The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-06
BRIBERY IS CHARGED.
Thrilling Story Of Detective Who Has
Been Inside the Wcnamaker Boom.
TRYING TO BUY OVER LEGISLATORS.
A Story of Disgrace, Corruption and Infa-
mons Conspiracy.

corruption a. alit5cu tp run itce ~
Pennsylvania, through the ambition OF a
millionaire merchant to sit i'm the Senate
of the United States. The climax in q
long story of numerous attempts to e-''.'
members of the legislature was reae'ied
Thursday in the arrest of Z. 4. Van Walk
enberg, a well-known state politician
who is in charge of wanamaker's quar-
ters at the Lochiel hotel in Harrisburg.
The evidence against Van Nalkenburg Is
furnished by a trained detective, and the
details of this story are astonishing be-
yond measure. The detective is John
Tillard, of Altoona.
Friends of Boies Penrose have been in
possession of the daily reports of this
detective since early in October, and
knew of the organized efforts ofthe Wan
amaker contingent to corruptly influence
the legislature. Ii was TO these facts.
even then in his possession, that Senator
Quay referred when he asked Senator
Mitchell, of Oregon, in the Senate, not TO
push his bill for the present providing for
the election of United States Senators by
the people, as something was likely to
develop shortly in Pennsylvania that
would have a bearing on the subject.
1t seems that the detective in question
was employed by the Penrose people to
find out what was going on in the in-
side of the Wanamaker boom. He sue
eeeded in having himself employed 10y
Wanamaker, who introduced him to Van
Valkenberg as lone of his managers
Valkenberg subsequently gave the detect
i've 81 200 10 give DIR. y. c. Mackey, a
member from Lackawanna county, ex-
acting from Mackey in return a pledge
that he would vote for Wanamaker for
Senator. This transaction is cOrroborat-
ed 10y another detective, who was in an adj
joining room when the money was paid,
and also by Photographic reproduction
OF the pledge which the Doctor gave. In
the course ofthis Mackey deal Van Walk
enberg. the detective says, was frequent
ly in communication with John Wana-
maker. He said TO the detective II am
not going to do anything unlawful any
more than can help. 1 think the end
blOOdedly buy a block of p members il
we had to pay $4,000 for them. MY peo'
ple," he continued-and he afterwards
mentioned Thomas Dolan's name in this
connection-''never question my judg-
ment in matters of this kind, and for this
reason do not wish to pay more than is
absolutely necessary. They are always
willing TO pay any price so they are sure
of the goods. Sometimes l say TO them
that certain point can be made for 3, 200,
and am afterwards obliged TO tell them
il will take twice that amount; but they
never object if can assure them it will
bring the result. We are doing business
on that basis. We don't object to paying
the price, but we want to see the results.
That is why want to do business with a
man like you"
Subsequently Van Valkenberg. Tillard
says, gave him five SlOO bills with which
to buy the support of W. C. Weiss, a
member from Schuyll1ill county. This
money the detective marked. and return
ed to Van Valkenberg by registered let
holds Van Valkenberg's registry receipt
for this, and also for the pledge signed by
DIR. Mackey.
At the hearing in Pottsville on Thurs
day Van Valkenberg lodged the charges
by giving bail for trial. When he got
back to Harrisburg he gave out a denial
Of the detectives story There are, how
ever, few people who have read the de-
tails of the proceedings whp are not i'm
pressed with the probability of the ale
cations.
II was knowledge of these facts that in
duced Senator Quay a few days ago n
send the following letter to some of his
friends:
DEAR SIR: I am sincerely an xious
that the attempt in progress to pure base
the succession to Senator Cameron shall
be defeated. and will be greatly Obliged
if you will cooperate to secure the vote OF
your members of the House for BOies
PenrOse.
M. S. QUAY"