF very suspicious character,
and they corroborafe his story so strongly
rs TO leave little doubt in the public mind
that his story Is exactly true He led
Clarke into making an offer Of 81, 600 for
his vote. paying first 500 and then $500.
and plsdgsng himself to pay the remainder
when Caikins was elected or withdrew.
Clarke took little walk with Metcalfe
during the exciting turmoil in the
olympia hotel, Monday, January 10, and
gave him 500. He acknowledges the walk
and that IL occurred at the time of the ex-
element. Metcalfe Immediately after pro-
duced the 500 among friends and il was
duly marked and rcsealed in an envelope.
Next day Clarke led Metcalfe into a room
and gave him roll containing $500. Sew
eral reputable witnesses saw the two go
into the room and meet. Three minutes
after, Metcalfe appeared among his friends
with 500. The stories Of Clarke and Met
caiie as TO all their several walks. talks
and interviews agree exactly, except Clarke
denies the tender Of the money.
A little circumstance that tends IN
strengthen Metcalfe's story was broughtto
light In testimony here. Metcalfe, it is
well known, Is poor man, and would
hardly throw away an offer Of $500 or
VI noounless actuated by high conscientious
motives. Clarke doubtless knew Met
cafes circumstances and tried 10 take
advantage OF them. When Metealfe came
here he had little or no money. as is evil
denced by the fact that he tried TO borrow
y from friend. He could not himself
have furnished the $500 which he claims
10 have received from Clarke, just for the
purpose OF laying a trap.
Ii is interesting 10 note in this connec-
ton that among the first bills introduced
IN the House was one by Metcalfe 20 "pre-
vent trades, combinations or bribery
among members of the legislature. Tho
Introduction of this bill was followed bv
laugh, but the denouement wouia fnd;.
cate that Metcalfe knew what no Ms
about when he framed that measure Tie
point has been raised that there is now no
law on the statute books of the state 10
prevent bribery, although the enactment
OF such law is directly commanded Nv
the constitution. (Section %. Article ~
~ is believed by many that Clarke cannot
&c punished, even If found guilty. Ii does
not make great deal Of difference. for. in
cases OF this kind, an unpupishec feien
suffers as severely in public estimation az
ii ne were fined and imprisoned. Clarke e
something of a factor in Snokane Falls
Ward politics, and his influence h nreftv
certain TO be broken, whatever s tbe
outcome OF the bribery charges.
The committee will return from, S,,ol,a,a
Fails probably tomorrow. 1t ought ~ he
able to make finding this week tbopgb
there may be new testimony 10 be taken
suVn' tor instance, as that of Atwood. II he
hatefiallzes If only TO satisfy public
e.'tiosi'y, u Is TO be desired that Atwood
snow up, and tell his threatened story.
whose friend and agent was he when he
offered to hribe Democratic members a.
Vote for Squirrel Was he Calkins
astsetve, as Is now generally believed
trying 70 ernharrass the Squire eauspalgn
OF was he simply sort OF a conts,les,,s,
hlasi. trying 10 operate on his own bcok
au0 ia ms o~a peculiar wayg Mr. A.
TO rise and explain. f"'''lO
Inc city authorities Of Olympia have r..
naoTselesSly imposed q harsisbip ,,ror :