The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-27
An episode in State Politics.
Interviews and Statements of Senator Will
i coz and George w. Owen Concerning
the Attempt at Bribery.
MR. wILcox's STRONG STATEMENT.

Fred BrittOn regarding certain conversation
with George Owen, will add that they wei
of so direct a nature that 1t was impossible
to mistake their meaning. The allegatiO
that drew differences from them that la
no business to draw is absolutely untrue
There was no need to draw differences. ii
o was blunter than l would imagine a ma
: would he, coming with such proposals.
, The first conversation took place nearly Il
front of Charles Lawrences store. wa
just going into the store, when Owen, VIII
was just crossing the street, called TO me
He said that he had been summoned b,
some person he did not name to Detroit
short time before. This person, he said
had inquired as to my financial standing o.
as to whether / was in need of money, OF
words to that effect. lie had asked Mr.
Owen to see and talk with me. Mr. Over
said in that conversation there was some
thing in it both for him and for me- speaking
of the situation In the senate. He could
use money and so could L. This language
was repeated in subsequent interviews In
such connection as could leave no doubt as
to what he meant. He said that in addition
to his being designated to look after me.
other persons had been designated to look
after other senators.
The three conversations had with him
were very much alike both i'm subject matter
and language used. After the first there
was scarcely new element introduced.
Once he said, referring directly to the prac-
'tice of accepting money, that it was COM
mon thing and that everybody did it.
No one with knowledge of the English
language, could draw from his conversations
any other meaning than that large sum
would be at my disposal, provided would
| consent to act with the republicans.
The News correspondent asked Mr.. Owen
'Did you ever tell Mr.. Wilcox that you
had been designated by some person or
persons in Detroit or elsewhere to look after
him?"
"Really, now, l can't recall that ever
did"
"Is it a fact that you were so designated
whether you told him so or not?"
mo, wasn't. OF course, have good
many friends in Detroit-political friends.
When meet them there it is natural that
we should talk politics. We may have talk
ed about the political situation in the senate
and about the situation in this district, but
as far as my being designated to look after
Wilcox, particularly, why there is nothing
in it,"
''Who were some of these friends you
talked with In Detroit about the situation in
the senate and in the district"
''Why, said Mr.. Owen, very mildly, you
must think me green, pretty green. OF
course couldn't tell you that, | couldn't
tell you whom talked with and couldn't
reveal the nature of private conversations.
At least 4 could not until l knew what Is
coming, or what is back of all this thing"
Mr.. Owen said he did not know anything
about any plan to purchase the control of
the senate; did not know anything about any
plan to buy up senators in blocks of one; did
not know anything about any proposition
whose effect was that one senator would not
be worth anything, but that three senators
would be worth large sum, possibly $780,
600. After one of numerous long pauses in
the conversation, he suddenly asked, with
some show of interest: "DO you know of
any crooked work that was really accom-
plished?".
'NO."
II do not either, and" he added. II don't
know anything about any attempts, either"
AS several members Of Owens family
who had retired were within hearing dis
lance i'm their chambers when voices were
raised, further conversation was postponed
until morning. He did not manifest the
slightest trace of anger during the interview,
but seemed constrained and at loss at times |
TO know what to saw.
A SUNDAY CALL.
Yesterday 1 again saw the editor. re-
peated the situation to him from end to end |
and in great detail, and he could not fail to |
see that i had much information bearing |
upon his connection with the case. He was |
not at all ut ease.
1.-THE story as you have stated ii Is not |
is not exactly true"
Tell me wherein 1t departs from the |
truth"
There was long pause-a very long one |
.'Wel, tell me about the Detroit end of it,
Were you sent for to go to Detr0it?'
No, wasn't sent for, / happened to bel
there one day and met friend of mine-one
have known long time. He asked me
what kind of man Wilcox was. | told |
him as near as l COULD"
"What did you tell him?'
81 told him Wilcox was just about such
man as he has since proved himself to be.
told him he was man very set i'm his way
and not likely to be influenced when his
mind had once been made up,
''Who was this mau you met in Detroit"
"Oh, couldn't tell you that. Positively
1 couldn't tell who it was"
''There was only One?"
eyes, there was only one. He asked if |
had seen Wilcox since election. l told him
| had not. He asked If / knew how he
would be likely to stand on the redistricting.
| said L didn't know. He asked about Will
coxs politics. / told him he had been a
republican few years ago, but had gone
off ON the tariff question and had been elect
cd as democrat and p. of l. He asked
IL would talk with him and / said would.
| can't recall Just all that was said in the
Didn't he tell you to make some kind Of
a financial proposition to Wilcox?"
"Well--nO.n
''Didn't he tell you to hold oIt some kind
Of an indefinite inducement TO him, not
perhaps, but just to find out what
kind OF man Wilcox was?"
"The Detroit party speak of did say
this: You might give Wilcox. to under
stand that this Is the chance Of his life. We
want fair redistricting.' That's about the
substance of it. That's about all there was
Of it,
'.How about the first interview with
Wilcox?p
IL might have met him, as he says, in
front of Lawrence's. presume it was there
IL he says so. We had few minutes talk
made no financial proposition to him be-
cause was not authorized to. l can't tell