The age-herald., 1898-01-29
OHIO BRIBERY
 INVESTIGATION Campbell Tells of the Alleged Deal Be- tween Boyce and Otis. SHOWED A ROLL OF BILLS AssreSatlns Si,7OO Which Has Given
 Him By BOyca TO GIVE OTIS IF HE ACCEPTED Otis Declined, But Telegram of Acceptance Was Written, and His Name Forged
 to It, and It Was Given
 to Boyce.
TO GIVE OTIS IF HE ACCEPTED

neSSeS In the alleged SenatOrlu Drlpery in- vestigation were examined by the senate Investigating committee today. They are representative J.. c. Otis, of Hamilton. who claims to have been offered bribe to vote for Senator Hanna, and Thomas c. Campbell, attorney. who acted as the legal representative of Otis.
 There was nothing in the testimony of other witnesses to even indicate that Sem
 ator Hanna, Major Dick or Major Rath-
 bone had any connection with Gen. Boyce. through whom it Is claimed the alleged negotiations were conducted. In fact, Att
 torney Campbell, who came all the way from New York to testify. took occasion
 to say he did not believe Senator Hanna
 was interested in or knew Boyce. More over, Boyce himself had declared to Camp bell that he did not know MT. Hanna, and that if his personal wishes were consulted he would prefer to see him defeated.
 Campbell produced a roll of bills, in de- nominations of s1Oo and $50. aggregating $1,750, which he claimed Boyce had paid to him during the negotiations. Campbell said that if Boyce returned to Hamilton county he would be glad to return the money.
 Came to His Own Room.
 MT. Campbell in the course of his testi-
 mony said Boyce and Otis came to his
 room.- There they talked general sub jects, and when asked as to where in
 New York he lived Boyce said Mount
 Vernon. During the conversation Boyce said he had a strong and loving regard for
 the president and talked strongly about
 this that finally Campbell began to think
 he was overstatng himself. Otis finally
 left the room and Campbell then asked Boyce directly what he wanted. Boyce finally said he had come to help Hanna | in his election Campbell said to him: "Do you not come from the president?" to
 which Boyce replied that he had, but in l which MT. Campbell declared he took no 1 belief Boyce at last said he would pay | Otis $2,5O0 for his vote, and admitted that that was the proposition he had come to make. MT. Campbell said he did not think Otis would accept any proposition. This interview with Boyce was on Saturday
 night. On Sunday Campbell went to the
 Gibson house and had another conversa-
 tion with Boyce. Campbell told Boyce
 Otis would not listen to the proposition made and he did not know what proposi- tion he would listen to.
 Munihcent Sum.
 Boyce replied that the amount offered was munificent one as Hanna already had "A votes without Droste or Lane. Campbell replied: "Then you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart, as
 "A votes are enough to elect a senator in
 Ohio."
 Boyce replied yes, but that he wanted l,1 1n apd
 there might be a slip. and he wanted to get the vote of Otis, Droste and Lane.
 Latter he saw Boyce again and told him
 that he thought s2,50O the amount offered,
 was beneath the dignity of representa- tive and that he ought to have s1O,OO0.
 Boyce replied that this was all nonsense that he had already secured four votes at
 an average of $1, 800 each and another for
 $600. Boyce then said he would give $3, 800, s1750 at that time and s1 ,75O the next day upon arrival at Columbus. Campbell said to Boyce: What do you want Otis to do I if your proposition is accepted?" Boyce re-
 piled trat he wanted him to write letter
 to the president to the effect that he would l vote for Hanna. Boyce then wrote teIe- | gram directed to Presiden Mckinley. read | ing: For the best interest of Ohio and tHc FepAUhcdl paHty l VIII cdS5t my vote for M. A. Hanna for senator for the short a;ad long terms"
 Senf a Telegram.
 This telegram Campbell was to submit to | Otis, and if the latter accepted the proposi- | tion he was to sign it and the telegram was 1 to be returned to Boyce, who was to for | ward 1t to the president. MT. Campbell car l ried the telegram away with him and showed it to Jared Bliss, who volunteered to copy the telegram and sign Otis name to 1t, which was done. At the next meet ing the telegram, or rather a copy of 1t, was shown to Boyce and he was told that Otis had finally consented and that there was the telegram. Campbell said to Boyce: "You will now pay $1 ,750 and $1.750 when you reach Columbus, whereupon Boyce counted out the money.
 The plan was that Campbell and Boyce and Otis were to meet the next morning at o'clock and come to Columbus, but Boyce did not show up.
 The witness here in response to a re- quest produced the 1,75O that he claimed Boyce had paid to him. He said that if
 Boyce would return to Hamilton county he would give him back the money.