Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-04-14

l..
Franks, one of the leading Republican
politicians Of the district.
The indictments We're prepared last
night upon the testimony of Capt. Noel
Gaines. Capt Thomas Tanner, his
brother-in-law, and Fred Gordon, all of
this city.
The charges are indignantly denied by
DR.. Hunter, Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Franks,
all of whom say they will prosecute for
criminal libel all who have testified to the
above facts before the grand jury. They
all claim that it is the last desperate Ell
fort of the Blackburn Democrats to pre-
vent Hunters election today, winch
seemed a certainty III view of the fact
that he lacked only one vote at the ballot
yesterday.
The following authorized interview was
given out this morning by Capt. Thomas
Tanner, one of the accusing witnesses:
u was first called to the Capitol hotel Oh
April / ard took DR.. Hunter to Capt.
Gaines house. / there heard the conyer-
sation which followed between DIR. Hun
ter and Gaines. | way in an adjoining
room. My principal connection with the
case was through Wilson and Franks. On
various occasions i was called 10 consult
with them and urged to take a hand in
buying votes. They insisted they must
have three or four Democratic votes and
singled out Representatives Gossoma,
Clarke, Johns and Lykens, whom they
said we Gaines and myself must get; al
though any Democratic votes would be
acceptable.
Il was called to the Capitol hotel Mon
day night and had Il conference with VII
son in room 21 Wilson had a big roll
Of bills: he said there were 5000 IN the
package. and from al appearances there
was There were four such packages,
or $4,000, and he said this would be
paid for four votes for DIR. hunter. lie
showed me the money as an evidence OF
good faith He seemed to be the man
who handled all the money. had also
had conferences with Franks III the same
room. / was last called there Thursday
morning. when they seemed to think that
some members Of the Legislature had OF
fered to succumb for $4,000, but they
thought this too high. Franks was in
the plan and talked about buying votes,
but he never really offered Inc money
with which to buy them"
Capt Noel Gaines dictated n statement
TO which he testified before the grand
jury In part it is as follows:
when DR.. Hunter came to my house
he Or Hunter) opened the conversation
by saving he had been told | could aid
him in getting three votes. | told him
sible to get them or not, but l would
study over it and see. Hunter said: 1
want three votes, and am willing to pay
$15. 600 or $4,000 Il vote. | will furnish
the money all right, but will have to have
one of my representatives complete the
trade and give money, as it would not do
for me TO hand it TO you He said
that he would have eX-Congressman John
II. Wilson, one of his friends, call on
me-
mony relating to the meeting, is III line
with that of Capt. Tanner.
DR.. Hunters Denial.
pofn IN p
Wilson and attested by DR.. Hunter and
Mr. Franks was laid on the desk of the
members. The statement denied all the
charges and said that Gaines made the
proposition and that they believed it a
scheme to entrap DIR. Hunter.
The greatest excitement prevailed dur
ing the first ballot for United States
senator at noon today. The galleries
and Hobbies were crowded. The sole
topic Of conversation was the bribery
charges. The Republicans denounced
them in unmeasured terms, saying it
vas but Q dirty. scheme to defeat the
Republican, nominee. Before the roll
was called there was fist fight in the
right gallery The call of the roll
showed no quorum present, but q vote
was taken any way, which gave Hunter
81 and Boyle 1. Sixty answered to their
names.
A motion to adjourn brought out the
absentees and the vote stood IS to 58
but President Worthington voted to con-
tinue balloting and the second ballot was
ordered.
The fight in the gallery was between
Thomas Morrow of Somerset d relative
of Judge T. H. Morrow and nephew
of Gov Bradley, and Pete Sanders, a To-
cal Hunter Republican. Sanders struck
Morrow over the eye with pair of brass
knuckles, cutting an ugly wound and
drawing the blood in copious quantities.
Sanders was arrested.
There was 70 change on the second bal
lot