Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11
KENTUCKY'S CONTEST
BRIBERY CHARGED AGAINST HUNT
ER AND HIS LIEUTENANTs.
FORMAL INDICTMENTS PREPARED.
Testimony to the Eject That $4,000
Was offered for the Three Votes
the Republican Nominee Needs
Indignant DcninIs.


oial to the Evening Post from Frankfort
says: Indictments charging bribery. and
conspiracy 10 bride. have been prepared
by the Franklin county grand jury
against the most prominent Republi-
cans in the State-viz.. ex-Congressman
W. Godfrey Hunter. OF the Third Dis
trict. the Republican nominee for the
United States Senate; exACongressman
John H. Wilson, Of the Eleventh Dis
trict. one Of Dr. Hunters closest ad-
ylsers. and Hon. r. II. Franks. one Of
the leading Republican politicians Of the
Second District The indictments were
prepared last night uron the testimony
Of Captain Noel Gaines and Captain
Tanner, his brother-in-law and Fred
Gordon. all Of this city. The charges
are Indignantly denied by DR.. Huntef
Mr.. Wilson. and Mr.. Franks. all Of whom
say they will prosecute for criminal libel
al who have testified 10 the above facts
before the grand jury. They all claim
IL Is the last desperate effort OF the
Blackburn Democrats 10 prevent Dr.
Hunters election to-day, which seemed
a certainty. in view Of the fact that he
lacked only one vote at the ballot yes
terday The following authorized inter-
view was given out this morning by
Captain Thomas Tanner, one Of the ac-
cusing witnesses:
Il was called 10 the Capitol Hotel Mon
day. and had a conference with Wilson
In Room u. Wilson had a big roll Of
bills. He said there were 5000 in each
package. and from all appearances there
were. There were four such packages
or $1,000. and ne said this would be paid
for four votes for Dr. Hunter. l had
several conferences with Franks In the
same room. Was last called there
Thursday morning. when they seemed 10
think that some members Of the Legis-
lature had offered 10 succumb for $4,000,
but they thought this too high"
Captain Noel Gaines testified before the
grand jury in part as follows:
THREE VOTES WANTED.
when Or. Hunter came to my house
he Dr Hunter opened the cOnversa-
ton by sayin, he had been told l could
aid him in getting three votes. l told
him that 1 1id not know whether ii was
possible 70 get them or not, but l would
study over IL and see Hunter said, L
want three votes, and am willing to pay
$1,000, or $500 a vote. l will furnish the
money all right, but Will have TO have
one OF my representatives complete the
trade and give you the money. as it
would not do for me TO hand it TO YOU
He said that he would have ex-COn-
gresham John Ii. Wilson, one of his
friends, call on me. Hunter told me
that Representatives W. u. GossOm and
Merge Clark, Of Warren county, and John
Il Johns. of Floyd county. could be got
ten, and Laey should be the first ones for
me TO see as he was pretty certain /
could get them.
ION next evening. about the same
hour. Mr.. John H. Wilson came over.
IN company with Mr. Tanner. and we all
three went into the library Of my house.
MI Wilson began by saying that Or.
Hunter had sent him to see me. and that
he CWilsOn) wanted TO know If l had
talked with Gossom, Clark, and Johns,
and II l had made a trade with them. l
told him / had not.
Wilson said: we have got the $4,000
here, and are ready TO give it 10 them
81 they will agree TO vote for Hunter
and continue TO vote for him until ne is
elected
Wilson said to me: I want you to go
right TO work now, and make the trade
with them quick
Mr.. Wilson came back TO my house
10 see me after the two occasions ON
one occasion he said The agreement is
now that this money will be turned over
20 you when the men vote. II you can't
get these men TO vote for Hunter, get
them TO go away; and II you can't get
them TO go away, have them slipped out
and kept out until the ballot IS over"
BALLOTING FOR SENATOR.
The greatest excitement prevailed du-
ing the first ballot for United States
Senator at noon to-day. The galleries
and Hobbies We're crowded. The sole topic
Of conversation was the bribery charges
that have been brought against Or. Hun
ter and his chief lieutenants, Wilson and
Franks The Republicans denounced
them in unmeasured terms. saying it
was but a deep scheme TO defeat the
Republican nominee. Before noon
statement, signed by Mr.. Wilson and at
tested by DR.. Hunter and Mr.. Franks,
was laid on the desks Of the members.
The statement denied all the charges.
and said that Gaines made the PROPOSE
ton and they believed it a scheme 10
entrap DR.. Hunter.
Before the roll was called there was
q Est fight in the right gallery.
The call OF the roll showed no quorum
present. but a vote was taken any way,
which gave Hunter 81 and Boyle l. Sixty
answered 10 their names
A motion TO adjourn brought out the
absentees and the vote stood 5S to So
but President Worthington voted TO con-
tinuo balloting, and a second ballot was
ordered.
The fight H. the gallery was between
Thomas Morrow. of Somerset, a relative
OF Judge r. Il. Morrows, and nephew
Of Governor Bradley's and Peter San
ders. a local Hunter Republican. San
ders struck Morrow over the eye with
pair Of brass kpuckles. making an
ugly cut and drawing the blood in copi-
Gus quantities Sanders was arrested.
There was no change on second bal
lot, the silver and "sound-mOney' Demo-
Gratis and boiling Republicans refusing
10 answer. I'm order 20 break "a quorum.
a motion 10 adjourn prevailed by
mall majority.
A statement signed by ten members of
the LEGISLATURE was Issued tonight, say
ing that Or. Hunter was in his room on
the night that Captain Gaines claims that
Hunter visited him Gaines for the bride
~ conference. Captain Gaines in an in
teryiew reasserts that his statement yes
terday was true. and will be substantiated
fully By reliable witnesses.
The effect Of the bribery talk on the
Hunter organization next week is still
uncertain. though his friends insist that
not a single vote Will be lost by reason
OF II. There Is every reason 10 believe
that an election VIII be held next week,
Notwithstanding the newly-elected Dem
ocrat. Hager will take his seat on Mon
day, and vote for blackburn The pres
sure on the six Republican boilers Is
now growing stronger every hour, and
they are liable 10 return any day