The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-28
"BAI" MASTERSON HERE
The Famous Sport on His Way
to Carson.
AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE
COLORADO BRIBERY CASE.
He Outlines the History of the. Con-
troversy-Wants to Read Tom
Patterson's Testimony-The Cor
bett-Fitzsimmons Fight.

bat" Masterson, the well-knowr
sporting man, who is at present figur-
ing rather prominently in a bribery
case over in Colorado, arrived in the
city yesterday and will remain fol
several days. BAT" makes no denial
of the fact that he came to Salt Lake
to escape going on the stand in the
bribery investigation. The investiga-
ton opened Friday evening. Bat
outside the reach of any legislative
subpoena.
TALKS TO THE HERALD
To a Herald man Mr.. Masterson had
talk until I can get a copy of Satur-
day mornings Rocky Mountain News
so l can see what position Tom Patter-
son is taking. Tom has got all the
facts in the case; he knows all about
the charges of bribery 1 made against
those fellows, and was on the stand
before the committee last night. Until
I see what he said 1 don't care tc
talk"
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
And then Bat" related to the re-
porter the history of the case.
"Of course you have read the Den
yer papers and know there is a bill
pending in the legislature for the III
vision of FL Paso county. Cripple
Creek people whom I represent favor
the bill, while Colorado Springs peo-
pie are opposed to it. We are entitled
to division; we pay more taxes than
any city in the county, and still it =
n 10 70 70 n 10 =
ain to get to the county seat. The
Colorado Springs people, of course, are
opposed to it because at present it is
a source of great revenue to them.
They have the money and are using
it freely, and it was the manner in
which they used it that came to my
notice, ana 1 preferred charges of
bribery against a number of legis-
lators. The opposition papers have
attempted to make light of it by refer
ence to my record as a gambler and
connection with the sporting fraternity,
but I'll have my say when the proper
time comes"
The charges made by Masterson ssere
in substance that a deal was made
with a certain senator by which GER
tain mine owners were to furnish
$4,000, of which $1,000 had already
been advanced, as a corruption fund,
with which to defeat the division bill.
He implicated several senators and as
serted he would give their names and
prove the charges before an investi-
cation committee.
Masterson has been lobbying in ia
vor of division, and many of the legis-
lative members looked upon the
charges in the light of scheme to
disorganize the opposition and bulldoze
the senate into rushing the measure
through.
SENATE TAKES IT UP.
The senate, however, took official
cognizance of the charges, which were
printed in the Rocky Mountain News,
and appointed a committee to investi-
gate The committee began its labors
last Friday night. but instead of Mas
terson appearing he found it more
convenient to make a trip across the
state line: hence his presence in Zion.
Now MastersOn does not care 10 COM
nit himself until he has studied Tom
Patterson's testimony; after that he
may have something to say.
CORBETT AND FITZSIMMONS.
What do you think about the COM
ing fight between .Corbett and Fitz-
simmons?'' the reporter asked, chang
ing the subject.
well, now. l must really be ex-
cused from expressing an opinion" re-
piled the genial Bat Both are
very good friends of mine. While 1
may have private opinions, I do not
care to ventilate them. l Will say,
however that l have not a cent to bet
on the fight either way. 1t ought TO
be a good battle, and one worth going
far to witness. 1 expect TO be there.
and both will have my good will. I
really don't know which of the two L
would like to see a winner"
Bat" Masterson is the same Bat"
as of old He is genial and obliging.
His pair of steel-gray eyes are as
clear and penetrating as ever. He is
fat as he always was, and the diamond
stud in his immaculate shirt front gives
out the same brilliant luster.