Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-04-14
HUNTER AND CONGRESS-
MAN WILSON ACCUSED.
CHARGED WITH BRIBERY.
The Grand Jury Finds Indictments
Against the Republican Caucus
Nominee for Senator Five
Thousand Each offered for
Four Democratic Votes
Charges Denied.

FRANKFORT, KY, April ;1.-Indict-
ments charging bribery and conspir-
acy to bribe have been prepared by
the Franklin county grand jury
against three of the most noted Re-
publicans in the state, and true bills
may also be returned against ex-Con-
gressman w. Godfrey Hunter of the
Third district, Republican nominee for
the United States Senate; Congress
man J. Fl. Wilson of the Seventh dis
trict, one of DIR. Hunters closest ad-
visers, and E. T. Franks, one of the
leading Repu blican politicians of the
Second district.
The indictments were prepared
upon the testimoney of Captain Noel
Gaines, Captain Thomas Tanner. his
brother-ip-law, and Fred Gordon, all
of this city.
The charges are Indignantly denied
by DIR. Hunter, Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Franks, all of whom say they will
prosecute for criminal libel all who
have testified before the grand jury.
They all claim that it is the last des-
perate effort of the Blackburn Demo
Gratis to prevent DR.. Hunters election.
The following authorized interview
was given out this morning by Captain
Thomas Tanner, one of the accusing
witnesses: II was first called to the
Capitol hotel on April l, and took DR..
Hunter to Captain Gaines's house.
there heard the conversation
which followed between DR.. Hunter
and Gaines. was in an adjoining
room. My principal connection with
the case was through Wilson and
Franks. On various occasions l was
| called to consult with them and urged
to take hand in buying woes. They
insisted they must have three or four
Democratic votes, and singled out Rep
resentatives Gossoma, Clarke, Johns
and Lykens, whom they said we
Gaines and myself must get, al
though any Democratic votes would
be acceptable. l was called to the Cap
ital hotel Monday night and had a
conference with Wilson in room 2l.
Wilson had a big roll of bills-he said
there were $1,000 in the package, and
from all appearances there were.
| There were four such packages, OF
| $40, 900, and he said this would be paid
for four votes for DR.. Eunter He
showed me the money as an evidence
of good faith. He seemed to be the
man who handled ali the money.
| had several conferences with Franks
in the same room. / was last called
there Thursday morning, when they
seemed to think that some members OF
the legislature had offered to succumt
for $4,000, but they thought this toe
high. Franks was in the plan and
talked about buying votes, but he
never directly offered me money with
which to buy them"
| captain Gaines statement directly
charges Hunter with Offering him
$4,000 with which to secure three
Democratic votes. and relates with
specific particulars all the details OF
the attempted bribery.
The greatest excitement prevailed
during the first ballot for United
States senator at noon. The call OF
the roll showed no quorum present
but vote was taken which gave
Hunter 81 and Boyle l. Sixty an.
swered to their names.
a motion to adjourn brought out
the absentees and the vote stood s tc
So, but President Worthington voted
to continue balloting and the second
ballot was ordered. In this there was
no change