Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-11
BLACKBURN'S TRUMP CARD
Grand Jury Finds Indictments for Bribery
Against Three Prominent Republicans.
HUNTER AND TWO FRIENDS ARE CAUGHT
elimination of the Sensational
Charges Which Have Been Made
Concerning Kentucky Sem
atOriaI Election.
UNTER AND TWO FRIENDS ARE CAUGHT

LOUISVILLE, KY, April 1O.-A special te
the Evening Post from Frankfort SAYS
indictments charging bribery and conspirac,
10 bribe have been prepared by the Frank.
lin county grand jury against three of the
most prominent republicans in the state, and
before the day is past true bills will be re.
turned against ex-Congressman w. Godfrey
Hunter of the Third district, the republican
nominee for the United States senate. Con.
Gressman ]. H. Wilson of the Seventh dis.
trict, one of DR.. Hunters closest advisers
and Hon. e. T. Franks, one of the leading
republicans of the Second district. The
INDICTMENTS were prepared last night upon
the testimony OF Captain Noel Gaines, Cap
tain Thomas Tanner, his brother-in-law. and
Fred Gordon. all of this city. The
charges are Indignantly denied by DR.. Hun
ter. Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Franks, all of
Whom say they will prosecute for criminal
libel all who have testified to the state
ments before the grand jury. They all as
sert that 1t Is the last desperate effort of the
niackpurn democrats to prevent DR.. Hun
ters election today, which seemed a GER
tainty in view of the fact that he lacked
only one vote at the ballot yesterday.
The following authorized interview was
given out this morning by Captain Thomas
Ianner. one of the accusing witnesses.
Il was first called to the Capitol hotel on
April !, and took Mr.. Hunter to Captain
Gaines house. / then heard the converse
tlon which followed between DR.. Hunter and
Gaines. l was In an adjoining room. My
principal connection with the case was
through Wilson and Franks. On various oc-
casions i was called to consult with them
and urged to take a hand in the ensuing
votes. They insisted they must have three
OF four democratic votes, and singled out
Representatives Gossoma, Clarke, Johns and
T.vk ph hAU mir Cat
self must get, although any democratic
votes would be acceptable.
II was called to the Capitol hotel Mon
day night and had conversation with Will
son in room 22. Wilson had big roll OF
bills; he said there was $1,000 In the pack
age, and from all appearances there was.
There were four such packages, about $780,
900. and he said this would be paid for four
votes for DR.. Hunter. He then showed me
the money as an evidence OF good faith. He
seemed to be the man who handled the
money. / had several conferences with
Franks In the same room. Was last called
there Thursday morning when they seemed
to think that some members OF the legisla-
ture had offered to succumb for $40 900, 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 TO buy them"
Before noon a statement signed by Mr..
Wilson and attested by DR.. Hunter and Mr..
The statement denied all the charges and
said that Gaines made the proposition ard
that they believed 1t a scheme to defeat DR..
Hunter.
STATEMENT BY NOEL GAINES.
Captain Noel Gaines dictated a statement,
to which he testified before the grand jury, In
part as follows:
when Or. Hunter came to my house he
CDR Hunter) opened the conversation by ray
ing he was told / could aid him in getting
three votes. / told him that l did not know
whether 1t was possible to get them OF not,
but would study over 1t and see. Hun,er
said; I want three votes. and am willing to
pay SIS. 900, or $1,000 vote. ! will furnish
the money all right, but will have to have
one OF my representatives complete the trade
and give you the money, as 1t would not do
for me to hand 1t to YOU He said that he
would have ex-Congressman John ii. Wilson,
cne of his friends, call on me. Hunter told
me that Representatives w. @. Gossom and
N. Clark Of Warren county and John ii. Johns
Of Floyd county could be gotten and they
should be the first ones for me TO see. as he
was pretty certain ! could get them.
"on the next evening. about the same