Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-15
BRIBERY CHARGES
Indictment Under Consideration
by the Grand Jury
HUNTERS FRIENDS ARE ANXIOUS
Great Sensation In Senatorial Contest in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Says it Is
democratic Trick
The Latest.

Frankfort, KY. April Pit was known
early this morning by DR.. Hunters
frierds that charges Of bribery were TO
be sprung on him as soon as the roll call
was completed. 1t was reported at that
hour that an Indictment charging him
with attempting bribery was under con-
sideration by the grand jury and would
probably be reported today. 1t was rot
reported, however, as the grand jury has
adjourned tonight without reporting an
Indictment The grand jury has the MAJ
ter under investigation and viii resume
the investigation on Monday, when ex-
Congressman Wilson and Mr.. Franks
viii be among the witnesse.
The gossip on the case was that Noel
Gaines had approached Representatives
Clark and Johns or behalf of Hunter and
proposed a money consideration for their
votes for Hunter.
AS soon as the news was out DR.. Hun
ter sent for Representatives Clark and
Johns. They came. ard then DR.. Hunter
said to them in the presence of Attorney
General Taylor and Senator McCord:
Il never saw Captain Noel Gaines in
my life, nor did 1 ever near Of either
Tanner or Gordon. 1 never solicited
Gaines or any one else to attempt to bride
any member of this general assembly,
Tanner and Gordon are associates of
Gaines in his accusation. Tanner is
Gaines brother-in-laW.
Ex-Congressman Wilson says Gaines
approached him recently and said he had
facts against Hunter that would ruin
him and he would suppress them if Hun
ter would give him $4,000 Wilson
n m nd r.,
Blackburn's headquarters. 1t is claimed
by Hunters friends that the charges
We're made wher the Republican nominee
came within one vote of election and il
was believed that Hunter would be elect
ed. EX-CongresSman Wilson and Mr..
Franks have made full statements about
what they call the efforts to ertrap them,
and DR.. Hunter has shown thai he did
not know and had never met the parties
offering to deliver three silver Democrat
votes for a given sum.
There is some reaction of sentiment to.
night ir favor of Hunter by those who re-
gard the charges in the line of persecu-
tion-. Others expect sensa tiona. develop
ments next week from the investigation
of the charges of bribery
ALIBI FOR HUNTER.
A statement signed by ten members of
the legislature was issued tonight stating
that DR.. Hunter was in his room on the
night that Captain Gaines claims that
Hunter visited his (GainesC home for the
bribery conference.
Captain Gaines, in an Interview. reas-
serts the fact that his earlier statement
was true and will be substantiated fully
by reliable witnesses.
The effect of the bribery talk on the
Hunter organization next week is uncer-
<-f- ~
single vote will be lost by reason of it.
There is every reason to believe that an
election will be had next week, notwith-
standing the newly elected senator. Ha-
ger, will take his seat on Monday and
vote for Blackburn. The pressure on the
SIX Republican boilers is now growing
stronger every hour and they are liable to
return any day.
The following statement was made by
ex-Congressman Wilson and endorsed
by Hunter and Franks:
The statement made by Mr. Gaines
is not true. E. T. Franks told me that
Noel Gaines called him by telephone
made an appointment to meet him. AMI
said that he had three members of the
legislature whom he could have vote for
Hunter for $4,000 each, and that Gaines
wanted $4,000 for his services. Franks
lOIu ttldl one OF the members
at Gaines house, and that he might hear
the member say that ne would vote for
Hunter whenever Gaines told him to do
SO. Franks said he thought it was a
trick and asked me to go to Gaines
house and unravel the scheme. 1 went
No member appeared. Gaines said the
member was afraid Of me, but wanted
Franks. Afterwards Gaines talked 10
me several times. saying the members
wereu nwi1ling for him to divulge their
names, but that Franks had promised
him SIG, 900 and he either wanted tina:
amount or wanted mis- $4,000. 1 told him
he must look to Franks. SO far as I
know there has never been a dollar here
to beu sed in Hunters interest. L never
discussed names of members with Gaines
It looks like this matter was Matched for
the purpose of extracting money. and Is
now falsely given to the press in order
to prevent Hunters election"