The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-24

BY the evidence introduced at yester-
days session Of the investigating COM
mittee, it was shown that 4. w. Nc
Cune had no motive whatever for buy
ing Representative Law or anyone else
on Saturday last, for he was certain of
election by Democratic votes. Senators
RideoGt and Peery and Representa-
tiVes Larsen and Stewart had been as
sured him on the first ballot that day,
and these four votes, with the twenty
eight he had the day before. would have
elected him, with one vote to spare, for
only thirty-one were necessary to a
choice that day. Il was stated, too,
that another Republican. Representa-
tive Lester Taylor, who has since voted
for Mr.. McCune, had also offered to
vote for him on Saturday, hence he
would have mad two votes to spare
without that of MI. Law, which he is
charged with attempting to purchase
for $500. And it was proven that MI.
McCune knew all this before he went
out on the solicitation OF Mr.. Law to
meet him on the street corner, where
&c is charged with having given Law
the money.
These facts were related by Fisher
Harris, Mir. McCune's campaign man
ager, and it is worthy of note that they
were most of them brought out under
the cross-examination of David Evans,
who represents the other side of the
case. Mr.. Evans tried hard to weaken
Mr.. Harris testimony, but the result
was a material strengthening of the
chain of evidence by which il is being
shown that A. W. McCune never has
even attempted TO use corrupt means
to secure his election to the United
States senate.
FThaTa incident DURING "a dav
that to its witnesses the members Of
the committee and others, was very
amusing. Mr.. Harris was under cross
examination, and the little room was
very still Suddenly the door into the
senate chamber burst violently open,
and in reeled Robert Fryer, the prose
cution's star witness, the man whom
they so sedulously guarded for three
long days. Fryer was eXhilarated, and
dressed up. Though his testimony had
smacSed not at all of the sea, his roll
ing gait proclaimed the sailor. His
appearance indicated affiuence or eX-
cellent credit. for he looked as if black
care had entirely departed. There was
no doubt about his condition His hat
was on the back of his head, and his
watery eyes winkeEl goodfellOwship 10
all in the room. He looked about a
moment as his fingers pushed at the
door behind him. Then he lUrched back
against it hard. slamming it. Bracing
q moment to get his direction. he de-
scribed a graceful Darabola toward a
vacant chair. missing it by about four
feet and pumping up against the chin
ney-piece. Senator Whitney had seen
his maneuVer: so had REPRESENTATIVE
Sorenson. The others could not see the
man. as their backs were turned to-
ward him.
But Charlie Augustson. the door
and in a jifTy he grabbed Fryer, and
despite the latter's drunken Drotestd-
lions and struggles, he was soon out
side the room, and the door was closed.
When the committee adjourned an hour
later, Fryer was found sitting at ease
in a big chair in the senate chamber,
where the sun shone over his sedden
features, sound asleep and snoring. The
last thing the committeeman saw as
they left the chamber was Fryer. still
sound asleep, and Janitor SiddOway
poking him up with stick in an effort
to awaken him. 4 young man who
saw Fryer when he first came TO the
building, said he was searching for O.
P. Pratt, his custodian during the per-
iod of his delightful restraint at the
Knutsford and Pratt's home.
Fryer insisted. when the sergeant-at-
arms was putting him out. that he had
a right in the room. as being a principal
character IN the cast.
LAW TURNED Up.
Mr. Van Colt stated at the opening of
the session that he had intended the
night before to take Representative
Laws deposition, but he had learned
that Mr.. Law had been down town on
that day, and that he had promised
the sergeant-at-arms 90 come to the
committee room. This Law had failed
tc do, and Mr.. Van Colt demanded
that he be sent for. Senator Shurtliff
ordered ergeant-at-Arms King to
bring Law before the committee, but
Just at this juncture Law came limping
in on his own account.
Mr. Van Colt then moved that John
w. Hughes testimony be stricken out
on the ground that as IL was a third
party's statement it was incompetent
Before replying, Mr.. Evans asked that
he be permitted to ask Mr.. WINS, who
was on the stand, one question.
Did Mr.. McCune ever secure your
services or interest i'll his behalf?' was
asked.
He asked me early in January if
would talk to Jackson about securing
his vote, ana I said l would" replied
Mr. WINS. THAT was the only CONVEX
sation we ever had on the subject"