Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-03
PoMEROF's DoWNFALL.

Tor a third term The day was January ~,
Is73-a stormy one in the then turbulent
times Of Kansas politics The legislative
halls at Topeka were packed with specta-
tors. Hon. Samuel c. Pomeroy was a candi
date for re election to the office of senator
from the SunfiOwer state. He had served
two terms ard lie was striving to be sent
back for the third Ramors were flying thick
that he was speeding money on all sides i'm
order to avoid defeat. POmerOy led in the
balloting the day before, brit his vote was
not sufficiently large to elect him, and on
the second days voting there was an i'm
mense attendance in the galleries in antici-
patton of interesting developments
! They soon came.
Before the voting began Senator York Of
Montgomery county, arose and made
speech that shook the entire state. He said
that lac had been paid s, COZ for his vote pro-
, vided he should cast it for Mr.. PomeEoy. He
took from his pocket two packages of bills,
and walking forward to the presidents desk
he laid them down with the request that the
money lie used in the prosecution of Pome-
roy for bribery
The sensation produced by Senator York's
speech was tremendous. The ball citing for
senator proceeded Immediately, and not one
vote was cast for POmeroy ingalls, was
elected by nearly an unanimous vote
| Senator Pom"roy W IS aImo t Immediately
arrested on a charge of bribery together
u,
the latter was soon d smisse' =. The case
against POmeroy came before Judge John
7. Morton ut Topeka, June rs 1s13, ard was
continued to the next term. June 8, 1874, the
case was again brought before Judge Nor
ton at Topeka 1t was agreed that it should
go to trial July D. The motion on the part
of Pomeroy's attorney to quash the infor-
nation was overruled and a change of venue
WIS taken and the cause sent to Usage
county. The case of the state against Pone-
roy would have been callei in Usage county
April 5, 1873 but Attorney General
Randolph gave an opinion March
that the state had no title or interest in the
IS coo package 4. II. Vance, attorney for
Shawnee county, wrote March 10: Il have
concluded to dismiss the case of the state
vs. 5. G. PomerOy, now pending i'm the dis
trict court for Usage county" Ex-Lieut-
Gov. Z s. Slower determined that the costs
Of the suit thus far should be betrayed from
the package On March II there was a meet
ing In Topeka OF jim Martin and A H
Harlan, representing Pomeroy, A. II. Vance,
A. NJ Yor ex Treasurer John Francis, A
L Williams. +. Slower, Arthur McCabe
district clerk, and James f. Legate. The
costs of the court in sShIwnee
county, Sl,53I, were paid: s5,255
were given by Z. 6. Slower to A NJ
York and a receipt taken by Slower. The
S, 265 was then given to \. H. Horton who
gave a receipt signed by $ c. Pomeroy to
Horton. Mr. Vance ther,upon agreed to
sign a nolle prOsequi and the S5,2t5 was di-
vided among the lawyers.
February 4, six days after the sensational
disclosures in the legislature. the house re-
1uested Mr.. POmerUy to resign, and on the
same day the state senate asked the senate
Of the United States to appoint a committee
to investigate the charge of bribery.
The s., O0l paid by POmeroy to York was
never claimed by the former, but at the con-
clusion of the legal proceedings it was
turned over to Albert II Horton, now chief
justice of the supreme court and John Mar
tin who acted as his attorneys.
Since his great coup York has never had
place in the political history of Kansas In
TACT i'll luck followed him from that time
for years. H. was successful at nothing |
which he undertook and has frequently ex-
pressed regret at the par he played in Sen |
ktor Pomeroy's downfall He isnow living |
In Denver. where he is said to be conducting |
a fairly successful real estate business