The record-union., 1898-01-22
OHIO LEGISLATIVE SCANDAL.
INVESTIGATION OF BRIBERY Y
CHARGES.
The Committee Holds a Session at
CiuctnEati-Hote1 Manager
Dunbar's Testimony.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 21-The legisIa-
tive committee investigating the
charges of bribery in the recent cleo
ton Of United States Senator at CO.
lumbus, held a session here tonight,
and will continue its sittings here to-
morrow.
The examination was held in the as
sembly room of the Gibson House. 1t
is charged in resolutions adopted separ-
ately by both branches Of the Ohio Leg
islature that II. H. Boyce of New York
came to the Gibson House in this city
few days before the baloting for
United States Senator began, and made
proposition of bribery to Representa-
tive Otis. Boyce stopped at the Glib
son House
1t is charged by members Of the COM
mittee that Boyce fled from this city
on Monday, January 10th, and that he
cannot now be located. although the
committee has exhausted it's resources
in trying to secure his attendance as a
witness.
The committee was given quite a tel
ephone exhibition before it assembled.
The Great Southern Hotel at Columbus
(Which was the headquarters of the
anti Hanna men during the recent con-
tesO, was called up. and while the COM
mlttee was talking in the private office
of the Gibson House with parties in
Columbus, Jerry Bliss and his stenog-
rapher were at the telephone down
stairs in the hotel office taking off all
that was said. This was done to show
how all Of the conversations of Boyce
with certain parties in Columbus was
taken down while Boyce was here and
the Senatorial contest was going on at
the State Capital. 1t is alleged that all
of the conversations Were taken down
and are a matter Of record, without any
wire tapping, as the different telephones
in the Gibson House are all on the same
circuit
Horace 3. Dunbar, proprietor and
manager of the Gibson House. was the
only witness examined tonight The
clerks and others at the hotel will be
examined tomorrow. Mr. Dunbar
produced his hotel register, showing
that Henry II. Boyce of New York oc-
cupied room 226 from January 9th TO
January 10th.
Mr. Dunbar testified TO having his
suspicious aroused. and set the clerks
10 watching Boyce. Allen Q. Myers,
Jr., one of the day clerks arranged for
a stenographer's report of the conver-
sations Boyce had over the telephone
during the day. Russell Pryor. the
night clerk, took down the conversa-
tions at night. Boyce was given the
key to the private office on the second
floor whenever he wanted it. and the
arrangements down stairs We're always
fo Of hot
over the telephone wires when Boyce
was using the private office. The stem
ographer who has a desk in the Office
was called into requisition whenever
Boyce called any one up.
Mr. Dunbar recited many Of the con-
yersaticns over the long-d distance
phone. In one of them the Major was
called Up at Columbus and said: Shane
and the President will arrange things
on Saturday"
Boyca replied: Have seen one CT
the narty; wants money. How can L
handle hm?"
The reply from Columbus was: Sup
pose O. betrays you. what then?"
Mr.. Dunbar said that Boyce replied.
No dar ger: / would kill him. Dead
men tell no tales.
Mr.. Dunbar testified that Allen >.
Myers, who was in Columbus as one
of the managers against Hanna, was
called up on Friday, January lth, oy
Jerry Bliss, and told of the situation
here and what Boyce was doing. My
ers advised Bliss that man named
Hollenbeck would leave Columbus for
Cincinnati that night with money, ana
to have him watched. The next morn
ing the Miller detective agency was enl-
pioyed to watch Boyce and keep track
Of Hoilenbeck on his arrival.
On January Sth II. II. Hollenbeck of
Chardon, Ohio, registered at the Glib
son House He had no room assigned
TO him, but was seen to communicate
with Boyee. They watched all the
movements of Hollenbeck, and traced
him to the Union Trust and Savings
Bank, Of which j. G.. Schmidtlapp WAS
President. He was then traced 10 the
different places OF meeting as charged
by Representative Otis.
When the testimony OF Mr.. Dunbar
was concluded, the committee adj
Journad until 8 a N. tomorrow.