Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-06-05
INSURANCE SCANDAL
Which Is Agitating Members Of the
Pennsylvania Legislature.
SENATOR SHORTS FIRM DENIAL.

He Denounces the Statement of In
lutte, Vicious and Malicious Lie.o
Mr.. Durham Calls French Perjurer.
Harrisburg, June 2.-The joint 1egis-
lative committee appointed to investi-
gate the $4,000 insurance scandal held
very interesting session yesterday
afternoon. Chairman Wilson presided.
and with the exception of Mr. Simon
there was full attendance of the COM
mittee. General Goblin was present, and
at the beginning of the proceedings he
handed to the committee an affidavit
made by John French, of Oil City, an
insurance agent.
The first witness called was Haley
Fiske, vice president of the Metropoli-
tan Insurance company. He stated that
Frank H. Leonard, of the Clearfield
Coal company, who said he represented
one or two Pennsylvania state sena-
tors, called on the secretary of the
Metropolitan company in New York
and laid before the secretary plan
whereby the bill could be killed. Leon
ard witness said, made a similar propo-
sition on two occasions to the Brooklyn
superintendent of the company.
Agent French was then called. He
said he was a resident of Oil City and
that he was a district agent for the
Metropolitan company. He related a
visit he paid to Senator Short, of
Sugar Grove, Warren county, in refer
ence to the bill.
81 had never met the senator be-
fore" said French, "but / called on
him at his home in Sugar Grove about
certain insurance bills. I told him his
constituents were against these meas
ures, whereupon he replied: I have no
sympathy for you people. l had the
bill reeommitted, thinking you people
would take your cue.'
He told me-" the witness went on
to say, that state agent-he thought
it Was-had been ordered off the floor
of the legislature, and he told me of
Fishes appearing before the commit
tee in pompous manner The senator
said that the committee was not in
Mr.. Fiske's hands, but that he was in
theirs He said to me: The people
you want to get after are Judge Dur
ham and Senator Andrews. Andrews
is in that business, and he doesn't make
any bones about it. AS for myself, I
have plenty. You know the country
members are square and honest, and
they would not do anything of that
sort. Still, that is not saying that I
can't be touched
Mr.. Short told me- declared
French, that railroads, insurance COM
panies and the Armour Beef company
paid to have their interests taken care
Of"
In answer to further questioning Mr.
French said that at the interview at
Sugar Grove Short had told him he
would vote against the bill; that he
demanded nothing for so doing. Sen
ator Shortt," asserted the witness,
told me the company had used enough
in postage stamps to kill the bill. Then
said to him: Suppose another bill
would crop up. That would be dead
robbery He said to me: oh, no; the
boys are honorable. They will not for
get it, I"
Senator Short next took the stand.
With much feeling he said that
French's statement was IAN absolute,
vicious and malicious lie" and turning
to French he said, fiercely: "And you
know it. You partook of my hospital
ity, and then manufactured such a
lowlived lie"
Mr.. Shortt said that French had
come to him an entire stranger; that
he had never met him before, but that
he had asked him to take supper with
him at his home. He then denied
French's statements, sentence by SEN
tence. He said regarding the meeting
at his home:
French did not mention money, nor
did l, and I did not mention the names
of Judge Durham or Senator Andrews.
except that 1 advised French to see
the members of the legislature from
the northwestern part of the state and
get their influence against the bill. 1t
is true that I telephoned to him, but
I asked him what success he had in
seeing the members. Isn't that what
/ said?" said witness to French.
No SIR" was the answer.
Then you lie" was the rejoinder.
Senator Durham, upon being sworn,
declared he had never talked to Sena-
tor Short about the use of money in
the defeat or passage of any bill WAS
my name mentioned when you talked
to French?" asked the Philadelphian
of Mr.. Short.
mo, SIR came the reply.
Then French lies; he perjures him
SELF" said Durham.