New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
A GRAND JURY IN POLITICS.
DIR. HUNTER AND OTHERS INDICTED AT
FRANKFORT.
DENOUNCED by REPUBLICANS As A CoNsPIRAC
TO DRIVE TIE PARTY'S NOMINEE FOX
SENATOR OFT OF THE RACE.

DENOUNCED BY REPUBLICANS As A CONSPIRACY
TO DRIVE TIE PARry's NOMINEE FOR
SENATOR OUT OF THE RACE
Louisville, KY, April IA dispatch to Tine
Evening Post from Frankfort says:
1.-THE Franklin County Grand Jury has returned
true bills against DR.. w. Godfrey Hunter the fe-
publican nominee for the United States Senate ex-
Congressman John Henry Wilson. OF the Kiln Dis
trict: the Hon. F. r. Franks. of the lid Disric'
and Captain Noel Gaines and his brother-in-iaw'
Thomas Tanner, of Frankfort. Those named nave
been indicted for conspiracy TO bride. All are Re-
publioans with the exception Of Gaines and Tan
ner."
Frankfort, KY April i7-When the bribery In
dictments had been returned to-day Judge Cantri
ordered that berch warrants be issued for the ar
rest Of the accused men and made returnabIe Tor
the term of the court. which Is In September
Bail was fixed at $3.50 In each case. When asked
why he set the for next September, Judge
Cantrill said Il do not think 1t proper to try the
at this term Of the court. but If the parties
come in and ask for an immediate trial will pro-
coed with 1T once; otherwise 1t Will sc over until
September"
The vital portion of the true bill is as follows
Noel Gaines i. T. Franks and Thomas r. Tanner
did unlawfuy. corrupuy and wckedly conspire,
Tempt to bribe them, the said W c. Gossam.
Merge Clarke and Johns members Of the Legis.
each for the vile purpose Of securing and nhuenc-
Ing them to cast their votes at the time and In
manner provided by law for said election for the
said w. Godfrey Hunter, ana by such unlawlui
means to secure his election to the said Office"
The news at once became public. and created the
greatest indignation among the Republicans, all
Of whom denounced 1t a conspiracy among
Frankfort Democrats to defeat and humiliate
Hunter. They said that the indictments against
Gaines and Tanner the Democrats were returned
simply savers" to prevent the public generally
from gaining the impression that the GrarAI Jury
had been made an engine of political persecution,
and that they would be dismissed at the first hear
ing on account of insufficient evidence.
Chairman Jones of the Republican caucus sal
and that the Republicans would dsprove and re-
sent it in proper spirit. state Senator Depoe was
of the same opinion. and not one OF the hepupee
lcan leaders hesitated 10 condemn the actoI oi
the Grand Jury partisan and pre1udiced IL IL
said that immediate trials Will be asked Tor
Dr. Hunter was absolutely non-commlttal. WHen
asked what effect the indictments would have on MS
candidacy he asked legislator to reply Tor MN.
Hunter is the victim OF conspiracy ana Will pe
elected yet" was the answer and DIR. Hunter smiled
grmly. The same reticence Is maintained oy VIII
son and Franks. 49,,
The session of the General Assembly this morn
ing uneventful in the extreme the prloery IN.
dictments overshadowing all else. Many OF the
members were absent. and those VINO were not LAO
made pairs. According to previous agreement
formal ballot was taken and one vote was cast tor
each o. the candidates-Hunter. Blackburn, Martin.
ments will force Hunter to withdraw; On the con
trarv It is believed that 1t will solidify his forces
and that he will stand like stone wall against gu
opposing forces from now on as the majority or tne
Renuhlicans now here are inclined to the opinion
tbat n is nothing more less than political perse-
cution. The boiling Republicans, however are slee-
full and arc urging ea for oDcns "a caIied
Hunter men insist that Il q new CAUCUS 10 caiicu
they will again win.