Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-22
The Senatorial Investigation.

!
Senate bribery case closed yesterday
Senator Gray, chairman OF the commit
tee, said the testimony so far was not
materially different from that which
had been published, except that the
facts were given more in detail than
they had been TO the public through
the press. He stated that Senator
Hunton had said that Buttz had not APP
preached him personally at all. The
only effort made to secure Mr.. Hun
toms vote against the tariff bill had
been made through his son, but that
Senator Kyle's testimony indicated a
specific offer to himself from Buttz. The
testimony Of the younger Hunton had
also shown a definite purpose of brlb-
cry. Senator Gray stated that he
thought the inquiry into the attempt to
bride Senators Hunton and Kyle would
be concluded within day or two. He
also stated that the testimony so far
given had not placed the committee in
possession of any names of persons who
could throw light upon the question
other than those which have already
been published in connection with the
story of the attempted bribery, and
that he knew of no witnesses still TO be
called except Senator Kyle's clerk and
Major Buttz, who would be called this
afternoon. Chairman Gray also stated
that the committee had not yet formu-
lated any plans for the investigation OF
the sugar trust in connection with leg
islation in the Senate.
When Senator Gray was asked what
the committee had decided to do in re-
Spouse to Mr.. Buttzs request to be al
lowed to be present while other wit
nesses were being examined, that he
might question them, he said the re-
quest had been declined, as had IL sim
liar request from Senator lIunton to be
present when Buttz should testify.
BUTTE announced that he wanted his
attorney present while he testified. He
still adhered to his determination not
10 testify unless he is furnished a copy
of the testimony heretofore given, say
ing that the committee may send him
to Jail for eternity before he will change
bis resolution on this point. When Mr.
Bate was called his attorney was ad.
, 3Yli,'ited with him.
as before the committee FOL
w F Croicbto,lr, and was excused with
G. G Lennon that he be in attendance
O. IL &C Mr. Buttz said, when he
left the committee room, that he had
been sworn to secrecy and could not re-
veal word of the proceedings. Sen
ator GRAY also declined to give out any.
thing concerning Mr.. BUTTS testimony
saying that no summary OF it could be
given that would hot be liable to dc
injustice to Mr.. Buttz or to the case it
self.
Fragmentary references to the pro
ceedings leave little room for doubt thai
when the report Of the ButtZ testimony
is published it will make very racy
reading. He first demanded tran
script of the report of the preceding
witnesses, but compromised by accept
ing proposition that a reporter should
read the portions Of the testimony OF
other witnesses which reflected upon
him in any way.
He was thus confronted with the
statement that Senators Kyle and Hun
ton had identified him as the man who
had attempted to corrupt them. and
having in his letter to Senator Hans
brough laid the responsibility for this
charge at the doors of the newspapers
and relieved the Senators from all
blame, he was placed IN a somewhat
embarrassing position, and the briel
references to his testimony obtainable
indicate that he made an effort to eX-
cuse himself and explain away the en-
tire charge. He explicitly denied any
intention on his part to corrupt the Sen
ate, and made more remarks, the peril
hence of which the committee found it
difficult to understand. 1t is also I'M
derstood that he politely declined to an
swer some of the more pertinent ques-
tions put to him by members of the
committee.
Other witnesses of the afternoon ses-
sion were Duncan MacFarlane, Senator
Kyle's clerk, and James w. Walker,
an attorney of Washington, who gave
Buttz letter of introduction to Eppa
Hunton, ir. Mr.. Walker stated that
when Buttz had asked for letter to
Mr.. Hunton he had stated that he
wanted to employ him as attorney in a
land case, and had given no reason for
wanting to know that gentleman. Mr..
MacFarlane told how, after Senator
KYLE had referred Buttz to him, he had
talked with him, and made notes upon
his conversation. He confirmed Sena-
tor Kyle's statement. and said explicit
" that Buttz had made direct propo-
sition to bride the Senator to vote
against the tariff bill. He also submit
ted his notes on his conversation with
Buttz.