St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-30
The Controversy Between Mr..
Sawyer and MIR. La Toilette
Grows Interesting.
One or the Other Of the Gen.
tlemen Needs Introducing
to Truth.
La Toilette Sure That the Sem
ator Was Trying to Bride
Him.
The Democrats the Only Peo-
pie Who Feel Entirely
Comfortable.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe
MADISON. Wis. Oct. 29.-Disclosures
made by Congressman La Toilette i'll
Milwaukee paper. this morning, con-
cernIng the alleged bribery which actu-
ated Judge Siebecker in refusing to act
in the Harshaw treasury suit, caused
furore in political circles i'll this city
to-day. La Foilette's statement that
Senator Sawyer offered him 81, 900 if he
would bring about favorable decision
of the treasury suit is variously re-
garded. La Toilette is brother-in-law
of Siebecker and an eX-law partner, and
was supposed to have influence with the
Judge. Senator Sawyer this evening
makes public statement over his own
signature:
81 have read with great surprise the
statement of MIR. La Toilette in the Sem
tinel of this morning. The facts III the
case, so far as l am concerned, are as
follows: l had talk with Mr.. Har-
shaw and Mr. Fell1er about employing
counsel in Madison to assist i'll the
trial of what are known as the treasury
cases. That there was
large amount of work to be done in
Madison, in examining the journals of
the senate and assembly and other Off
cial documents 10 prepare for the
trial of these causes. The names
of several lawyers were mentioned,
among them Mr.. La FOllette's:
and finally it was agreed that l should
see Mr.. La Toilette, and ascertain
whether he would take retainer in the
cases. Acting upon the conversation
made the appointment with Mr.. La Fol
lette to meet me in Milwaukee. l met
Mr.. La Toilette at the Plankinton dur
ing the state fair week, the exact day |
do not now remember, and had con-
yersation with him about the matter. l
told him of the conversation | had had
with Mr.. Felker and Mr.. Harshaw, that
were we DESTROYS of knowing if Judge
Siebecker was preJudiced against Mr..
Harshaw, and that it was necessary TO
employ an attorney at Madison
who would look after the prepare
ton of the case, and asked him if
he would take retainer He then told
me that he was brother-in-law ofJudge
Siebecker, and that was the first knowl-
edge that | had that he was in any way
or manner related to the judge, al
though knew he had been his partner.
He said that inaSmach as he was Judge
SIebecker's brother-in-law, if he was
employed in the cases an improper con-
struction might be put upon it, and that
under the circumstances he did not feel
that he ought to accept retainer. l
told him thought he was right if he
felt that way. although j told
him he had perfect right to
be retained, and he said he thought so,
too, and that if he could not practice in
Judge Siebecker'S court he would have
to starve. But we both agreed that, in
asmuch as the cases were of a sort of
political nature, he had better not take
a retainer.
II then talked to him of Judge Sic
becker. He said that he was fair
minded man. He stated that he had
talked with him on the subject, and he
was sure the judge would not let the
fact that Mr.. Harshaw had opposed his
appointment. OF had talked about him,
have any influence with him in these
suits.
"When / offered to retain him as an
attorney, told him that l would pay
him retainer of $500. He said he was
poor man and would like the retainer,
but under the circumstances he thought
he ought not to accept it did not tell
him that l did not want to hire him as
an attorney in the case, and | did not
tell him did not want him to go into
court. Neither did offer him $50, and
l did not say to him that Il will give
him 5000 more or $1,000 more ii Sic
becker decides the case right
Nothing of the kind was said, and
nothing was said from which any such
inference could be drawn. AS
soon as | learned that he was
Judge Siebecker's brother-in-law
l telt the improperly of his being en-
ployed in the case, because of the
political turn these cases had taken, at
least so far as the newspapers are con-
cerned.
HE never said to me, Senator Saw
yer, you cannot know what you are say
ing tG me. If you struck me in the face
you would not insult me as you now
do Not a word of the character was
said by him.
''Neither,did he say to me, You do
not want to employ me as an attorney
You want to hire me to talk to the judge
about your case off the bench
Il find also in his statement in the
Sentinel the following: He said (mean-
ing myself l didn't think you would
take retainer In the case; | did not
think you would want TO go into court
as an attorney; how much will you take
as retainer%
II answered, You have not got money
enough, sir, to employ me in your case
after what you have said to me-
"He replied: We'll, perhaps. don't
understand court rules; anyway let me
pay you for coming down here
Il said, Not dollar, SIR
mo such conversation took place be-
tween Mr.. La Toilette and myself and
nothing was said between him and my
self from which any such inference
could be drawn. did offer to retain
him, before L knew he was related to
Judge Siebecker. After he told me
that he was Judge SIebecker's brother
in-law and that he did not think that
under the circumstances he ought to
take a retainer in the cases nothing
further was said about the retainer or
paying him any money, except l said to
him: & have put you to the trouble of
coming down here, and l ought to pay
you for coming here
''He said, No, he would not take any
thing for that"
The matter now comes down to a
question of veracity between the two
men. The Republicans are at COM
plete loss what to do in the face of
these circumstances.
LA FoLLETTE's VERSION.