Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-23
THE BRIBERY INQUIRY
Major BUTTE Appears Before the Commit
tee This Morning.
He Suggests the Name of a Mr. Hoi-
man, Who fs Summoned
and Testihes.

Major Buttz. the chief witness in the Sem
ate bribery investigation, was terminated
by his return to the city last night and
his appearance before the committee today
He was not quite so prompt in his attend
ance upon the committee as his attorney
had promised he would be, arriving fifteen
minutes after the time of the meeting
But his delay caused no appreciable incon-
venience. as the members Of the committee
also were not very prompt In reaching the
committee room, some of them falling to
appear before 1890.
When Major Buttz reached the committee
room he did not appear to appreciate the
encrmity of the offense he had committed
In absenting himself from the city for
day, while committee of the Senate
waited upon him. and remarked to a news
paper man as he entered the committee
quarters that he saw nothing in his con-
duct to create such a hubbub. II found ii
necessary to go out of town." said he. 'and
went. Mr.. MCGOWAN went before the COM
mittee and explained my absence saying
that l would return in the afternoon yes
beginning Of today's session. l have re-
turned. as Mr.. McGowan promised that
should"
In Good Spirits.
The major was in his usual good spirits,
and his day in the country. notwithstand-
ing it had been very damp and chilly,
did not appear to have caused him to drop
the smile which has played upon his lips
since the beginning Of the investigation.
Whether he had been successful in his
search Of the corroborating witness the
search for whom led him to disturb the
serenity Of the investigation committee, he
would not say, and whether he had sue
ceeded or failed could not be determined
from any change of demeanor on his part.
Il cannot tell you where went" he said,
or the particular man 1 was in search Of.
l have promised the committee not to talk
about the case. and do not want to be dis
courteous" With this he hustled into the
committee room, accompanied by his at
torney. and the door closed between the al
legged briber and the world for the time.
1t Is known that upon his return to the
city last night Mr.. Buttz was met at the de-
pot by an official from the Office of the SER
geant-at-arms Of the Senate and escorted to
his boarding house. He promised faithfully
then to be before the committee today.
The officials and some of the members Of the
committee were. in reality, considerably con-
cerned over his disappearance. and were cor
respondingly pleased when he stepped OF the
train at the Baltimore and Potomac depot
on his return. They had been conjuring up
pictures OF search for a missing man in
North Dakota, or some other far-away
pace ana Old not enjoy the prospect.
Mr.. Holman a Witness.
While he was before the committee today
Maj. Buttz gave the committee the name of
Mr. E. E. Holman, a claim attorney in this
city. who could. he said, throw light upon
the whole transaction SO far as he (Buttz)
was concerned. Mr.. Holman was sum-
moned. Holman's testimony furnishes the
Key to Buttz's explanation of his course in
the whole transaction. When he emerged
from the committee room Mr.. Holman was
renOrfar n r,trr
about the Capitol that Buttz had given his
name as that OF his principal and the man
VINO had incited him to attempt the bribery
OF Senators to vote against the tariff bill
My mouth Is sealed" said Mr.. Holman
as to the proceedings In the committee
ROOM but can say to you that that story
Is without foundation. 1t was through pure
accident that / chanced to know anything
or the business and 1t came about through
my happening to be in the Office of Mai.
Harris one day, when Mr. Buttz came in.
harris was lobbyist. and the talk drifted
to the tariff. I think I know he said.
where could make $4,000 or $4,000. If /
knew how the populists would vote on the
Dill; and turning TO Buttz. remarked to him
you are just the man to learn that fact
and will give you 81 600 to find out for me.
Il heard this conversation, and I suppose
that Is the reason why l was summoned.
certainly had no connection with any at
tempt at bribery or lobbying on the bill and
l cannot afford to have that impression
concerning me go out"
Mr.. Holman said that the man Harris.
who had made this proposition to Buttz.
had died on the 11th OF last April and tina I
ne was the only witness to the conversation
between Harris and Buttz.
Mai. Buttx's Testimony Today.
Major Buttz's testimony today was de-
voted largely to an explanation of his alb
sence from the city yesterday He denied
again that he had made a direct proposi-
ton to bribe Senator Kyle, and stated that
mis- only purpose in approaching him was to
learn how he would vote After he came
out OF the committee room, Major Butte
talked freely of his absence from the city
yesterday and said he had simply gone to
Loudoun county, Virginia, to look fo- a
witness whom he did not find and had been
detained there. He declared his Intention
or remaining until the investigation was
concluded, and take the consequences
whatever they might be.
Senator Gray said after the morning ses-
sion closed today that he knew of no othe:
witnesses to call in this branch of the in
quiry, and that the report on the alleged
effort to bribe Senators Hunton and Kyle
would be prepared soon as possible and
submitted to the Senate
Senator Gray also said that the commit
tee would Immediately proceed to take up
the other branches of the investigation.