The Red Cloud chief., 1897-04-16
KENTUCKY BOODLERS
HUNTER AND CONGRESS-
MAN WILSON ACCUSED.
tho Grand Jury Finds Indictments Against
the Republican Caucus Nominee for SEN
ator- Five Thousand Zach offered for
Four Democratic Votes.

FRANKFORT. Ky, April i1.-Indict.
mcnts charging bribery and conspir.
acy to bride 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.
gresham w. Godfrey Hunter OF the
Third district, Republican nominee for
the United States Senate; Congress
man j. II. Wilson of the Seventh dis
trict. one OF DIR. Hunters closest ad.
~visers, and Il. Il. Franks, one Of the
leading Republican politicians Of the
Second district
The indictments were prepared
upon the tcstimoncy of Captain Noel
Gaines, Captain Thomas Tanner. his
brothcr.in.law, and Fred Gordon, all
Of this city.
The charges are Indignantly denied
by DR. Hunter, Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Franks, all Of whom say they will
prosecute .or criminal libel all who
have testified before the grand jury.
They all claim that 1t is the last des.
perate effort Of the Blackburn Demo.
crats TO prevent DIR. 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 1, and took DR..
Hunter TO Captain Gaines's house.
! there heard the n~versntion
which followed between DR.. Hunter
and Gaines ] was In an adjoining
room. My principal connection with
the ease was through Wilson and
Franks. On various occasions l was
called to consult with them and urged
to take a hand in buying votes. They
insisted they must have three or four
Democratic votes, and singled out Rep
rcs~entatives Gossoma, Clarke, Johns
and Lykens, whom they said we
Gaines and myself must get, nj.
though any Democratic votes would
be acceptable. | was called to the Cap
ital hotel Monday night and had a
conference with Wilson In room 81.
Wilson had u big roll of bills-he said
there were 5000 in the package, and
from oil appearances there were.
There were four such packages. or
$50, 600, and he said this would be paid
for four votes for DIR. Hunter. lie
showed me the money as an evidence
of good faith. lie seemed to be the
man who handled all the money. I
Ind several conferences with Franks
in the same room. l was last called
there Thursday morning, when they
seemed to think that some members OF
the legislature had offered to- succumb
for SlO,0 0O, hut they 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 statement directly
charges Hunter with Offering him
SIS, 900 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 ut loon. The call OF
the roll showed no quorum present,
but n vote was taken which gave
Hunter 81 and Boyle 1. Sixty an
swcred To their names.
A motion to adjourn brought out
the abscntces and the vote stood 80 to
bS, but President Worthington voted
to continue balloting and the second
ballot was ordered. In this there was
no change.