Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-19
THE INVESTIGATIONS BEGUN.
Leake and Estee Give Their Testimony.
The Scraps In Evidence.

h0 OcERPS AAA ~ yAuOhC0s
SACRAMENTO, March 18.--The joint
committee appointed by both houses to
investigate the charges of bribery in the
senatorial election, met in the supreme
court room tonight. Senator Voorhies
meeting. Mr.. Dibble stated that he had
to be present at a meeting of the assem-
bly,, and for that reason he had secured
the services of Governor +. S. Solomon.
Colonel ]. P. Jackson represented Mr..
FELTON,; Frank Stone represented Mr..
De Young, and John F. Davis repre-
sented Blanchard.
Attorney-General Hart explained how
he had received the documents, and he
then delivered the sealed package to the
committee.
S. w. Leake, assistant librarian, was
sworn as witness, and testified that he
found the papers sealed in the package,
on desk and in the waste basket in
room in the library. He then said that
Estee, who was present, asked him what
the figures were on the papers. He re-
piled: 81 do not know"
"Mr. Estee," continued the witness,
ssthen asked me to send for Senator
McGowan and Dan Burns. There was
also wrapper which wae marked $1,000.
Mr.. Estee first called my attention to
the papers on the table. Mr.. Dibble
sand Mr.. Marion were the only ones that
saw go into this room be-
fore Mr.. Estee and | entered it.
They remained there until close
to 10 O'Clock, when Mr.. Dibble arrived.
He asked me if he could rob me of my
private Office for time. told him he
could. / asked him if they were going
to make a senator that day, and he re-
piled that he did not know. He said
he was waiting for party to come in
and do some figuring with him."
M. M. Estee was the next witness
called. The attorney-general questioned
him. Mr.. Estee said that he went to
the state library yesterday morning and
walked into the private office. 'As
walked back and forth in the room, /
saw some scraps on the desk.
and l noticed among them
torn roll call. / thought it was
my roll call. looked again
and saw piece of buff paper with the
marks $500 On it, Sd month and 166th
day. It looked like a greenback wrap
per. Looking again / saw two other
wrappers, one marked $500, and an
other $1,000. 1 asked Leake who had
been there, and he said Judge Dibble
had been there. / then sent for my
friend. They suggested that we send
for the attorney-general and give the
papers to him; some one said: Send
for Felton, but he was not in the
building"
Mr.. Estee continued: 'This was the
first time I ever saw these papers, and
don't pretend to know who put them in
the library. don't think any one said
anything about sending for De Young.
n had heard r,lmnr that he had retired
from the fight"
In answer to question put by Gram
dali, Mr.. Estee said he did not know of
any one OF the candidates using any
money improperly in this canvass. II
did think when Mr.. Leake told me that
Dibble had replied when Mr.. Leake
asked him if there would be senator
elected that day, I'VE are just going to
fiugre on it, that possibly some money
had been used by some one in the fight"
Attorney General Hart asked Mr.. Es-
tee if he had used any money in this
contest. He replied that he had not,
nor had any of bis friends done go with
his knowledge or consedt.
Col. jackson then asked Mr.. Estee
why he did not send for De Young in
stead of FELTON,, as De Young was not
out of the fight. The reply was that it
was generally understood that De Young
had withdrawn In favor Of FELTON,.
Estee was then excused, and the
package was opened. In it was found a
number Of small envelopes sealed. They
were found to contain small scraps Of
paper. 1t was decided to defer further
action until tomorrow, when some one
could be selected to paste them in shape.
The committee then adjourned till to-
morrow morning.