The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-18
A DECIDED SENSATION.
Charge Of Bribery Brought
Against Geo. A. Howard,
THE SCHOOL BOOK AGENT.
A Member ofthc Legislature Makes
Grave Allegations Which Mr..
Howard's Friends Say Are
not fredericksburg.
Special DIgDateA 70 he Iatllliqnor.

| Special DtGDdteh 10 ne lntEltgeneG.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb. ITO
day new phase OF the School Book
question was presented. 1t is charged
that Mr.. Howard, the representative Of
the American Book Company, who has
been here several days, has made an at.
.empt to bribs one member Of the Leg.
islature.
Just what happened may, perhaps, be
best told by tue clerks entry in the
Journal. 1t issas follows. "Mr. Dyer
arose 10 q question Of privilege, and
stated that at the noon recess Of the
House, at the Hotel Rufner, he was ap.
proached by one George A. Howard,
whom he understood 70 represent a
school book publishing eoHeeTni that
said Howard asked him how he stood on
the school book question; that he, the
said Dyer, replied that he was opposed
TO making a change in the school books
OF the State; that the said Howard re.
Piled that he desired that that should be
made known in the House, and that he,
the said Dyer, should have something
Tor making it known and that thereupon
the said Howard put something into the
said Dyer's pocket. The said Howard
then turned away. And seeing w. r.
Thompson, member Of the House, the
said Dyer at once went TO him, told him
what had occurred and that he supposed
it to be- money that Howard had put in
his pocket; that he went with Thomp-
son to bis room in the hotel and had
him take from his pocket what Howard
had put there, which proved to be $50
in bills. The said $50 was then sent 10
the desk and deposited with the clerk.
"Mr. Ferguson moved that warrant
be issued Immediately TO forthwith ap.
prehend the said George A. Howard and
bring him before the bar Of the House.
The motion prevailed. The Sergeant.
alarms at once started out in search OF
Mr.. Howard, but he was nowhere to be
found"
The trains leaving the city were
watched, but II he left OH one Of them,
his departure was unnoticed.
Mr.. THoMPsoS's STORY.
Mr.. Thompson, whose name is promi-
neatly mentioned in the above, tells
story only slightly differing from the
statement in the House journal.
He says that shortly after o'clock he |
was met by Mr.. Dyer, who said he
wanted 10 see him on important busi- |
ness. The two went to Mr.. Thompson's |
room and there Mr.. Dyer related the
circumstances virtually as given above.
Mr.. Thompson found in Mr.. Dyer's
pocket $50 and three $40 bills. As
MIR. Dyer was leaving the hotel MIR. |
Howard addressed Mr.. Dyer and said
he hoped he had given no offense.
Mr.. Dyer replied that he would hear
from him again before the day was over.
AS Mr.. Dyer and Mr.. Thompson went
out they met Judge @. P. Snyder and
mentioned the circumstance to him and
later MIR. Dyer spoke Of 1t to Judge Fer.
guson, who advised him to say nothing
about 1t, but 70 swear out warrant for
Mr.. Howard.
He did not take this advice, however,
and this afternoon at the House session
made the statement already given.
HOWARD READY TO ANSWER.
Friends of Mr.. Howard say he is still
In the city and will appear in the morn.
ing to answer all charges.
just what effect this will have on the
school book matter is difficult to pre-.
dict. The charges are the sensation Of
the session.