Evening journal., 1892-10-29
HIGGINS BRIBE!.
Bold Attempt to Steal
Sussex County.
)sTMASTER SMITH IN IT,
ljor Wootten Says Higgins
Offered Him Office.

Foul Scheme of Bribery Unearthed.
republicans Try to Buy Little Creek
Iundred-Postmaster George E. smith,
Z. II Laurel. Tries to Bribe Registrar Isaac
& wootten-senator Higgins and Woot-
lem Have a Conference Higgins Promises
Him Anything He Wants-The Post
naster's wife in the PIot-Two Hundred
RepubIican votes Needed in Sussex
f,ounty-senator Higgins writes a Letter
10 Postmaster smith and Tells Him to
Destroy It-Higgins's Admission.
&The tide of Republican fraud, corrup-
3bn and intimidation in Delaware has
Eached its eliminating point. Not con
nt with padding the assessments at
3 mpting to strike Democrats from the
t; defying the laws; bribing Whining
N hundred tax collectors; slandering
10 judges; using the United States
burt and it's attendant powers for parti-
H. purposes; subverting the public
all service; colonizing the state with
sgroes from other states; arresting
Nemocratic registration officers refusing
issue warrants for the arrest of law
IS Republicans who have perjured them
&slves: making the elective franchise a
hing upon the market; impersonating
Iaxables; refusing to nsturalize foreign
rs with Democratic predictions; incit-
4 ~ negroes to riot; stealing the seal Of
She county; breaking the civil service
.w; using letter-csrriers for block
lg the city; they have gone step
arther.
Higgins Accused of Bribery.
United States Senator Anthony Higgins
Itands accused of bribery and the cir
umstances surrounding the accusation
re so conclusive that they cannot be
uccessfully controverted.
i His accuser is Isaac j. Wootten, Demo
ratio registrar in East Little Creek hun
7red, Sussex county. Mr.. Wootten is a
han widely known in the state. de IS
substantial business man of Laurel and
major in the National Guard of Delaware
! man well known for his integrity, and
Who has shown plainly that he cannot be
bought.
Major Wootten has disclosed a devil
sh plot made by the Republicans to
larry Delaware by foul means, the
'bribes offered being Offices of public
Irust-any Office outside the pale of the
Civil Service law If the statements
/ made by Major Wootten be true, not only
Senator Higgins, but even President
Harrison are concerned in the plot, the
Former directly d the latter indirectly.
The Sussex county registrar charges
Ithat on Thursday night, October 10,
great scheme Of the Republicans for the
bribery of registrars and voters assist
|ants in Sussex county, was disclosed anC
that Senator Higgins is found to be per
'sonally engaged in this nefarious work.
In an interview upon the matter th'
major made the following startling dis
closures:
The Secret Meeting.
"On Thursday night. October 10,
had an interview with Senator Higgin
at the dwelling house Of George K
Smith, who is postmaster at Laurel,
man appointed by Senator Higgins, an
who is one of Mr.. Higginss chief politi
cal lieutenants in Sussex county, and j
said to be. and claims to be, man o
great influence with him. He is not onl
an active. but also an unscrupulou
political worker for the Republicans.
The Bribe offered.
sAbout four weeks ago Smith came {
me at my store, and, after awhile, said
L., l,oI ,aor, rrrouffnor 70 Cnn m
and have a talk about politics He thei
wanted to know what l expected TO g
out of politics. He said that ! had hee
an active and hard working Democrat.
told him that did not expect to sc
ANYTHING unless Mr. Cleveland should
elected. He talked about the certaini
of Republican success; said that Clev
land had no chance; and that the r
publicans would carry Delaware,
''He then said to me that if woul
help him they, the Republicans, woul
carry Sussex county; and that, if d
help them. | should have anything
wanted. He said, furthermore. that il
did not believe him that he would write
Senator Higgins and get him to con
down to Laurel and see him.
Felt Like Knocking Smith Down.
Il felt like knocking Smith down Wit
he approached me in this way; for, beil
in an official position, and trusted by q
Democrats, l knew that to permit myse
to be approached in any such way wou
prove me so dishonorable that it wou
ruin my character. Still, wanted
find out from him all l could, and co
trolled myself so that / could get mo
from him.
''He went on to say that l could he
the Republicans as registrar by turnil
down Democrats-that is, not registe
ing them as qualified voters when tn
were qualified; and said that il want
to. and Just said the word, the Democrs
would make me voters assistant,
that if were voters assistant l cou
so manipulate the tickets Of the illiters
voters that they would not know 1t.
could stamp the tickets so that Den
cratic ballots would turn out TO
stamped for the Republicans when th
came to be counted and that the Den
Gratis could not tell whether / stamp
their ballots Democratic or Republican
smith Spreads Soft Soap.
smith talked about my great inf
ence among the Democrats and l did