Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-06
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Dover, May 5.--The investigating
committees Of the Sennts and House OF
Representatives met jointly in the Levy
Court room yesterday afternoon to in
yesiigate rumors concerning members
of the Legislature. Chairman Hazel Of
the House committee, who presided,
called the meeting TO order Mt 100
o'clock. All of tho members OF both
committees were present except Senator
Alrichs, who arrived shortly afterward.
Court Stenographer ,Ilardesty took the
testimony.
Nearly all Of the members of both
houses were also present.
John ID. Hawkins Of Dover repro.
scented Senator Pyle and William Il.
Lyman looked after the interests of
Representative Mccullough, as tho two
members referred to were the ones who
had called on James II. Hoifocker, Jr.,
at his request, and talked over tho
Cause divorce case, which was the
matter taken up for Investigation.
Messrs. Pyle and Mccullough were
also present.
James II. and Francis II. Hoffecser,
their clerk. Thomas j. Bowen. aud
Samuel j. White, Jr.. brother Of Mrs.
Cause, were also present,
After calling the meeting to order
anu reading the resolution Of the
House authorizing the investigation,
Chairman Hazel stated that tho Cause
case was to be taken up. He ordered
everybody TO leave the room except
members Of the Legislature and others
connected with the investigation.
In opening, Mr.. HAZEL Gallad ntten-
ton to a story concerning the affair,
which vas published in the Phiadel.
phia Times on April 26tb after which
William ii. Walker, the Times corre-
spondent was sworn and testified to
bearing rumors and verifying them in
an interview with James II. Hotfecler,
Jr.. counsel .or Mrs. Cause. He was
cross.questioned by Mr.. Lyman. which
brought out the information that he
had no personal knowledge of the facts.
James II. Hoffecker, being sworn,
said that the Times' story, barring q few.
details following what purported to be
his statement, was correct In tho main.
Mr.. Eotfecker testified as follows;
Some time in January last | was re-
tanned by Mr.. White, who is. her
brother, az counsel for Mrs. ii. Victor
Cause, who sought to obtain divorce
from her husband. The notice was put
III thu aDufiy ltCpGpliiuhf
with the statute. Some time after that
notice had been running in the paper,
it having been decided between Mr..
White, Mrs. Cause and myself that she
would apply to the Legislature for thnt
divorces, | came to Dover for the .pur.
pose Of ascertainiDg what method Of
procedure had been adopted by the di-
vorce comm ittee, what would be the
time. for the hearing, the matter of
priority, ii any, IN regard to divorce
suits, and such other details of infor.
nation us might be necessary in order
to properly conduct the suit. Several
of my clients witnesses residing at dis,
tant points, | naturally did not care to
bring them here unless they could have
hearing and not be kept waiting. /
had decided upon the Legislature and
had 80 advised Mr.. White and Mrs.
Garse because it afforded a speedier
tribunal, and in that respect vt was de-
Eirable to apply TO that tribunal In
view of the fact that she expected TO 60
to Europe for the summer in the late
winter or early spring months. came
here in the evening, saw all the Sena-
tors | could and talked with them that
night informally on the procedure that
would attend the case. Two of the
Senators l saw were Senators Pyle and
Fenimore. We had discussion in the
Senate chamber in reference to the
matter, in which / stated briefly the
Gauss OF the divorce, With the grounds
and other matters pertaining and els-
want TO the business in hand. That
was on the night of the 2Sth of Janu-
airy. The next Monday being the open
ing day of the February term OF court,
and being engaged In the trial of
causes and having business before that
court. deemed it advisable not to
bring the case up until the business |
had in the February term OF court was
disposed of. l let the matter run along
until some time in February. / under
stood from my brother, my partner, that
Mr., John Il. DiGkey wanted to see me.
/ made it my business to see him and
rec what he wanted to see me abont,
for he had said to Francis that we
were interested in the Cause divorce
suit and that there was likely to be
opposition to 1T. met HIM on Market
street. below my office on the morning
OF February 17tb. l said: "You wanted
TO see me about the Cause divorce
suit" lie said no did. / asked him
what he had to say about it. He said
that what he had to say he wanted mu
to take as the information of friend.
lie had been at Dover good deal and
didn't know whether l knew il or not,
but there was going to he strong oppo
sition 10 the granting of that divorce.
We had our interview, he made that
statement, and urged my reasons and
objeGtiona. Mr.. Dickey suggested that
had bettor look after the matter, for
he had reason to know that the bill was
going to he mat with opposition and
would run up against snag. He also
said that il be could BIO OF any service
to me no would be glad to render any
suce SERVICE, and that would not find
him expensive. Thanking him for his
information and suggestions, ] went to
ny Office. ! had obtained previously o
copy Of the rules of tho Housa and Sen
ate, and list OF the members and
committees ! looked that list over and
concluded that / would write to two
members thought | could get at more
directly than anybody elise. therefore
dropned a line to Senator Pyle and
Robert Mccullough, asking them to
call at my office the following Satur-
day, February Goth. On that day | re-
eeived call, first from Senator Pyle.
! stated to him why | had sent for
him, but l didn't give the name OF the
man who suggested that l had better
look into the matter. / simply said he
was a politician whom we both know
quite well. told him | was SURPRISED
10 near OF opposition TO this caso. for