The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-05
STOLE THE R0BY BILL
SOME THIEF DEFTLY ABSTRACTS
THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE.
Enrolled Copy Spirited Away in the
Senate and Dummy Bill Under a
Peculiar Jacket Substituted.
A $500 BRiBE WAS OFFERED
CLERK AGNEw IN THE HOUSE APP
PROACHED by A ROBYITE.
Governor Now Has New Copy of
the BiII-Interview with Sem
ator Seller.
A $500 BRfBE WAS OFFERED
CLERK AGNEw IN THE HOUSE APP
PREACHED BY A ROBYITE.

A sensation in the Senate yesterday was
brought about by the discovery of the theft
OF the anti-winter racing bill, prepared at
the instance of Governor Matthews. Almost
IN the twinkiing of an eye dummy bill was
substituted for the enrolled COPY of this
Roby BILL but one of the clerks instantly
detected the substitution, although the origi-
nal enrolled copy was not recovered AS it
was, no great harm was done, for another
enrolled copy was made in few minutes
and the Governor had possession of the bill
in which he has shown such great interest
Had the thief obtained possession of the
engrossed copy, which was lying by the side
of the enrolled copy, both houses would have
had to put the bill on its feet again. Secre-
tary Oglesbee Immediately set an investiga-
ton on foot, and the Senate will probably
follow it up to-day. The employees of the
Senate think they viii be successful in trac-
ing the bill directly to the man who stole
it.
The bill was stolen in face of the fact that
orders had been given to keep close watch
not only on this bill, but on thee Nicholson
bill. which was deemed to be in danger
That there was a disposition to steal the
Roby bill if the opportunity offered. ap-
peared from an offer that was made in the
House few days ago to Clerk Agnew, that
he should be paid $500 if he would deliver the
bill to the man who made the proposition
Clerk Agnew declined the offer with some
emphasis, and related what had occurred to
Speaker Adams. The latter advised Agnew
If the offer was repeated to pretend to ac-
cept it and lay trap. but the negotiations
were not renewed. With this information
as to what was in the wind the Senate force
of clerks were directed to be on their guard
While any of the crew that have been under
suspicion have been about the Clerks desk
in the Senate, they have been watched like
hawks. but there appears to have been a
relaxation OF vigilance at the time of the
presence of one of the p1otters who was not
suspected.
The enrolled bill was brought from the
enrolling room to the Senate chamber yes
terday by Miss Heagy, clerk of the commit
tee on enrolled bills. She turned the en-
rolled bill and the engrossed bill from which
the enrolled act had been copied over to File
Clerk Harry Strohm. The latter was in the
act pf looking for bill for which some one
had asked, and he laid the engrossed bill
and the enrolled bill temporarily on stool.
When he had concluded the search for the
bill for which he was looking he turned to
deposit the Roby documents in their proper
pigeon-hoie, and the enrolled bill was miss
ing. In place of the enrolled bill was a
printed bill in regulation cover of two
years ago. Clerk Strohm instantly detected
the fraudulent substitution, and searched un-
der the tables and chairs, but the missing
short {" time later chief % t4s Cler,t oelesbee
arrived from his home at Plymouth, and,
although the damage was not serious, he
guilty.
The evidence went to show that little
earlier in the afternoon Senator Seller, of
Montgomery county. had gone into the en-
rolling room and asked for an enrolled bill
cover. G.. III: Alwes. the chief enrolling
clerk, had given him a cover OF the style
used two years ago. the only one of the kind
there was In the room. The Roby bill had
just come from the enrolling room. and Miss
Heagy, the clerk of the committee on en-
rolled bills, had 1T in the rear cloak room,
pairing it with the engrossed bill. Senator
Seller came into the room two or three times
and displayed an interest in the work, which
the author of the bill. When Miss Heagy
took the engrossed copies of this and an
Seller followed her down the aisle. at least
a part of the way.
This is as far as the investigation has been
pursued. Another enrolled bill was made,
properly signed and went to the. Governor
for his signature. Senator Seller, when
asked for statement, said:
s'This is, of course, serious matter, and
/ don't know of anybody who would believe
me guilty of anything SO dishonest and fool
ish. desired to send copy of some books
home and to send copy Of one of my bills
to a constituent in New Ross. It occurred
good wrapper for the books, and / went
into the enrolling room and asked for one.
at the same time getting a copy of my
printed bill SOL. 1 put my printed bill within
the cover and laid them my desk. After
that I was moving about the Senate, and
was out near the postoffice once or twice,
and noticed the fact that the young women
were proof reading on the Roby bill. A few
minutes later when | came back 10 my desk
/ discovered that this enrolled cover was
gone and went out to the enrolling room
and got another. When I came back I met
Oglesbee with this cover had first gotten
In his hand, and he informed me that the
Roby bill had been stolen. In the mean
time the figures 3oS had been written upon
this old cover and another printed bill than
the one had put in was i'll the cover.''
1t is probable that the Senate will take
cognizance of the matter to-day, and that a
committee will be appointed to sift the mat
ter to the bottom.
PunishinG Those Who Steal Bills.
When the news reached the House yester-
day that the Roby bill had been stolen in
the Senate Mr.. Robinson reported the bill,
which had been prepared, furnishing people
who attempt to tarnper with or who steal
bills In either branch of the IxeoisIa ft1re