Evening star., 1897-04-10
AKENTUCKY SCANDAL
Indictments Charging Prominent Pol
iticians With Bribery.
lR. HUNTER and FRIENDS INVOLVED
They indignantly Deny the Accu-
satIons.
CAPT. TANNERS STATEMENT

LOUISVILLE. Ky, April 1O.-A special to
the Evening Post from Frankfort says:
Indictments charging bribery and con-
spiracy to brihe have been prepared by the
Franklin county grand jury against the
most prominent republicans in the state
and before the day is past. Ii is
announced, true bills will be return
eG against ex-Consressnan ". God
frey Hunter of the third district the repub-
lican nominee for the United States Senate;
ex-Congressman John II. Wilson of the
eleventh district, one of DIR. Hunter s
closest advisers, and Mr.. f. T. Franks. one
of the leading republican politicians OF the
second district
The indictments were prepared last night
upon the testimony of Capt. Noel Gaines
and Capt. Tanner. his brother-in-law, and
Fred Gordon. all of this city. The charges
are Indignantly denied by Dr. Hunter, MI
Wilson and Mr.. Franks. all of whom say
they Will prosecute for criminal libel all
who have testified 10 the above facts before
the grand Jury.
Il hey all claim that it is the last desper-
ate effort Of the Blackburn democrats TO
prevent DR. Hunters election today which
seemed a certainty in view OF the fact
that he lacked only vote at the ballot
yesterday The following authorized inter
view was given out this morning by Capt.
Thomas Tanner one OF the. accusing wit
neSSeS.
was first called to the Capitol Hotel
on April /. and took DIR. Hunter TO Capt
Gaines house. l there heard the CONVEX
s4tion which followed between DIR. Hunter
and Gaines. | was in an adjoining room.
My principal connection with the case 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 thre,,
or Iour democratic votes. and singled out
Representatives Gossom. Clark. Johns and
Lykens. whom they said We (GdInes and
myself must get. although any democra tic
votes would be acceptable.
I was called to the Capitol Hotel Mon
day night, and had conference with
Wilson in Room u. Wilson had big roll
of bills He said there was 5000 in the
package, and from all appearances there
were. There We're four such packages, or
$-aopu. and he said this would be paid for
four votes for DIR. Hunter. He showed me
the money as an evidence of good faith.
he seemed 10 be the man who handled all
the money. | had several conferences with
Franks in the same room. Was last called
there Thursday morning. when they
SET med TO think that some members of the
legislature had offered to succumb for
SlOup. but 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. -
Capt. Gaines Testimony.
Capt. Noel Gaines testified before the
grand jury in part as follows:
'When Dr. Hunter came to my house he
CDR Hunter) opened the conversation by
saying he had been told l could aid him in
getting three votes. l told him that / did
not know whether it was possible to get
them or not, but 1 would study over it and
see. Hunter said: II want three votes. and
am willing 10 pay s1J,UD or 5000 a vote.
l VIII furnish the money all right, but Will
have to have one of my representatives,
complete the trade and give you the money
as ii would not do for me TO hand it to
you
He said that he would have ex-Con-
gresham John II. Wilson one Of his
friends call on me. Hunter told me that
Representatives W. G. Gossom and Merge
Clark of Warren county and John H.
Johns OF Floyd county could be gotten,
and they should be the first ones for me to
see. as he vas pretty certain / could get
them.
'On the next evening about the same
hour Mr.. John II. Wilson came over in
company with Mr.. Tanner and We all
three went into the library of my house
Nh Wilson began by SAYING that DR. Hun
ter had sent hin. 10 see me, an1 that ne
Wilson) wanted to know Il had talked
with GOssOm, Clark and Johns and If 1
had made trade with Jkem. 1 told him
/ had not. Wilson SAID:
We have sot the $1,000 mere. and are
ready 20 give IL to them if they would
agree TO vcte for Hunter AMI continue to
vote for him until he was elected
Wilson said to me: Il want YOU 10 20
rieht to work now and make the trade
with them quick
MT- Tanner was present all during the
conversation with Wilson. He also Ecard
all that was said by DIR. Hunter himself
the night before while he was In :he room
adjoining the one In which d.. Hunt and
i were sitting.
Mr.. Wilson came back to my house to
see me after the two occasions On one
occasion he said: The agreement is now
that this money will be turned over to YOU
when tho men vote. If you can't get these
men to vote for Hunter, get them to go
away. ana If you can't get them to go
away, have them slipped out and keep
them out until the ballot is over"
The Charges Contradfcted
FRANKFORT. KY, April 1O-Before
noon statement, signed by Mr. Wilson
and at;ested by Dr. Hunter and Mr..
Franks, was laid on the desks of the men,
berS. The statement denied all the charges
and said that Gaines made the proposition
and they believed it a scheme 10 entrap
DIR. Hunter
EXCITEMENT At FRANKFORT.