The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-04-20
INDICTMENTS
Returned Against Or. w. Godfrey
Hunter and Others.
indictments Were All Included in One
BiIl-The News Caused Indignation
Among the supplementary De-
nounce 1t as Conspiracy.

LOUISVILLE, KY, April ia special
to the Evening Post from Frankfort
says:
The Franklin county grand jury has
returned true bills against DR.. w.
Godfrey Hunter, the republican nom
inee for the United States senate; ex-
Congressman John Henry Wilson, of
the Eleventh district; Hon. E. T.
Franks, of the Second district; Capt.
Noel Gaines, and his brother-in-law,
| Thomas Tanner, of Frankfort.
Those named have been indicted for
conspiracy to bride. All are republic
ans with the exception of Gaines and
Tanner
The indictments were all included in
one bill and were filed in court at 1920
o'clock. The news at once became
public and created the greatest indig-
nation among the repu blicans, all
of whom denounced it as a con-
spiracy among Frankfort democrats to
defeat and humiliate Hunter. They
claimed that the indictments against
Gaines and Tanner, the democrats,
were returned simply as savers" to
| pACNChO OhC DuOLIO SChCI oily IL Olh
gaining the impression that the grand
jury had been made an engine of po-
litical persecution, and that they
would be dismissed at the first hear
ing on account of insufficient evil
dence.
Chairman Jones, of the repu blican
caucus, said that it was ''diabolical
and hellish conspiracy" and that the
republicans would disapprove and
resent it in proper spirit. State Sena-
tor Deboe was of the same opinion,
and not one of the repu blican leaders
hesitated to condemn the action of the
grand jury as partisan and prejudiced.
When the indictments had been re-
turned. Judge Cantril ordered that
bench warrants be issued for the ar
rest of the accused and made returna-
BILE at the next term of court, which is
in Septem Der. Bail was fixed ut $3.50
in each case. When asked why he set
the cases for next September, Judge
Cantrill said:/
II do not think it proper to try the
cases at this term of the court, but If
the parties come in and ask for an I'M
mediate triahI will proceed with it at
,, once; otherwise it will go until Sep
TENDER -
Conspiracy to bride is common law
offense in Kentucky, the penalty be.
in fine or imprisonment, or both, al
the discretion of the jury. The friends
of DR.. Hunter are greatly rejoiceC
that no Indictment charging perjury
was returned. as this is felony.
: the accused have engaged the bes
Z attorneys in the state to defend them
and while no consultation has beer
. held and no steps decided on, it is sait
= that immediate trials will be asked.
Capt Noel Gaines, one OF the indict
ed parties, and the man who claimcC
, that Hunter and his lieutenants hac
endeavored to secure his assistance il
= obtaining votes, gave out redhot in
. terview Saturday morning, asserting
. his innocence and saying among Othe-
), things:
"a man may be forgiven for steal
;, ing, as when starvation is at hand, bu
:, no man should be countenanced TO
:. lying, as these men (Hunter, Wilson
and others) have done"
= He said that he was satisfied that h
: would be dismissed as soon as his cas-
: was heard.
The vital portion of the true bill re
. turned by the Franklin county grant
= Jury is as follows:
THE said w. Godfrey Hunter, JOIN
: I'll. Wilson, Noel Gaines, E. L. Frank
and Thomas r. Tanner, did unlawful
. ly, corruptly and wickedly conspire
combine confederate and agree to
e gether to attempt to bride them, tn
said w. G. Gossam, Merge Clarke anc
John Ii. Johns, members of the legis
= lature) and to offer them the sum o
- s., 900 each for the vile purpose of Sc
- curing and Influencing them to cas-
their votes at the time and in name
: provided by law, for said election TO
, the said w. Godfrey Hunter and b,
such unlawful means to secure hi
election tn the said office -