The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
The Charges Indignantly Denied by
DIR. Hunter. j. III. Wilson and Il. It.
Franks, the Three Men Implicated.
DENOUNCED AS A CONSPIRACY
TO ENTRAP THE REPUBLICAN CAM
DIDATE AND INSURE HIS DEFEAT.
DisgracefuI Fight I'm Gallery Of the
House During the Progress OF
the BaIIoting Yesterday.

FRANKFORT. Ky. April 10.-It was
know nearly this morning by Or. Hunters
friends that charges Of bribery were to be
sprung on him as soon as the roll cali in
the Legislature was completed. Ii was re-
ported at that hour that an indictment
charging him with attempted bribery was
under consideration by the grand jury. and
would probably be reported to-day. Ii was
not reported. however. as the grand jury
adjourned tonight without reporting an
indictment. The grand jury has the matter
under consideration and will resume the
investigation on Monday, when ex-Con-
gressman Wilson and Mr.. Franks will be
among the witnesses. The gossip on the
case was that Capt. Noel Gaines. OF the
McCreary Guards, had approached Repre-
sentatives Clark and Johns on behalf OF
Hunter and proposed a money consideration
for their votes for Hunter. AS soon as the
news came out Dr. Hunter sent for
Representatives Clark and John. They
came and then DIR. Hunter said TO them,
in the presence of Attorney General Tay-
lor and Senator McChord: Il never saw
Capt Noel Gaines in my life. did
ever hear Of either Tanner or Gordon.
never solicited Gaines nor any one else TO
attempt TO bribe any member of this Gen.
eral Assembly"
Tanner and Gordon are associates OF
Gaines i'm his accusation Tanner is
Gaines's brother-ir-law. Ex-Congressman
Wilson says Gaines approached him recently
and said he had facts against Hunter that
would ruin him and that he would suppress
them if Hunter would give him $751; 600. Will
son spurned him and Gaines went at once
to BlacKburn's headquarters. Ii is claimed
by Hunters friends that the charges were
made when the Republican nominee came
within one vote of election and IL was be-
lieved that Hunter would be elected. Ex-
Congressman Wilson and Mr.. Franks have
made full statements about what they call
the efforts to entrap them and DIR. Hunter
has shown that he did not know and had
never met the parties Offering TO deliver
three silver Democratic votes for a given
sum There is some reaction of sentiment
tonight in favor of Hunter by those who
regard the charges in the line OF persecu-
ton. Others expect sensational develop
ments next week from the investigation or
the charges of bribery.
HUNTER NOT IN GAINES'S : ROOM
A statement signed by ten members OF
that DR.. Hunter was in his room on the
night that Captain Gaines claims Hunter
visited his (Gainess) home for the bribery
conference. Captain Gaines. in an inter-
view, reasserts the fact that his statement
of Yesterday was.true, and will be substan-
tiated fully by reliable witnesses. The ef-
feet of the bribery talk on the Hunter or
canization next week is still uncertain.
though his friends insist that not a single
vote will be lost by reason of il. There 10
every to believe that an election
will be had next week. Notwithstanding the
neWly-elected Democratic senator haker
will take his seat Monday and vote for
Blackburn. The pressure ON the SIX RepuD-
lican boilers is now growing stronger every
hour, and they are liable 10 return any day
The following authorized interview was
given out this morning by Capt Ihomas
Tanner one OF the accusing witnesses:
Il was first called TO the Capitol Hotel on
April l. and took DR.. Hunter 10 Captain
Gaines's house. L heard there the Conversa-
ton which followed between Dr. Hunter
and Gaines / was in an adjoining room.
NV principal Connection with the case was
through Wilson and Franks On various
occasions / was called TO 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 Repre-
| sentatiVes GOssom, Clarks. Johns and Iy-
kens who, they said, lGaines and my
| self must get, although any Democratic
| votes would be acceptable. / was called TO
-
a conference with Wilson in Room q. VIII
| son had a big roll OF bills; he said there
| were 5000 in the packeage, and from all
| appearances there were. There were four
| such packages, or $4,000. and he said this
| would be paid for four votes for DR.. Hun
| ter. He showed the money evi-
| dence OF good fafth. He seemed 10 be the
man who handled all the money. 1 had
| several conferences with Franks in the
same room. Was last called there Tues
| day morning. when they seemed TO think
that some members OF the Legislature had
! offered to succumO for $4,000. but they
| thought this too high. Franks was In the
| plan and talked about buying votes. but he
| never directly offered me money with
which 10 buy them.
CAPTAIN GAINES'S STATEMENT.
Captain Noel Gaines's dictated statement.
| to which he testified before the grand jury.
is in part as follows:
when DR.. Hunter came TO my house hs
(Dr Hunter) opened the conversation by
| saying he had been told could aid him in
| getting three votes. / told him that did
| not know whether IL was possible TO get
| them or not, but L would study over IL and
! see. Hunter said: I want three votes. and
| am willing 10 pay SIS 0co or $5.09 vote.
! / will furnish the money all right. but viii
| have TO have one OF my representatives
complete the trade and give you the money,
| as il would not do for me To hand II TO
gresham John II. Wilson. one OF his
friends. call on me. Hunter told me that
! REPRESENTATIVES, w. c. Gossom and Nergs
| Clark OF Warren county, and John II
Johns. OF Floyd county could be gotten
and they should be the FIRST ones for me e
see. as he was pretty certain L could SCI
them.
.On the next evening. about the same
hour, Mr. John III. Wilson came over. n
company with Mr.. Tanner. and we all thre,
went into the library OF my house. Mr.
| Wilson began by saying that DR.. Hunter
had sent him 10 see me and that he (Wil
| son) wanted TO know III / had talked witt
Gossom, Clark and Johns and IL I has
| made a trade with them. / told him ] hal
| not Wilson said: We have got the SIS %
| here and are ready TO giYe II TO them 4
they would agrse 10 votetfor Hunter an<
| ed Wilson said TO me: Il want vou I,
| get right TO work now, and make the trad,
| with them quick Mr. Tanner MAS nresen