Evening journal., 1892-10-31
BRIBER IN A TOGA!.
The Net of Positive Evidence
Closing.
MRS. SMITH PUGNACIOUs.
Colonel Records Says Wootten
Kept Him Informed.

out But Only Makes a Bad Break-She
Had Not Seen Higeins's Interview.
Major wootten Gives Full Details of
the Deal-Higgins Congratulated smith
Upon the Selection He Had Made The
shrewd Politician Played for Sucker
A Pretty Scheme of Two Years Ago
Which Did Not Pan Out-A Democratic
Registrar Pays wootten a Compliment
StAf Correspondence Evening Journal.
LAUREL, Oct. 29.-Never, in the his
tory of Little Creek hundred, has there
been so much genuine excitement of a
political character as there is tonight.
When staff reporter of the EVENING
JOURNAL reached this town at 7.3O this
evening it wore its usual aspect of grave
decorum. Twenty minutes later the
place was full Of excitement of the Wild
est kind.
The occasion of this was the arrival
of the Wilmington papers giving full
accounts Of the gigantic fraud sought to
be perpetrated by Senator Anthony Hig
gins aud Postmaster George E. Smith in at
LuHlAuk W bul ANGkloNAal AoodI - WoDb-
ten, Democratic registration officer.
by promising him any Office in the gift
of the government outside of the Civil
Service II he would serve the interests Of
the Republican party in his official
capacity.
Big Demand for Papers.
The papers which came on the evening
train we're wholly inadequate to supply
the demand and in some instances. twenty
FIVE cents was offered for copy of any
paper containing the great scandal which
was designed to give Sussex county into
the hands of the republicans.
Mrs. Smith Agitated.
The first person called upon and asked
for an interview was the wife of Postmas-
ter Smith. The reporter found her in
charge Of the postofIice and her husband s
store.
When the reporter entered she was sit
ting on box, surrounded by Republican
heelers of Little Creek hundred; and
both she and they seemed to be very
much agitated. Mrs Smith held paper
In her hand.
Mrs. Smith is a very nice-looking little
woman. She has dark hair and eyes
anu 10 HlNn0Alltu DLuhoANNs AA' AH
very girlish in appearance and when the
reporter entered the postotfice and asked
if Mrs. Smith were in was very much
surprised to hear this diminutive speci
men of womankind say;
Il am Mrs. Smith.
Il would like to have few words
with you in private" said the reporter.
She led him to the rear of the stor'
and behind the post Office partition.
every Word of It is False"
"Nirs. Smith, am reporter. sup
pose you have read the allegations made
by Major Wootten relative to the at
tempt made by Senator Higgins anC
your husband trying to bribe him al
your house?" yes she said "an'
every word of it is false.
During the rest of the interview wheI
she was not on the edge of a desk sh'
was on her ear, so to speak.
'Was Senator Higgins at your hous
on the night Of Thursday, October 1872
''He was
"who else was there?" 'Mr. Georg
Smith and myself.
"Mr George Smith is your husband2
"He is"
"Who called at your house during tn
EVENING"" Nobody"
She and Higgins Disagree.
''Was not Mr. Isaac Wootten ther
during the EVENING" NO"
well, probably you have not rea
Senator Higginss interview in tn
EVENING JOURNAL in which he admit
that Mr. Wootten was at your house
see him?" "No, have not.
The reporter read it to her.
What have you to say to that?"
She Begins to Hedge.
eff he called was out of the room
attending to household duties.
Were you in the roomT "Yes, sex
eral times.
6 'Did you see Isaac Wootten there
''No."
"You say positively that nobody calle
to see either your husband or Senate
Higgins during the EVENING" ''NC
that / know Of Somebody might hay
come to the front door, but if they ha
come in and set down l would hay
known it.
"Did you say to Mr.. wootten that a
you wanted was for him to be voters a
sistant ?"
She Dasagrees with wootten.
"No, never said anything of IL
kind"
WAS it not possible for Mr.. Woott'
to come to the house without your kno'
ing it 2"
Must Have Been a Short Interview.
ut is possible, if he saw him at Il
front door. / am confident that if Sen
tor Higgins saw him it. was for We
short while-it must have been We
short interview"
"You said you were busy about yo
household duties. Is it not possible tn
while you were paying attention to tho
duties that this interview night ha
occurred 2" "No, / have two serva
girls-one a cook and the other chal
bermaid, and they DO nearly all Z
work. OF course have to look aft
them. If Ike WOOtten called he mu
have made his call very brief.
"What about Senator Higgins lett
about Parsons place in the Land Office
Anything for the Party.
you never got that letter because
never was written Senator Higgi
writes a very peculiar hand. You kn
al l..r~aro unit. noon. hands That