The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-17
SETTLED ATT A COST.
THE BRIBERY CASE AGAINST TAN
YALkENBERG DROPPED.

More than SaO 900 Paid By Pennsylvania
Poiiticians 20 STOP the Proceedings In Court
Senator ouay's Part in lt-Consressusan
Cornell said to Have Paid the Court Cests.
PorrsvILLE, Pa, Nov. 16.-A settlement was
reached to-day in the case of S. A. Van Valken-
borg, who was charged with bribing Repro
sentative Weiss Of Northampton county to vote
for John Wanamakor for United States Sena.
tor last winter. In making the settlement,
$l,51e.12 was handed over to the District At
torney In payment OF the local court costs. Tho
defendant and some Of his principal witnesses
and attorneys were present In court, and SO
were tho District Attorney, Detective Mo
Sweeney, and the local attorney of the prosocu-
tion. These court costs are only q small part OF
the entire bill Of expenses. Tho money to pay
them was furnished by the private secretary
Of one of Pennsylvania leading Congressman,
o man very close to Senator Quay.
When Quay camo home from Florida In o.
tobcr on his first visit to Philadelphia he met
Secretary Of the Commonwealth Martin, and
among other points he insisted that Martin
must have tho Van valkenberg case nolle
pressed. Martin said that he had no conneo-
ton with tho case, and that anyhow the ques-
ton of q settlement would rest with the prose-
c%ution; that tho Quay people were the prose.
cutors; that the defendant insisted on a trial,
tsAA t1Ns hA0 pthJ V"y w WV sS SaN
was by going over his head to Thomas Dolan.
The pressure for q settlement Of the case was
very strong, and the big independent vote for
Swallow scared the leaders of the warning fac.
tions into an agreement that the case must
positively be settled. As further disclosures of
shady political transactions would result in the
positive defeat OF the Republican ticket next
year, not only the candidate for Governor, but
many of the Congressman of the State Joined in
the demand for Il settlement.
The next question WAS. where was tho money
to come from, us 1t would require fully $4,000
to pay oil the detective and legal costs of both
sides. The Quay people went to State ftepub.
lican headquarters and wanted this to be mad
a State campaign debt, but the managers would
not consent to this because they had not
enough money to run the campaign for them
selves, and were many thousands OF dollars in
debt. Congressman Connelb of Scranton, 1t has
been repeatedly said and never denied, was will
ing to liquidate all indebtedness on considera-
ton Of his being made tho next Gubernatorial
candidate. Finally 1t was decided that Quay
should take care OF the prosecution expendi'
mate court costs. The Quay people are said to
have paid. before this talk OF settlement, nearly
10000 to the detective agency that was used
said that they would take care Of the detectives
and the attorneys, while Connen was to pay tho
rest of the bill; but Connell did not get any
The court costs run about 81 500: tbe deteo;
tive agenoy's bill all told Is nearly 10000 and
the attorneys fees for the defence will run close
TO 10000, tho principal counsel getting
$500 to $1,000, Thoro were eight lawyers n
all acting in tho case for the defence. OF
the prosecution, the loading, lawyer. Nj. Lena.
han of Wilkesbarre, gets his fee out Of the
tIves also pay the local attorneys for the prose.
Cution.