Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-23
Mr.. LATTONUS WAS EVASIVE
Would Not Answer Queries
About Bribery Attempts.
BUT LEFT ROOM FOR INFERENCE
Interesting Interview With Him
at Townsend.


offered Inducements for HIS Vote for
Senator.
For several days there has been in
circulation u rumor to tho effect that
| Representative Francis Lattomus of
the Fourteenth Representative district
of New Castle county was promised
| that mortgage would be lifted from
| his property if he would vote for j.
| Edward Addicks for United States
| Senator. On Monday. a representative
of the Gazette went to Townsend
for the purpose of interviewing Repre-
sentative Lattomus respecting the
rumor. Representative Lattomus, who
had been at Snow Hill since last Fri
day, was not at home when the reporter
reached Townsend, but, having been
informed that Representative Lattomus
would return during the day, the re-
porter waited for him. Representative
Lattomus arrived at Townsend at 4. 40
p. m. He was met at the railroad
station by the reporter, who asked him
to 60 to the waiting room, where the
interview, which lasted nearly one
hour, WAS had.
The reporter told Representative Lat
tomus tho pature of tho rumor, and
asked if it were true.
Representative Lattomus replied that
it was false. 81 have heard the rumor
before today he remarked; the
amount Of the mortgage, according to
the rumor, was $4,000. Where do you
suppose the rumor originated? Who
do you suppose started it?'
In response to the queries, the re-
porter said he did not know.
"Mr. Lattomus, were you offered any
inducement to vote for Mr.. Addicks?"
the reporter asked. ''Were you offered
any inducement personally, or through
any of your acquaintances, friends or
relatives?"
In reply, Representative Lattomus
said: II do not want to make -
He broke the sentence off, without
stating what he did not want to make.
The reporter inferred that he did not
want to make trouble for anybody
Representative Lattomus continued to
talk, but on subject foreign to that
broached by the reporter, which caused
the reporter to believe that Representa-
tive Lattomus was resorting to evasive
tactics.
"Mr. Lattomus,'' the reporter re-
peated, "were you offered any induce
ment?"
II do not want to make -" Repre-.
sentative Lattomus replied, again
chopping off the sentence.
Mr.. Lattomus, were you offered any
inducement?" the reporter persisted.
Finally, Representative Lattomus
J said it took two to make bargain.
He asserted that he had stated his
position early in the senatorial contest
that he would not vote for Mr.. Ad-
dicks. He intimated that he did moi
think he had been offered any induce
. ment, because he had not been induced
to vote for the gasluan.
"Mr. Lattomus, were you made any
offer, directly or indirectly?" the re
porter asked.
II do not want to make -" Repre-
sentative Lattomus replied.
, "Mr. Lattomus, were you made an.
offer, directly or Indirectly" the re
porter repeated.
Representative Lattomus repliet
, eyasively, saying: "Men here and mel
in Wilmington said to me now is youl
4 chance, Frank, make yourself.
: "Mr. Lattomus, were you made an.
offer, directly or indirectly?" the re
,. porter persisted.
7 II do not want to make --" Repre-
sentative Lattomus replied.
"Mr. Lattomus. were you made an,
! cffer, directly or indirectly?" the re
= porter again asked.
4 why do you come to me?" Repre-
a sentative Lattomus inquired. "Wh,
y do you not go to Representative Burns
= You heard the rumors in Dover?'
The reporter replied that he hat
heard rumors in Dover, and that the
were published Us soon as they wer
a whispered. But" the reporter con
tinued, II think Representative Burn
denied the rumors.
! Next, Representative Lattomus ad
mitted that he had heard Representa-
!, tive Burns make the denial.
4 Metaphorically, the reporter swun
a Representative Lattomus around b
q repeating: "Mr. Lattomus, were yol
a made any offer, directly or indirectly?'
a 81 do not want to make ---" Repre-
a sentative Lattomus replied.
"a Turning to q young man, who fla
entered the Whiting room, Representa-
n tive Lattomus laughingly remarked
4 "He the reporter) is trying to put m
q in hole. You have to be mighty care
4 full what you say to these fellows; the
5 will trip you, If you do not waite
# closely"
i. "Mr. Lattomus. were you made an
!. offer, directly or Indirectly" the re
10 porter asked. i-..,
N n II do not want to make" Repre-
d sentative Lattomus replied.
!, The reporter, becoming impatient Q
N Representative Lattomus' attempts
Il evade the question, said: "Mr. Latte
- mus, if / do not misunderstood yor
Ia you deny the rumor respecting tn
=, mortgage, but decline to answer til
A. question as TO your having been mac
to an offer?"
~ [ do not want to make -" Repre-
w sentative Lattomus replied.
L Proceeding, the reporter said: g
Ii infer from your evasiveness that 20
10 were made an offer, and that you al
IN trying to shield the person who mac
n. it. People who read about this inte
~ view will draw the same Inference
no and, if the attorney general reads tt
~ story he probably will summon you
g. tell what you know"
4 Representative Lattomus expresse
~ : SURPRISE when the reporter suggeste
re that the attorney general might sun
ne mon him. He did not think the alto
ney-p general had authority to do that.
Tho reporter told him that Detecti'
Witsil had been sent after Represent
q. tive King, to take him before IL
IS deputy attorney general. Then, Repr
nd sentative Lattomus expressed great
rs surprise, and said he had not heard
e, it before. .,
en- just before adieus were exchanges
the reporter said; s"Mr. Lattomu