New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
BLACKBURN'S LAST RESORT.
HUNTER AND HIS LIEUTENANTs Ac-
CUsED OF OFFERING BRIDES
A SCANDAL WHICH PREVENTED THE ELECTION
GU SENATOR IN KENTUCKY YEsrER'

GU SENATOR IN KENTUCKY YEsrER'
pAY-pR. HUNTER TO BE INDICTED
Louisville. XIV. April lO-A dispatch to Tho
Evening Post" from Frankfort says. ind'c'"en''
charging bribery and conspiracy to bride have been
prepared by the Franklin County Grand jury
against the most prominent Republicans IN the
State and before the day Is past true bIs VIII nc
returned against ex-Congressman W. "o"i'e.
Hunter. the Republican nominee for the un'eo
States Senate: cx-Congressman John H. "iisoi'
ono Of DR.. Hunters closest advisers. and r.. l.
Franks one OF the leading Republican politicians
Of the I'D District The indictments were prepared
last night the testimony OF captain NoeI
Gaines. Captain Tanner his brothern-law and
Fred Gordon. all Of this city.
THE charges are indignantly denied BY Or
Hunter Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Franks. all OF whom
say they will prosecute for criminal libel all VINO
have testified before the Grand Jury. They say
IL Is the last desperate effort OF the BLACKBURN
Democrats TO prevent DR.. Hunters election to-day
which seemed certainty In view OF the fact mat
he lacked only one vote at the ballot yesterday.
The following authorized interview was given out
this morning by Captain Thomas Tanner. one OF
the accusing witnesses: IT was first called to the
Capitol Hotel on April /. and took DR.. Hunter 10
CAPTAIN Gaines house. l there heard the CONVEX
sation which followed between DIR. Hunter ana
Gaines I In adjoining room. MT pTin-
clpal connection with the case was through wilson
consult with them and urged to take a hand in
buving votes They insisted they must have three
or four Democratic votes. and singled out Repre-
sentatives Gossom Clark, Johns and Lykens, "nom
they said we Gaines and MYSELF must get. al
though any Democratic votes would be accep'aole'
"I was called 10 the Capitol Hotel Monday night
and had a conference with Wilson IN Room No. IL
wilson had n b,g roll of bills He said there was
s. 0,l in the package and from all appearances
there was There four such packages OF
$40 600 and he said this would be paid for -FOUR Vo'es
for Dr. Hunter. He showed me the money as dh
evidence Of good faith. He seemed to be the man
who handled all the money. / had several con-
ferences with Franks in the same room was
last called there Thursday morning, when they
seemed to think that some members OF the Legis-
lature had offered TO succumb for No""' Out 'hey
thought this too 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's statement before the Grand Jury
is in part follows: When Or. Hunter came 10
my house. he CDr. Hunter) opened the conversation
by saying he had been told could aid him IN get
ting three votes ! tod him that did not know
whether It was possible TO get them or not. put
would study over it and see. Hunter sad 1 want
three votes and am willing 10 pay 5000 or oVU
a vote. will furnish the money al right but
will have to have one OF my representatives COM
plete the trade and give you the money, az II would
not do for to hand II TO you.
"Iie said tina. he would have ex-Congressman
John H. Wilson, one Of his friends call on me-
Hunter told me that Representatives w. G. Cos
som and Merge Clark. OF Warren County. and
John H. Jones. of Floyd County. could be got
and they should be the first ones for me to see. as
he was pretty certain could get them.
ION the next evening about the same hour, Mr.
John Fl. Wilson came over. In company with Mr.
Tanner. and we all three went into the library OF
my house. Mr.. Wilson began by saying that Dr.
Hunter had sent him to see me, and that ne WI
them them ~ told him had not Wilson said we
to so Il thew Wod for
and continue to vote for him until he was elected
now Ms1 and iI make s1 the the trade with them QUICK
'Mr. Tanner present all during the CONVEX
said by Dr. Hunter himself the night before while
he was In the adjoining the one in which DR..
Mr.. Wilson Nils came back to my house to see me
after the occasions. On one occasion he said:
turned over 10 you when the men vote II you
cant get these men to vote for or Hunter r. ge, them
have them slipped out and keep them out until the
ballot is over"
ballot for United States Senator at noon to-day.
The galleries and Hobbies were crowded. The sole
brought against DR.. Hunter and his chief leuten-
ants Wilson and Franks. The Republicans de-
only dirty scheme TO defeat the Republican nomi-
nee. Before the roll called there fist
The call OF the roll showed no quorum present
but a vote was taken anyway which gave Hunter
motion to adjourn brought out the absentees. and
the vote stood So to So but President Worthington
voted to continue ballotng. and the second ballot
was ordered. There was no change in the vote.
The fight in the gallery was between THOMAS
Morrow Of somerse.. relative OF Judge T. u:
Morrow and a nephew of Governor Bradley and
Peter Sanders, local Hunter Republican. Sanders
struck Morrow the eye with pair OF brass
knuckles. making an ugly cut Sanders was ar
rested.
Frankfort KY. April 1o.-Before noon to-day a
statement, signed by Mr.. Wilson and attested by
Dr. Hunter and Mr.. Franks. laid on the desks
OF the members OF the Legislature The statement
denied all the bribery charges and said that Gaines
made the proposition. and they believed II a scheme
m entraD DIT Hunter,