The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-11
c01TFoRTs HEATED FIGHT.
,r.REPUBLIClN LEADERS MAY
M INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.

mree Iotes Needed to Elect
nte,/The Accused, of Course,
nm, he Charges.
-.,kbrt KY, April 1O.-It was known
* morning by DR.. Hunters friends
'a Urges of bribery were to be sprung
u,Jas soon as the roll call was COM
I..J 1t was reported at that hour that
n Ictment charging him with at
MD bribery was under consideration
- 4 grand jury, and would probably be
I'M led to-day. 1t was not reported,
s,ater. as the grand jury adjourned to-
~ without reporting an indictment.
lrand Jury has the matter under con-
sLtion. and will resume the investiga-
III on Monday, when eX-Congressman
g-Ion and Mr.. Franks will be among the
viksses. The report was that Capt. Noel
Gales of the McCreary Guards had APP
cbed Representatives Clark and Johns
in half of Hunter and proposed a money
elaboration for their votes for Hunter.
loon as the news was out, DR.. Hunter
81 out for Representatives Clark and
I1ns. They came, and DR., Hunter said
tdhem in the presence Of Attorney Cen
Il TAYLOR and Senator McChard: II
nj er saw Capt. Noel Gaines in my life,
nd did ever hear of Tanner or Gordon.
n Ter solicited Gaines nor any one else
tdattempt to bride any of this general
Il ajemby'
is claimed by Hunters friends that the
4 rges were reserved until the repubH-
a nominee came within one vote of
eiuon and it was believed that Hunter
Vi lid be elected There is some reaction
osentiment in favor of Hunter by those
vIo regard the charges in the line of per-
sutton. Others expect sensational de-
4 vbpmeuts next week from the investi-
II 81 lon Of the charges of bribery.
Louisville Ky, April 10.-A special to
II Evening Post from Frankfort says:
indictments charging bribery and con-
giracy to bride have been prepared by
he Franklin county grand jury against
he most prominent republicans in the
late. viz: ex-Congressman W. Godfrey
Hunter of the Third district, the republic
Ian nominee for the United States Senate;
ex-Congressman John II. Wilson, of the
Fl Eleventh district one of Dr. Hunters clos
Fl est advisers and Hon. e. 7. Franks, one
I OF the leading republican politicians of the
Second district.
The indictments were prepared last
night upon the testimony of Capt. Noel
Gaines and Capt Tannor, his brother-in-
law, and Fred Gordon, all of this city.
The charges are Indignantly denied by
s. DR.. Hunter, Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Franks
n all Of whom say they will prosecute for
criminal libel all who have testified to the
above facts before the grand jury. They
all claim that it is the last desperate effort
of the Blackburn democrats to prevent Dr.
e Hunters election to-day, which seemed a
certainty il view of the fact that he lack
ed only one vote at the ballot yesterday.
The following authorized interview was
II given out this morning by Capt Thomas
Tanner, one of the accusing witnesses: Il
was called to the Capitol hotel Monday
night, and had a conference with Wilson
in room q. Wilson had a big roll of bills
he said there were 5000 in the package,
snd from all appearances there were.
There were four such packages, or $4,000
nd he said this would be paid for four
otes for DR. Hunter. / had several con-
erences with Franks in the same room;
as last called there Thursday morning,
hen they seemed to think that some
lembers of the legislature had offered TO
lccumb for $4,000, but thought this too
Ugh.
Capt. Noel Gaines testified before the
rand jury in part as follows: when DR..
Iunter came to my house, he (Dr. Hun
err opened the conversation by saying
lie had been told l could aid him in get
ing three votes / told him that 1 did
po- know whether ii was possible to get
Fhem or not, but / would study over it
ana see Hunter said I want three
tole9 and am willing to pay Sl50 900 or
tp1 a vote. / will furnish the money all
lSht' but will have to have one of my
representatives. complete the trade an /
I'VE you the money, as it would not DO
OF me to hand it to you He said that
-e would have eX-Congressman John IL.
yEson, one of his friends, call on me.
.luPter told me that Representatives W.
G. Gossom and Merge Clark of Warren
county and John H. Johns of Floyd coun-
4 ~ could be gotten, and they should be
ne nrst ones for me to see, as ne was
!retty certain 1 could get them.
On the next evening about the same
hour, Mr. John II. Wilson came over in
company with Mr.. Tanner and we all
tnree went into the library of my house.
Ar Wilson began by saying that DR..
hunter had sent him to see me and that
ne (Wilson) wanted to know If had talk
ca with Gossom, Clark and Johns, and if
had made trade with them. l told
MN had not. Wilson said: We have
got the $4,000 here and are ready to give
II 10 them if they would agree to vote for
Hunter and continue to vote for him I'M
Il. he was elected"
wilson said to me: I want you to
20 flght 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
oIc occasion ne said: The agreement is
row mat this money will be turned over
70 you when the men vote. If you can't
~ lhese men to vote for Hunter, get them
~ 80 away and If you can't get them to
- away nave them slipped out and keep
mem out until the ballot is over
ne greatest excitement prevailed dur
ns the hrst ballot for United States sem
1lOr at noon to-day. The galleries and
ioooles We're crowded. The sole topic Of
tohVersation was the charges of bribery
aIdt mas been brought against Dr. Hunter
"n1 nus chief lieutenants, Messrs. Wilson
anu franks The republicans .denounce
lem N unmeasured terms. saying 1t was
put a dirty scheme TO defeat the republi-
olu nominee Before noon a statement.
S,sned by Mr.. Wilson and attested by DR..
dlunter ana Mr.. Franks. was laid on the
GesNs OF the members. The statement
CCyIled al the charges. and said that
ZINES made the proposition, and they
19eieVed II a scheme 20 entrap Dr. Hunter
5vlore the roll was called there was a
Nsl nght In the right gallery
Inc cal Of the roll showed no quorum