The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-04-22
INDICTMENTS
Returned Against Or. w. Godfrey
Hunter and Others.
Indictments We're All Included in one
Biu-The News Caused Iudigua tion
Among the Republicaus-They De.
nounce 1t as q Conspiracy.

LOUISVILLE, KY, April "a special
says:
The franklin county grand jury has
returned true bills against DIR. w.
Godfrey Hunter, the republican nom
inee for the United States senate; ex.
Congressman John henry Wilson, of
the Eleventh district; Hon. E. I.
Franks, of the Second district; Capt.
Noel Gaines, and his brother-in-iaw,
Thomas Tanner, of Frankfort.
Those named have been indicted for
conspiracy to bribe. 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 republicans, all
of whom denounced it as a con.
spiracy among Frank fort democrats to
defeat and humiliate Hunter. They
claimed that the indictments against
Gaines and Tanner, the democrats,
were returned simply as savers" to
prevent the public generally from
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 evi.
dence.
Chairman Jones, of the republican
caucus. said that it was a ''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 republican leaders
hesitated to condemn the action of the
grand jury as partisan and prejudiced.
When the indictments had been re.
turned. Judge Cantrill 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 ber. Bail was fixed at $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 il
the parties come in and ask for an I'M
mediate trial will proceed with it at
once; otherwise it will 60 until Sep
tember."
Conspiracy to bribe is a com mon law
offense in Kentucky. the penalty be.
in fine or imprisonment, or both, at
the discretion of the jury. The friends
of DR.. Hunter are greatly rejoiced
that no indictment charging perjury
was returned, as this is felony.
no
attorneys in the state to defend them,
and while no consultation has been
held and no steps decided on, it is said
that immediate trials will be asked.
Capt Noel Gaines, one of the indict-
ed parties, and the man who claimed
that Hunter and his lieutenants had
endeavored to secure his assistance in
obtaining votes, gave out a redhot i'm
terview Saturday morning, asserting
his innocence and saying among other
things:
"a man may be forgiven for steal.
ing, as when starvation is at hand, but
no man should be countenanced for
lying, as these men (Hunter, Wilson
and others) have done"
He said that he was satisfied that he
would be dismissed as soon as his case
was heard.
The vital portion of the true bill re.
turned by the Franklin county grand
jury is as follows:
1.-THE said w. Godfrey Hunter, John
II. Wilson, Noel Gaines, E. T. Franks
and Thomas R. Tanner, did unlawful.
ly, corruptly and wickedly conspire,
combine, confederate and agree to-
gether to attempt to bribe them, the
said w. G. Gossam, Merge Clarke and
John H. Johns. members of the legis.
lature) and to offer them the sum Of
$4,000 each for the vile purpose OF Sc
curing and Influencing them to cast
their votes at the time and in manner
provided by law, for said election for
the said w. Godfrey Hunter and by
such unlawful means to secure his
election to the said office"