The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-30
THE BRIBERY CASE.
One Senator offered ssventy-fvs Thous-
and Dollars.

ana D0JlSrB,
WASHINGTON, May 24-The special
committee appointed to investigate Che
charges of bribery alleged to have been
attempted by Maj. Buttz and also the
doings of the sugar trust in connection
with legislation, held two sessions
Monday behind closed doors and with
newspaper men and the public exclud'
ed. The first began few minutes
after 10 o'clock and lasted until l
o'clock, when recess for an hour was
| taken.
During the recess Senator Gray
speaking for the committee, said that
as soon as this case was concluded the
committee would print the testimony
and lay it before the Senate. He said
that 1t would be pretty much on the
line of that which has heretofore ap.
peared in the newspapers, but with
more details. The fact that a direct
offer of money was made has been
proven by one witness, at least, accord
ing to the statement Of the Chairman
of the committee.
Senator Hunton knew nothing eX-
cept upon hearsay evidence, but told
the committee what be had learned
from his son. Eppa HuntoD, Jr, was
next put on the stand and told the
committee how he had been approach
ed By Maj ButtZ and offered sum OF
money il he would induce his father tC
vote against the pending bill.
Senator Kyle was on the stand long
or than any one else, for 1t was deYel-
oped that the offer to bribe had been
! made to him direct by the man who
stands charged with the commission OF
the offense. at least this vas the in
depreciation put upon the testimony
by the committee. Senator Kyle testi.
fed that Mr.. ButtZ had offered him
money for his vote, saying that he
could have $4,000 and made an offer
of $4,000 down.
Immediately after the committee
met, ButtZ made a written request OF
the chairman of the committee to be
present with his attorney and cross ex
anime witnesses. To this request no
attention was given and ButtZ subse-
quently gave his request to the press
The committee Investigating the
charge of bribery in connection with
the tariff bill made but little progress
owing tothe failure Of Maj. ButtZ to
return and conclude his testimony.
The Sergeant-at.Arms was sent after
the witness but did not find him. He
learned, however, that he had gone to
a suburban town for a man with
whom he believed he should have q
conference before he concluded his
testimony, and that he would be before
the committee the first thing in the
morning. This information was also
conveyed to the chair man of the com.
mittee, by Mr.. McGown, the attorney
of Mr.. ButtZ, who called on Mr.. Gray
to explain the absence of his client.
The committee believes it will be able
to conclude this branch of the case TO-
morrow.
There are evidences of the fact that
the committee intends to push ahead
with the Investigation Of the charges
that the Sugar Trust has been inteTter-
ing with legislation, for the Sergeant
alarms was today instructed to Hlre
Mr.. E. J. Edwards, the author of the
Holland letter in Philadelphia, Pa,
wherein the Sugar Trust was arralgn'
ed, and asked him if he would accept
service and appear before the commit.
tee Thursday next. This was done and
Mr.. Edwards replied that he would ac'
cept the telegram as service aid be IN
Washington at the time named. 1t ls
also un 1erstood that number Of well
known Washington newspaper men
have been decided upon as the
proper persons to summon be-
fore the committee to tell what
they know regarding certain
stories they have been publishing
in connection with the sugar schedule
and the means by which that schedule
was adopted. II the committee cannot
do that it is said that 1t will at leas
show that the newspaper men got thelI
information from what they believed
to be reliable sources presumably
members of the Senate) and will then
proceed to summon Senator'S and run
the rumors to their foupdation. The
committee expects to complete the in
vestigation Of this phase of the case
within two weeks.