The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-20
THOSE BRIBERY CHARGES
PAT CALHOUN'S Law PARTNER
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE

No Foundation for the Statement That
Votes Had Been offered for Sale
Mr.. Willis Testified That Dol. Living
ston Stated to Him That Seven Men
Had offered to Vote for Calhoun for
$500 Apiece
ATLANTA, GA, Aug 19.-The bribery
Investigation committee met this morning
at O'Clock.
Jack j. Spalding, law partner CT Pat
Calhoun, appeared as q witness. He swore
substantially to what Mr.. Calhoun and Col
Livingston had already sworn-that no
name of legislator had ever been sent to
Mr.. Calhoun's headquarters for sale; that
there was no foundation for the charge;
that votes had been offered to Mr.. Calhoun
for money. There was some discussion,
said Spalding, about certain men being in
fiuenced by bringing other men here to At
lanta. which would necessitate the spending
Of some money, but Mr.. Calhoun opposed
even that. 1t was not done.
AS FOR PURCHASING VOTES DIRECT,
that had never even suggested itself to
Mr. Calhoun's friends.
The first witness on the other side was E.
alliance. He reached the city at IL o'clock
and appeared before the committee at H.
II am not voluntary witness" Mr.. Willis
began: Il was compelled to come here.
have heard that my testimony has been
contradicted in advance by Col. Livingston
and others, but l am going to tell the
| truth though the heavens fall.
Mr.. WILLIS STORY.
"Some time last February Col. Living
or oR 81 30
ment at another place in Harris county.
| There was no one at Ellerslie TO meet him
and | volunteered to carry him out to his
appointment. On the the way out remarked
| to him, The say boy that you fellows, after
| trying to run Norwood and Judge Hines,
had TO give them up and fall back on Pat
| Calhoun because he had money Col
Livingston said: If they start anything
like that am prepared for them
WOULD SELL FOR $500.
"He Col Livingston then went on to
say that seven men had approached Mr..
Calhoun and him (Col. Livingston) and
stated that they had not been instructed by
| their constituents, aud that for $500 apiece
| they would vote for Mr. Calhoun, as they
| believed be would make as good a repre-
sentive as Gen. Gordon, or any other man.
Col. Livingston said that Mr.. Calhoun told
them he did not intend to spend one cent.
Col Livingston stated further that still an
other member came to him and Mr.. Cal
houn and said Il rode horse to Atlanta,
and if you will give me $3.50 for the horse,
bride and saddle, then Pm your man.
| This offer was treated like the others. Col.
Livingston said further that every one of
these men voted for John 3. Gordon. and
added that If anybody wanted to investi-
gate he Col Livingston) was ready for it.
I've got their names right here, said he."
Mr.. Willis put his hand to breast pocket
in the coat, indicating Col. Livingston's
meaning that he literally had these names
then and there Ia his coat pocket.
A CRoss-ExAMINATIoN.
''Mr. Willis" said Mr.. Trammell Of Whit
field, member of the committee, as the
witness concluded his statement, "it has
been said, or it is claimed, by the friends of
Col. Livingston that this investigation has
baen precipitated to injure him. Will you
please state to the committee whether or
not you are friend of Col. Livingston's,
and whether or not this testimony is volun-
taryp
II am tied to COL Livingston" said Mr..
Willis. II believe in him stronger than
any man in Georgia. / am Calhoun man.
l was for him in that race and believe yet
| ne would have made the best representa-
tive Georgia could have elected. am tooth
and toenail against John B. Gordon. This
testimony is not voluntary and it is very
10 MY k6ublo1du 60 De IOfC0u
to position like this. l would not have
come had not been compelled to. / ex-
pect the state to pay my expenses. l am
not able to pay my expenses up here
to help convict or exonerate a legislator or
anybody else"
MR.. WILLIS SUMMONS.
Just as Mr.. Willis started from the room
he stopped again to ask il the summons
upon which he came to Atlanta was author
lied and if the signatures were genuine.
He was told that they were genuine. al do
this" he said, explaining his question. "to
put the committee on notice that l was be-
fore them only because 1 was compelled
! to be-"
Didn't you receive a summons before
the one you have thereF' asked Mr.. Tram.
NELL.
81 did,"
why didn't you obey that"
because it read You are requested in-
stead Of You are commanded" as this one
reads and do not propose to come at the
mere request of anybody"
MIR. Quits of Muscogee, chairman OF the
co nmittee, stated that Mr.. Willis was
neighbor of his. aud that he (Mr. Willis
was a man Of unimpeachable character and
that bis word could not be doubted.
There will be other witnesses