The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-08
HIS MEMORY DEFECTIVE
Beaeley's Deposition in the Brib-
cry Libel Suit.
HE COULDN'T REMEMBER
Simple Details About the Thousand-Dol-
lar Bills Eluded His Recollection.
Didn't Know Where He
Got Them.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.


Big Timber. July For reasons best
known to themselves, the defendants
in the Beasley libel suit had the plain
tiff's deposition taken to-day. The
plaintiff was represented by Odell Nc
| Connell of Helena and A. G. Hatch CT
this town, and the defendants by Con-
gressman Campbell of Butte and E. NJ.
| Hall and Sydney Fox of the local bar.
The proceedings were held before JUS
tice T. X. Lee.
In the beginning Attorney Mcconnell
objected to the taking of the deposition
as unnecessary, but after his objection
had been noted the taking Of the depo-
sition was proceeded with, Congress-
man Campbell doing the questioning.
| Mr.. Beasley gave his name as Wash
/ ington w. Beasley, aged 6s years, oc-
cupation trader in sheep and wool. He
| was elected to the legislature on the re-
publican ticket from this county and
went to Melville during the campaign
| with Barbour, one Of the defendants.
| Had no recollection of Barbour stating
| in the course of his speech at that time
| that he (Beasley) would never vote for
| any one but republican for United
| States senator and never made such a
statement himself Said he would not
| vote for any one not in favor of pro-
| lection. He understood that w. A.
| Clark was democrat at the time he
| voted for him.
| He voted for house bills 124 and 1872
He had about $4,000 at the time he was
| nominated for the legislature which he
| had received merely as commissions
| from wool sales. He and mis- son Nat
had received the money through drafts
made through some Montana bank, but
| he could not remember which one. They
had kept the money in their pockets
partly in small drafts and partly in
currency of large denominations. At
first thought they had no $1,000 bills
among them, but admitted later on that
| they had at least one $1,000 bill and
| probably two, but he could not say
| from what bank he had received them
or what he had done with them after
wards.
Asked what he had done with the
| money. Beasley said that he had padd
a small debt at the National Park bank
! at Livingston and his board bill at the
| hotel here and some other debts. His
campaign did not cost him the fourth
of 5000 His son Nat carried about one
half of the $1,000 and he carried the rest
himself They had not deposited the
money dn any bank and had good rea-
| sons for not doing So"
He took about $1,000 with him to Hell
| ena. He had the money in large bills,
| one or two ST. 900 bills among them but
did not remember where he had receiv-
| ed them nor what he did with them.
| His memory was very deficient in mon
| ey matters. Could not remember any
| time where he had ever received or paid
out any $1,000 bills. Went to ST. Paul
within a week after he had voted for
| Clark. He went because ne was sick.
Had done no amount of business since.
Traded some in wheat before and
since Clark's election. He did his trad
ing with Logan & Co. of Chicago ard
| Minneapolis. He did not remember
| what his losses were. Asked If he had
| not lost over $1,000. said he did not
think his and his sons losses together
amounted to $4,000. Trading was done
| in the name of Beasley e. Son. He un-
| derstood that Nat had lost $500 IN cLe
| day The money he speculated with
was part of what he had when he went
| to the Legislature
Did not know the name of the bank
at ST. Paul. Never had any account
| there. Never drew drafts on Chicago
through any st. Paul bank and has
| no bank account in Chicago 80. d.
Refused to tell the amount of money
he has now. What he had was in his
| pocket Did not think he had any ac-
count at Cruse's Savings bank at this
| time. He had an account there dur
| ing the legislature and had overdrawn
$100. The check was protested and he
sent Mr.. Cruise money from Salt Lake
| to pay the check. He was in the
| Cruise bank the past week. He went
| there to see how his account stood.
He went to Butte about June 20. Did
| not see W. A. Clark and did not get
| check for $1,000 while in Butte. He
| went to Butte on his way to Washing
| ton state. He took out some life in
| surance and gave his note for it. He
| hn,, ,ott zha Nf nrfh har
| mining stock of Canyon City, Ore, for
! cent a share; bought it from Frank
| Harris of Salt Lake. Never paid
| 81 600 for it. Did not remember If pay
ment was made in cash or by check.
| Thought his son, Nat, had the stock.
| Never talked with Representatives
| Hedges of Fergus county about Clark
| paying $4,000 for votes. Never said
| he would not vote for Clark unless he
| was paid for it.
| After the legislature he came direct
| ly here and stayed a day or two, then
| went to St. Paul, then to Baker City
| and PendletOn, Ore. Also went TO Bos-
| ton and Salt Lake City. Trips did not
cost him more than s10o. He had
| not borrowed any money since the leg
| islature
All the expenses of his son, Nat, and
| himself have been paid out of the
| 900 they had before the meeting of
the Legislature and some money reeeiv
ed from other sources, sheep trading,
etc. He heard very little talk about
bribery while in attendance at the ses-
sion of the legislature. He heard some
rumors, but never discussed the matter
himself. Never was in Clark or Well
comes rooms. Never got 50, 50G< from
Welcome. Never received petitions
from local republicans requesting him
not to vote for any democrat, but to
stand for the principles he had been
elected to represent. Some republi-
cans had requested him to vote for
Clark.
This concluded the testimony, the
plaintiffs attorneys making no cross
n..r, r,r,,it i1...